Rushing water drawing crowds

As the water at the Post Falls Dam pounded over boulders and sent up a sheen of mist Wednesday, 12-year-old Tyler Stanton looked out and nodded confidently: “It looks like it would be fun to ride.”

But as he and a cluster of friends munched sandwiches and watched the cascading water – about 127,000 gallons roar by every second – Tyler soon amended his statement.

“It’s been pretty high,” the Post Falls resident admitted.

The students were among just a few visitors who got an eyeful of the tumbling water this week during the peak season for viewing Avista’s Post Falls dam in its full misty glory.

“This time is the most popular with people,” said Dave Fair, the parks and recreation director for the city of Post Falls.

During the week, hundreds of spectators venture into Falls Park off Fourth Street, where viewing platforms and a boardwalk give front-row access to the north channel of the dam, Fair said. On the weekend, thousands of people may come to view the falls.

“There have been a few times when police had to have someone out there to direct traffic,” Fair said.

This week, water is gushing at an estimated 17,000 cubic feet per second, according to Avista, which owns the dam.

The spring runoff came two to three weeks early this year, said Avista spokesman Hugh Imhof.

The runoff swells Lake Coeur d’Alene, funnels into the Spokane River and dumps over the dam.

“It will be flowing really well probably until May,” Imhof said. “Right now is a great time.”