The Northland's flowing streams and Great Lake give the illusion of plentiful, usable water.

But that abundance could be deceiving.

"There's only so much water."

Aquatic researcher Valerie Brady of the Natural Research Institute says the Twin Ports depends heavily on ground water and a number of factors are preventing water from getting into this underground supply.

"We've sort of changed the way the landscape goes, we've got a lot of lawns and houses and cities and roads and the water can't soak in."

Lawns soak up 25% less water than a natural forest would.

Climate change also affects the amount of water able to soak into the ground. Scientists say the Northland is seeing larger rainfalls and longer dry periods which gives rain less of a chance to soak in.

"Scientists say rainfall goes directly into creeks like this one, which flows straight into Lake Superior, preventing it from getting into the underground water supply."

"That's water that's basically lost from getting into the ground water, once that goes down stream it's gone."

Jesse Schomberg, a Sea Grant researcher says its time people took steps to increase and maintain ground water.

"Planting trees in their lawns, planting shrubs, planting perennial flowers and plants, things that live a long time and have deep roots and get down in the soil."

Schromberg says you can also get creative by planting a rain garden. In Duluth, LeAnn Wallace, the Northlands NewsCenter.