The cost to take water from nearby lakes to help fill White Bear Lake could top $100 million, according to a new state report.

The Department of Natural Resources report, which cost $218,000, was requested by the Legislature. It studied what it would cost to take water from nearby Sucker Lake or East Vadnais Lake — both part of the chain of lakes that supplies water to St. Paul — to augment the larger White Bear Lake. Related Articles Cause of White Bear Lake’s low water level remains a mystery

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Costs ranged from $67 million for the Sucker Lake alternative to $55 million for the East Vadnais Lake alternative, with an additional $23 million to $40 million on the price tag if substantial treatment of phosphorus in the water is required, according to the report.

On top of that, it could cost about $570,000 a year to operate any system created to pump an estimated 2 billion gallons per year. If phosphorus levels are too high, annual operations and maintenance costs could add $900,000 to $4.1 million per year, the report said.

Neighbors and officials have been studying for years what has led the popular east metro lake’s water levels to drop and how best to address it. There are plans in the works to request legislative aid this session to help stabilize the lake.