Agency’s new Flow Rule threatens Spokane River (WA)
Posted: 01/27/2015
By: Thomas O'Keefe
2000 comments support protecting river flows
Spokane – Today river advocates criticized the Washington Department of Ecology
("Ecology") for adopting a flow rule for the Spokane River that allows further
dewatering of the popular urban river. The Spokane River flows from Lake Coeur d'Alene
through eastern Washington to its confluence with the Columbia River. The River supports
important fisheries and wildlife, and a vibrant boating and recreation industry. Two thousand
people sent comments to the agency opposing the draft rule and asking that river flows be
protected.
"This is a terrible decision for the Spokane River and our community," said Paul
Delaney, a co-founder and board member of the Northwest Whitewater Association in Spokane who has
been running the river for 35 years. "They never talked to us. They never did the basic use
surveys of thousands of people who use the river. And then the agency disregarded basic survey
information we provided on boating use of the Spokane River. In the end, the agency's
decision jeopardizes the Spokane River and the water future for this part of eastern
Washington."
The state rule sets flows for the Spokane River, including summertime low flows at 850 cubic feet
per second (cfs). Flows that are not protected eventually will be taken for out-of-stream water
uses, including Idaho pumpers, the City of Spokane, and the Office of the Columbia River's
Spokane-Rathdrum ASR project.
Although Ecology has defended its decision by pointing to a study that concludes that the 850cfs
flow is good for fish, scientists have since pointed out that the study is inadequate for setting
flows needed by Spokane River fish. The proposed flows are also inadequate for salmon fisheries,
which are proposed for restoration in the Spokane River.
In setting flows, the Department of Ecology failed to consult with boaters who use the Spokane
River. American Whitewater undertook a survey asking Spokane River boaters about their flow
preferences. Survey results show that all boaters prefer flows higher than 1000 cfs and most
prefer flows in the range of 5000 cfs. Flows less than 1000 cfs are considered unfavorable to
boaters and can cause damage to some craft.
"Excluding rafters, kayakers, and canoeists in setting flows is a dangerous move for
Washington State’s rivers," said Thomas O’Keefe, Pacific Northwest Stewardship
Director of American Whitewater. "Water may be political currency, but we also have
stewardship responsibilities to protect the state’s rivers."
Ecology also failed to do basic assessment of the scenic values of the Spokane River as it flows
through the gorge. CELP released an atlas of 37 key observation points of the Spokane
River’s downriver reach, starting at the Monroe Street bridge in downtown Spokane.
The study documents five different flows ranging from 2,800 to 1,000 cfs.
“We need to protect our rivers; the water frontier is over," said Rachael Paschal
Osborn, senior water policy advisor with the Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CELP).
"The law is clearly on the side of the Spokane River: ‘Perennial rivers and streams of
the state shall be retained with base flows necessary to provide for preservation of wildlife,
fish, scenic, aesthetic and other environmental values, and navigational values.'"
Thomas O'Keefe
3537 NE 87th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
E-mail: okeefe@americanwhitewater.org
Phone: 425-417-9012
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