BOATING -- Avista Utilities will start lowering the water level of Lake Spokane (Long Lake Reservoir) today by an additional one and one-half feet to facilitate work downstream of the company’s Long Lake Dam, the company has just announced.

By Thursday morning, May 1, the water level will be at an elevation of 1533.75 feet. Avista expects the lake level to return to the higher elevation of about 1535.2 feet by Thursday evening.

Property owners and lake-users need to tend or remove boats from the water and secure docks and boathouses to the lower-water conditions. Floating and removable docks are less susceptible to damage from shifting or changing water levels.

 Info: Washington call (509) 495-8043.