RIVERS – The annual drawdown of Lake Spokane, the Spokane River reservoir also known as Long Lake, has begun, Avista Utilities announced today in a media release.

Starting today, operators expect to lower the reservoir up to one foot a day for two or three weeks until it reaches its winter elevation of 13-14 feet below maximum summer elevation of 1,536 feet.

Under the right weather conditions, which include sustained periods of single-digit temperatures and little or no snow on the exposed lakebed, the drawdown is expected to help control Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasive aquatic weeds found in Lake Spokane. The drawdown also allows property owners to complete state and locally permitted repair and construction projects along the lake shoreline.

The lower winter elevation will be maintained until runoff conditions begin. Water levels can change with weather conditions in the upper Spokane River drainage.

For updates on changes at Lake Spokane, the Spokane River and Coeur d’ Alene Lake, check the Avista website or call: Washington (509) 495-8043; Idaho, call (208) 769-1357.

RESERVOIRS — Avista Utilities will start to draw down the water level at Lake Spokane (Long Lake Reservoir) on Friday (Dec. 23).Operators expect to lower the reservoir up to a foot a day for two or three weeks until it reaches its winter elevation of 13 to 14 feet below maximum summer elevation of 1,536 feet.

Under the right weather conditions, which include sustained periods of single-digit temperatures and little or no snow on the exposed lakebed, the drawdown is expected to help control Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasive aquatic weeds found in Lake Spokane. The drawdown also allows shoreline homeowners the opportunity to complete state and locally permitted repair and construction projects along the lake shoreline.

Property owners and lake-users can should remove boats from the water and securing docks and boathouses to accommodate shifting ice and low-water conditions.

The lower winter elevation will be maintained as long as river flows allow. However, during the drawdown period water levels are subject to change due to a variety of factors, such as weather (rain on snow events in the upper drainages) or maintenance at the Long Lake Dam.

For updates, see Avista's website or check the 24-hour telephone info for Lake Spokane, the Spokane River and Coeur d’ Alene Lake. In Washington call (509) 495-8043; in Idaho call (208) 769-1357.

BOATING —  The Lake Spokane (Long Lake) Campground boat launch is temporarily open this weekend through Sunday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., Department of Natural Resources officials announced this afternoon.

The facility is 18 miles northeast of Reardan off U.S. Highway 291.

But for some reason the DNR, in announcing the opening, said the Riverside State Park launches are closed.  Not so, said Brian Frahm, park ranger.

Here's what Frahm said in an email to the S-R:

RIVERS — The huge runoff from recent thaw has prompted Avista Utilities to open all of its spill gats at Post Falls Dam, the utility announced moments ago.

In response to rising Coeur d’Alene and St. Joe River flows and Coeur d’Alene Lake levels, the planned drawdown at Lake Spokane — the reservoir created by Long Lake Dam — has been cancelled.

Coeur d’Alene Lake was roughly two feet above its summer full-pool elevation of 2,128’ today and river flows in downtown Spokane reached 21,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

Dam operators are working to keep Lake Spokane slightly below full pool to help prevent flood conditions near the confluence of Little Spokane River and Lake Spokane, Avista said in a news release. As flows decrease, Avista will probably bring the Lake Spokane elevations up near summer full-pool levels. 

Weather conditions will dictate whether Avista procedes later with the planned Lake Spokane drawdown.