Avista to lower water level on Long Lake in effort to combat invasive species

Avista Corp. is releasing water from Spokane’s Long Lake to a winter drawdown level about 14 feet below the lake’s normal summer elevation of 1,536 feet, in an effort to combat an invasive species.

Beginning on Jan. 6, the power company will lower the lake by a foot a day for up to three weeks. The lower lake level will be down for as long as six weeks, depending on the weather. Ideal conditions for the utility’s work are sustained periods of single-digit temperatures and little to no snow on the exposed lakebed.

The drawdown is being done to control the population of Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasive aquatic weeds found in the lake. The drawdown also will allow shoreline homeowners to do repair and construction work along the shoreline.

The company is encouraging property owners and lake-users to remove boats from the water and remove or secure docks and houseboats.

For more information, visit myavista.com/waterflow, or call (509) 495-8043 or (208) 769-1357.