Spokane7
58°
January 6, 2011 in News
Avista to lower Long Lake reservoir
The Spokane River, dubbed Long Lake or Lake Spokane behind the Long Lake Dam, pools behind the dam, which generates the most power of any dam on the river, Tuesday, July 9, 2008. Avista Corp. will start lowering the reservoir behind Long Lake Dam starting Friday.
(Full-size photo)
Beginning Friday, Avista Corp. will start lowering the reservoir behind Long Lake Dam.
Water levels will drop about a foot per day over the next two to three weeks to help control Eurasian milfoil, an invasive water weed. The 14-foot drawdown from summer lake levels also allows waterfront property owners to undertake state and locally permitted shoreline projects.
Avista officials said property owners and lake-users should prepare for the shifting ice and low water conditions by removing boats from the water, securing docks and boathouses and taking other measures to prevent property damage. Boaters should be alert to changing water levels.
Weather conditions and dam maintenance work can affect the drawdown rate.
For updates, call Avista’s Lake Information Line at (509) 495-8043.
Recent stories in News
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules May 30, 2012 2- Man dies following early Saturday car crash May 30, 2012 6
- Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues May 29, 2012 6
- Center’s activities provide glimpse into network of advocacy groups May 28, 2012 4
- 6-year-old qualifies for national spelling bee May 28, 2012
philipgregory on January 06 at 2:28 p.m.
Where is the mention of any state or county approval for them changing a public lake level by adjusting a public dam?
Does no one care that Avista treats public resources and lands like their own?
IRun on January 06 at 2:37 p.m.
@phillipgregory… Long Lake Dam is owned and operated by Avista. Although I am not a fan of Avista at times the approval which you are asking about has already been done as a part of the FERC relicensing that must occur every few years. The lowering of Long Lake is in preparation for the spring runoff which begins at the beginning of February. Without reducing the level of Long Lake the additional water from the snowmelt will cause floods. One of the main reasons why dams were built in the first place. Avista does the same thing (and more extensively) with Lake CDA.
normsy on January 06 at 6:42 p.m.
@philipgregory If Avista’s dam wasn’t there then water levels wouldn’t be high anyway…wouldn’t even be a lake.
btd35 on January 07 at 10:56 p.m.
Yes the dams cause problems on rivers, and I do believe there are some dams that are causing as many problems as they solve. I don’t think this one is one of them. The draw down on the lake is needed for spring run off, as well as control of the weed in the lake. Avista owns the dam, and provides us with rather clean power and a lake. The houses and recreation came WAY later than the dam.