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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

State adopts flow rules for the Spokane River

The state of Washington adopted instream flows for the Spokane River today, but the levels are likely to disappoint rafters and environmental groups, who had pushed for keeping more water in the river. The instream flow varies by season, peaking at 6,500 cubic feet per second in late spring where the river roars through downtown Spokane, and tapering to 850 cubic feet per second in late summer. Each cubic foot of water is about 7 ½ gallons. Instream flows are sort of like a water right for the river, according to the state Department of Ecology. They allow the state to curtail new water withdrawals when river flows hit a certain threshold. The new rules won’t affect prior water right holders, who can continue to withdraw the water they’re permitted to take. But if a new user applies for a water right, state regulators will evaluate whether the Spokane River and its connected aquifer have enough water to meet the established flow levels before allowing new withdrawals. Brook Beeler, an Ecology spokeswoman, said department officials based the flow rule on what they determined to be “legally defensible, based on fisheries research.” The flow rule applies to the main stem of the river in Spokane County and part of Stevens County. More than 1,800 people submitted comments on the instream flow rule last fall. Rafters wanted higher flows during the summer to protect recreational uses of the river, and environmental groups also criticized the flows as too low.