Little Spokane homeowners asked to conserve water

Homeowners in the Little Spokane River watershed are being asked to conserve water to protect flows in the river. Pumping groundwater has “a big effect on the river,” said Brook Beeler, a community education specialist at the Washington Department of Ecology. “Whether they are located 20 feet or 20 miles from the stream, wells affect the underground flow into the river.” By law, the Little Spokane must meet minimum stream flows to protect fish and wildlife habitat, recreation and water users. Beeler said river flows have dropped and are nearing the minimum level. When people voluntarily conserve water, Beeler said it reduces the chance that Ecology officials will have to tell junior water-right holders to stop irrigating their laws and gardens so that there’s enough water for fish and senior water-right holders, who have priority by law.