Guest opinion: Kayak park’s impact fishy

Living here, we all know the simple truth that our city, its culture and identity are intertwined with the river that runs through it. Nothing brings this home more than a journey into our Spokane River corridor.

Whether gazing at the falls downtown, watching osprey soar, riding bikes, strolling, fishing, or floating on rafts or kayaks through the Valley or the proposed Gorge Park, it’s clear this river contributes directly to our quality of life here in Spokane.

Amazingly, in spite of a history of pollution and other insults, our river continues to support a diverse web of life. Native mule deer, osprey, otters, blue herons and caddis flies all live along its banks. And if you look deeply into the emerald depths or out along the river’s surface on any summer evening, you’ll see wild redband trout rising to insects. Not only are these trout of recreational value; biologists tell us that the presence of wild trout indicate an intact and functional ecosystem.

Remarkably, these redband trout have survived years of pollution and, sadly, face a growing set of threats such as overconsumption of ground water, poor flow management during spawning time, poaching and predation by smallmouth bass. In the upper Spokane River along the Spokane Valley, there’s been a 75 percent population decline since the 1980s. These beautiful fish are clearly threatened, and there is ample cause to worry about the redbands living in the lower river west of Spokane.

Plans for a whitewater park west of downtown under the Sandifur pedestrian bridge have raised concerns that the project may represent yet another threat to wild trout and the larger web of life our river supports.

As planned, the project would see two U-shaped rock structures inserted into the river to create permanent waves upon which kayakers could surf much of the year. This structure would be grouted to the bottom of the riverbed with concrete and span two-thirds of the river channel.

Unfortunately, questions remain about the project’s potential impacts to the river and its trout. Before any construction affecting a public resource like our river moves forward, it is absolutely necessary for the city to demonstrate that no harm will come to the values that the river currently provides our community.

River users, conservationists, neighbors and the Spokane Falls chapter of Trout Unlimited have several concerns.

First, we can’t know if and where trout spawn in the project area because we have no baseline data. While we know they use adjacent areas, without more studies we cannot know the impact the project may have on spawning trout or whitefish.

Second, there is no maintenance plan for the structure. If logs or stumps become jammed into the structure, how will they be removed without damaging the river and trout? Will such problems be ignored? Will the city need to put a bulldozer into the river again? Such problems have occurred at whitewater parks elsewhere.

Third, construction work in the river channel may damage the river systems in that location. If the contractor works in the channel, they must be sure water is sealed out of the work area and that toxic grouts are not allowed to harm aquatic life in the river. We need to understand how the contract will be administered in order to prevent damage to life in the river.

Fourth, we fear the loss of several willow trees that serve to shade water and hold gravel pockets potentially suitable for spawning trout. These trees are essential to supporting wildlife.

Our river provides many values to residents, and the public needs to be assured that this project will protect and respect these values. This concern transcends angling or fishing for trout. A river whose currents provide fun but whose depths are devoid of its natural diversity is an empty vessel. Please get involved.

Later this summer, a public hearing will be held where interested parties can testify. Please tell the city that you care about potential impacts to the river and the value that it brings all of us (for a schedule, visit www.spokaneplanning.org).

For more information, visit www.waterplanet.ws/ redband/trout/survival.html.

Spokane needs to be sure this project is executed correctly and does not become simply another case of loving our river to death.