SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane River is struggling through another challenging summer as dropping water levels expose critical fish habitat. Large sections of the river completely dried out last week.
The aquifer system below our feet creates a delicate balance along the river. Spokane Riverkeeper says that 60% of the flow of the Spokane River comes from the aquifer. What happens to the aquifer is often reflected in the river. This is especially true in the summer, when the snow has all melted and rain may not fall for weeks at a time.
There are three stretches of the Spokane River fed by the aquifer between Nine Mile and Lake Coeur d’Alene. But on the other stretches of the river, the opposite occurs — the river loses water to the aquifer below. That includes the part of the river in Spokane Valley that dried up almost completely in late August. When aquifer levels drop, the underground water system takes more water from the river above.
Katelyn Scott with Spokane Riverkeeper says shallow stream beds and shady areas along the river’s edge are essential habitat where species like Redband Trout lay eggs and take shelter from hot weather. As river flows decrease, more and more of this habitat is lost above the water line. Water temperatures get hotter, too. That puts more strain on fish species that need cool water to stay healthy and survive another season.
The timing of peak water demand creates additional pressure on the system. Summer is when the aquifer sees the highest water usage. The aquifer doesn’t recharge in the dry summer months, so the water level underground lowers over time. Much of this increased demand comes from watering lawns, gardens, and green spaces.
Overwatering lawns isn’t the only reason the river has run dry, just one piece of a larger puzzle. The Post Falls Dam, climate change, natural variability in summer weather, long-term drought, and population growth also contribute. It all lined up this summer into what Spokane Riverkeeper calls a worst-case scenario.
Scott suggests that even modest reductions in summer water use could benefit the river’s wildlife significantly in the future.
“That doesn’t mean you have to kill your garden, that doesn’t mean your lawn has to go brown, it just means using smarter practices to make sure we’re using our resources wisely,” she said.
Below is a list of resources on the aquifer and water conservation in our area.
Waterwise SpokaneSpokane Aquifer Joint BoardNorth Kootenai Water and Sewer DistrictAquifer AtlasKootenai County Aquifer Protection DistrictSpokane Riverkeeper
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