SPOKANE — The Spokane River is seeing above average flow for this time of year — more than double the average speed.
The water is moving at about 20,000 cubic feet per second, enough to fill a three-bedroom house every second.
The spectacle draws crowds who can’t get enough of the incredible falls.
“It’s just amazing. This time of year, with all the flow through the falls,” said Peter Turner, a visitor to the park.
“It’s really pretty today. It’s higher than what we normally see, so it’s really fun to see,” said Leslie Hurd, another visitor.
But the early timing ties back to this year’s weather conditions and is concerning to experts.
“It’s really impressive if you go see the Spokane Falls, but it also can be quite scary,” said Jule Schultz, the waterkeeper for the Spokane Riverkeeper.
“What’s happening is the very low snowpack that we have in the mountains is melting earlier,” Schultz explained.
This means the river could see peak flow in the last week of March — about two months ahead of schedule. Schultz described the snowpack as a kind of “battery” for the river.
“The earlier the snow melts off, the less there is later in the year to feed our river,” he said.
The snowpack keeps water in the river during summer months for kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming. With low snowpack, these recreational activities are not guaranteed.
Last year, some spots of the Spokane River ran dry for the first time.
“It was just a tragic, scary situation. And this does not help ease our fears. We’re actually very worried that that could happen again,” Schultz said.
Schultz says conserving water can go a long way. He still encourages people to see the river at its peak, even if it’s early.
“Enjoy the beauty. And I think that kind of connection to the river makes you love and want to protect it. And that’s really what we need,” he said.
Visitors can admire the beauty from one of the many vantage points in Riverfront Park or from above in the skyride gondolas.
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