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Little Spokane Flow Declining Since ‘48

By Julie Titone juliet@spokesman.com

Stream levels in the Little Spokane River watershed are dropping, and state environmental officials say they may start denying applications for water withdrawals.

Permits are necessary for housing developments in the rapidly growing area north of Spokane.

More than 1,200 water rights have already been issued in the 700-square-mile area and about 4,600 claims have been filed for uses that pre-date the state water rights program, according to Bruce Howard, Ecology’s regional water resources supervisor. There are 43 new applications to pump water from wells or from rivers and streams.

“In some areas, the supply situation is so critical during the summer that unless some action to improve supply is taken, we have very little choice but to deny some of these applications,” Howard said.

Water supplies could be improved through conservation, connecting existing public water supplies, or bringing in water from outside the area, he said.

The state’s information about water supplies comes from a report that was released Wednesday. Ecology mailed a copy of the draft report to people who have applied for water rights. The department will hold a public meeting on the issue if there’s enough interest.

For more information or to get copies of the report, call 1-800-468-0261.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Some report findings: During an average year, there is not enough water in the Little Spokane River and its tributaries to meet existing needs about 15 percent of the time, and the problem is increasing. Average annual flow in the Little Spokane River varies depending on rain and snow levels, but has been dropping since 1948. Low stream flows occur mainly during summer and fall, when water use is highest. Withdrawals from streams and rivers account for about one-fourth of the water used in the watershed. Most is used for irrigation. Ground water supplies almost 75 percent of current water uses. Pumping more water out of shallow aquifers can lower existing wells and nearby streams. Well levels are declining in some areas, such as Green Bluff. The increasing demand for water is mainly due to population growth.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Some report findings: During an average year, there is not enough water in the Little Spokane River and its tributaries to meet existing needs about 15 percent of the time, and the problem is increasing. Average annual flow in the Little Spokane River varies depending on rain and snow levels, but has been dropping since 1948. Low stream flows occur mainly during summer and fall, when water use is highest. Withdrawals from streams and rivers account for about one-fourth of the water used in the watershed. Most is used for irrigation. Ground water supplies almost 75 percent of current water uses. Pumping more water out of shallow aquifers can lower existing wells and nearby streams. Well levels are declining in some areas, such as Green Bluff. The increasing demand for water is mainly due to population growth.