The Spokane River is an incredible community resource that provides endless recreational opportunities, vital habitat for wildlife, and supports our drinking water infrastructure. However, climate change and increasing water demands are putting our precious river at risk. Water conservation is more important than ever to protect the health of the Spokane River and ensure it remains a vibrant hub for recreation.
OUR Aquifer and Spokane River Water Levels
The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer provides water to our entire region. Whether it is flushing your toilet, or watering your lawn, the water comes from our aquifer. The Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer is dynamic with water flowing into and out of the system. Not only is the aquifer the Spokane River’s main source of cold water, it provides water to over 600,000 people in Spokane, Kootenai and Bonner counties.
The Spokane River is hydrologically connected to the aquifer, exchanging water back and froth along its 111 mile meandering path through the region.
At Barker Road, in Liberty Lake, the river bottom is higher than the aquifer, and the river water seeps through the ground, recharging the aquifer. These stretches we refer to as “losing reaches” because the river is losing water to the aquifer. But as we move down river, the elevation of the River drops below the aquifer, into what we call “gaining reaches”. In those sections, such as the section that flows through downtown Spokane, Riverside State Park and the Bowl & Pitcher, the elevation difference switches and the aquifer provides cold water for the river.
After the snow melts in the mountains, and the river’s flow begins to naturally drop, the aquifer becomes a crucial source for river flows. This is the same time we begin to water our lawns, and dramatically increase water use across the region. Because of the river’s connection to the aquifer, as our water use increases, the river begins to drop. Spokane County also has some of the highest water usage rates in the nation, and according to USGS uses three times the national average. Summer pumping from our aquifer reduces Spokane River flows by an estimated 120 to 175 cubic feet per second.
The IMPACTS: Rising Water Temperatures and Increased Water Demand
Warmer water temperatures can have devastating effects on the Spokane River's ecosystem. Severe drought conditions, low snowpack, and record-breaking temperatures over the past few summers emphasize these effects. Fish, particularly cold-water species like trout and salmon, are highly sensitive to temperature changes. Elevated temperatures reduce oxygen levels in the water, stress aquatic life, and can lead to fish kills. Additionally, warmer waters are more conducive to harmful algal blooms, which can further degrade water quality and pose health risks to both wildlife and humans.
The Spokane River is more than a beautiful sight – it is a place of recreation, a natural habitat for many species of fish and invertebrates in our region, and a prominent symbol in Spokane’s cultural heritage. Water flowing into the river from the aquifer provides cool clean water that native fish need to survive. The more water Spokane takes from the aquifer, the more likely the recreation and ecology of the river will be threatened.
These issues are magnified by the increasing demand for water resources. More water withdrawals from the river and its aquifer during the crucial summer months reduce the flow levels, further concentrating dangerous pollutants and raising water temperatures. The combination of higher water demand and lower river flows creates a perfect storm for degrading the river’s health and the recreational opportunities it supports.
For those who love to swim, fish, kayak, or simply enjoy the river's natural beauty, maintaining a healthy Spokane River is essential. Warm, algae-filled waters not only diminish the recreational experience but can also pose direct health hazards. Ensuring cooler, cleaner waters means that current and future generations can continue to enjoy the river's recreational benefits.
Water Conservation: A Collective Effort
Because of the large amount of outdoor summer water use, you can help protect the river’s flows the most by adopting outdoor watering practices that conserve water.
In 2022, Spokane City Council approved the Water Conservation and Drought Response Measures Ordinance to protect the region’s most invaluable resource, our water. This requires our customers to water their landscape on odd or even days of the week and avoid the peak heat hours of the day between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from June 1 – Oct. 1 and applies to every City of Spokane water customer, residential, commercial, multifamily, etc.
City of Spokane Water Wise Level 1 and 2 restrctions.
On July 24, 2024, City Council declared a drought emergency, causing the Level 2 restrictions to come into action. For Spokane residents, the level 2 restrictions mean:
No outdoor watering between the hours of 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Limit watering to no more than 2 days per week.
No more than a total of 2 hours of watering per day.
No using water to clean hardscapes such as: sidewalks, driveways, decks and patios.
There are many more residents that surround the City of Spokane that draw from the aquifer and should follow these water conservation measures to protect our River. By reducing our water usage, we can help maintain adequate flow levels in the river, which in turn supports cooler water temperatures and healthier ecosystems.
But there is no penalty for noncompliance except to the river and its users and inhabitants. And because it is just a city ordinance, the rule only applies to those on the city of Spokane’s water, excluding a large portion of the aquifer’s users.
Without aquifer-wide water conservation enforcement, the river relies on us to hold each other accountable. Talk with your neighbors and encourage them to adopt water conservation measures. If you live in a homeowner’s association, consider talking to the leadership about ensuring your HOA policies allow drought tolerant landscapes and encourage the adoption of water conservation practices. Spokane Riverkeeper also encourages those renting apartments to ask their landlord to implement these practices and inform them of the ordinance. Consider speaking with leaders at your church, school, or work about water conservation practices in their outdoor space. These small conversations across the region can lead to big protections for the long-term flow of the river.
We hope that with awareness, water conservation practices will become a cultural norm for the entire region to support clean and abundant flows in the river for future generations. By reducing our water usage, we can help maintain adequate flow levels in the river, which in turn supports cooler water temperatures and healthier ecosystems. For those who love to swim, fish, kayak, or simply enjoy the river’s natural beauty, maintaining a healthy Spokane River is essential. Ensuring cooler, cleaner waters means that current and future generations can continue to enjoy the river’s recreational benefits.