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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoors blog

Lake Roosevelt water-level-raising stalls

COLUMBIA RIVER -- Concerns about a major Columbia River runoff event that still might come from the headwaters, the Bureau of Reclamation is pushing water through Grand Coulee Dam without signifcantly raising levels from this spring's deep drawdown.

The reservoir elevation was down to a low of 1,217 feet this month and it's come up to 1,225 feet.

"There's a little concern about the space in the reservoir for what's coming," said Lynne Brougher, bureau spokeswoman in Grand Coulee.

"We're taking it day by day right now," she said.

According to the Lake Roosvelt minimum levels for boat lauching chart, the current water elevation of 1,225 feet meets the minimun needed for only one of the lake's 22 boat lauches:

  • Spring Canyon (minimum water level for coverage is 1,222 feet)

Seven Bays ramp minimum level is 1,227 followed by Keller Ferry at 1,229.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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