A lmost a century ago, when the Spokane River dams were built, little thought was given to environmental and recreational concerns. Now we know that a healthy Spokane River is a necessity for sustaining economic growth and vitality in our region, and it is important that we preserve this natural resource legacy for our children.

Our community’s renewed interest in the river is seen through economic development projects such as planning future recreational opportunities in the Great Gorge Park beneath the Spokane Falls and creating the University District just east of downtown Spokane.

Only once in every 30 years does the public have a chance to participate in the relicensing of the hydroelectric dams on the Spokane River. Right now, we have a unique opportunity to evaluate and renegotiate the terms of Avista’s “loan” on our valued and unique natural resource — the river — in a way that makes sense for all river interests and river users.

For many years, the Spokane River has not met clean water standards, endangering aquatic life and creating large blue-green algae blooms on Lake Spokane. In the new license for the dams, most agree that the Spokane River Project minimum discharge flow should be increased through the Post Falls Dam during the summer months, taking into account the optimum flow, habitat and temperature needs for fish in the upper reach of the Spokane River, as well as other water quality needs.

Adequate flows for trout spawning in the spring would increase spawning success, and improved flows during the summer would help maintain the fish population so our unique urban trout fishery may be enjoyed for generations to come.

But increased minimum discharge flows through the dam during extremely dry years could mean lower levels on Lake Coeur d’Alene, affecting some private, shallow-water docks. We have a responsibility to find a river/lake management scheme that brings into balance the needs of the environment and recreationalists upstream in Lake Coeur d’Alene with the basic river health, recreation and economic benefits downstream in such places as Riverfront Park, Great Gorge Park, Riverside State Park and Lake Spokane.

This balancing act also means taking into account the environmental impacts and mitigation needs for inundated wetlands on Lake Coeur d’Alene that will likely come from increasing the duration of a full pool lake level from June through September.

Filling Lake Coeur d’Alene by June 1 would have dire consequences for spawning trout in the Spokane River and extending the lake level through Sept. 30 could extend algal blooms and other water-quality effects in Lake Spokane another month.

We are at a crossroads in this relicensing process. Major decisions are being made about how the river system will be operated in the future. We have limited information about the cumulative effects of maintaining the lake level higher longer in the year. Data is still being gathered; thus, it remains premature to guess at what the optimal river system management looks like.

As a Spokesman-Review editorial stated, “the public’s best interests should be Avista’s main concern as it collects data to file for relicensing.” We have heard the request of some Lake Coeur d’Alene property owners, the Hagadone Corp. and other Idaho agencies for a longer high water season in the lake.

Idaho Rivers United, Friends of the Falls, Lake Spokane Protection Association and the local chapters of the Sierra Club and Trout Unlimited are all groups who have consulted with me in identifying some of the impacts and concerns of this proposal.

As participants in the settlement process, we are bound to keep our specific advocacy at the negotiation table. It is in the public’s interest, however, to examine such a proposal carefully so we can all better understand how holding more water behind Post Falls might affect water quality, fisheries and recreation on the Spokane River, while recognizing the economic benefit these activities bring to our region.

Much time and effort has gone into developing a plan for the Great Gorge, which includes river access and a whitewater park, as well as an economic development plan for the University District that connects business, health care, education and neighborhoods near the Spokane River.

Spokane was settled because of our world-famous falls. As we explore options for summer river flows, we have a responsibility to ensure that the Spokane River once again becomes the best that it can be – a source of pride for our entire region.