Avista waterflow plan moves ahead

Avista Utilities’ proposal to wash more water over the downtown Spokane River falls during the dry summer months is sufficient to quench the city’s aesthetic desires, according to a new federal report released this week.

Unlike years past, Avista proposed a minimum flow for the downtown wonder that goes from roaring waterfalls in spring to sad trickle in late summer as the utility diverts the river through electricity generating turbines.

While the utility is pleased that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff agreed to its proposal, many city residents, including a vocal group that is part of the Sierra Club, want the utility to be required to let much more water through the falls.

It’s one of the hurdles Avista faces as it seeks a new license to operate its run of dams on the Spokane River beginning at Post Falls and ending at the Long Lake Dam.

Avista was still analyzing the 864-page “final environmental impact statement (FEIS),” said spokesman Hugh Imhof, and didn’t want to comment other than to say the utility is pleased most of its proposals were incorporated into the final report by the staff.

The full commission will now take up the report and make some changes as part of the process now five years old.

The FEIS is an important part of Avista’s license request and will help the federal government determine what Avista should be required to do in running the dams that regulate the level of Lake Coeur d’Alene and generate electricity that helps light Spokane.

The report also seeks water temperature testing on the Spokane River downstream from the Post Falls dam to ensure that enough cold lake water is flowing in the river for fish.

The company still has major issues to work out with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe regarding the health of the lake and erosion controls. The sides are in settlement talks.

Avista’s license to run the dams expires Aug. 1, but the company expects an extension until a new license is granted.