SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane residents face stricter water conservation rules as the Spokane River reaches low levels.
Now that the water flow in one part of the river has dipped below 1,000 cubic feet per second, people are now asked to water their lawns only twice per week for a maximum of two hours per day. The city also prohibits using water to clean hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways.
These restrictions build on guidelines the city issued June 1, which asked residents to avoid watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Those hours are still in effect.
The low water levels extend beyond lawn care concerns. When water levels drop, summer activities become harder and more dangerous. Josh Flanagan, owner of Wiley E. Waters whitewater rafting, said the reduced water affects how long his business can operate during the season. It can also present safety concerns, as people floating the river need to be more cautious of rocks.
“The recreation of the city is why a lot of people come to the city. It’s why a lot of us love the city itself and what makes Spokane, Spokane is having the river run through it,” Flanagan said.
While current water levels are not as low as last summer, they remain below normal ranges.
Patrick Maher, principal hydro operations engineer at Avista, which operates the Post Falls Dam, said how much water is allowed through the dam depends on multiple factors.
Avista operates the dam under rules outlined by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Those rules say Avista must keep Lake Coeur d’Alene at a certain level, and they must let out at least 600 CFS of water. They can drop down to 500 CFS if the lake levels continue to fall. Maher said that, right now, about 700 CFS are flowing through the dam — more than last year.
The water levels can also vary by area, and the aquifer that runs beneath the river can either add water to the river or absorb it.
Still, Maher said there’s a pattern.
“If you look at the last 15 years or so, you can see that there’s a downward trend in how much water. It goes up and down depending upon the year and how much rain we get and so forth,” Maher said.
Even though water levels are not as low as last year, some people remain concerned about environmental impacts. The Spokane Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization, says saving water should be a priority.
“People should really care about this because the river is the heart of our city, it’s the heart of our region. Our city wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the river itself,” said Katelyn Scott, water protector with the Spokane Riverkeeper.
Scott said low water levels can cause problems for fish and make pollution more concentrated.
When recreating on the water this summer, Flanagan recommends always going with a buddy, ideally someone who has floated the river before.
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