Studies Will Aid Restoration Along Little Spokane River

The Little Spokane River, one of only two rivers in Washington state designated as scenic, is being studied for restoration efforts.

The state Parks and Recreation Commission dedicated $4,500 for an inventory of plants and wildlife in the nine-mile river corridor between Waikiki Springs and the Little Spokane’s confluence with the Spokane River near Nine Mile Falls.

Homeowners along that stretch will have a chance to assess the health of plant and animal life on their property and participate in workshops.

The information will be used to help the state and county devise a plan to restore pasture land along the river and at the site of a proposed nature center. The land would be replanted with native grasses.

The state has contracted with a non-profit group known as the Little Spokane River Council to undertake the survey. The non-profit group of river supporters has enlisted plant and wildlife biologists from Eastern Washington University.

The river was declared a county natural area in 1986 and then it became the second in Washington to receive scenic designation by the state Legislature. The Skykomish River was the first.

Both scenic rivers have stretches that have been left in their natural state, without dams or major subdivisions. The Little Spokane gives visitors a glimpse what life was like a century ago, said Steve Starlund, manager of the scenic rivers program.

“This is just a unique area for the whole East Side,” said Starlund. “For a lot of people, it’s a step back to what Spokane used to be like. It’s largely been left undisturbed.”

One of those who has volunteered to work on the project is Suzanne Schwab, an EWU botanist who is establishing points along the river for a baseline look at vegetation. She started with aerial photographs and got help from students who did ground surveys.

“Oftentimes we don’t have any means to see whether we’re really accomplishing what we want to accomplish,” Schwab said.

The grant includes a training component, and EWU will also be holding workshops for homeowners along the river who want to learn how to inventory plants and animals on their land. Those will be announced by May.

The Little Spokane River Council is also applying for a separate grant to begin restoration work at the nature center site.

The county has plans for a 3,360-square foot nature center with a classroom, display areas, store and office. Hiking trails, which would meander alongside the river and past marshland, would provide a view of heron nesting areas. The center would be at the site of the old Clark barns off of Highway 291 near the Spokane House Interpretive Center.

Starlund said any projects in the natural area are going to be smallscale so as not to deter from the ambiance.

“It’s a delicate situation,” said Starlund. “You can introduce people to show what a special place it is, but not in large droves to scare the wildlife away.”