Avista to adjust hydro operations
<p>LaRoy Dowd, Post Falls dam manager for Avista, walks above the spillway Wednesday where an estimated 12,000 cubic feet of water per second</p>
POST FALLS - Avista has opened all spill gates at the Post Falls Dam to try and maintain the level of Lake Coeur d'Alene and prevent flooding.
The move is in response to rising Coeur d'Alene and St. Joe River flows and Lake Coeur d'Alene, caused by recent rainfall and warmer temperatures.
Avista's Spokane River Project includes the Post Falls Dam, which affects the level of Lake Coeur d'Alene, as well as the Spokane River and the downstream Upper Falls, Monroe Street, Nine Mile and Long Lake Dams.
Lake Coeur d'Alene was roughly 2 feet above its summer full-pool elevation of 2,128 feet on Jan. 19 and river flows in downtown Spokane reached 21,000 cubic feet per second.
At the same time Avista operators are working to keep Lake Spokane slightly below full pool to help prevent flood conditions near the confluence of Little Spokane River and Lake Spokane.
As flows decrease Avista will probably bring the Lake Spokane elevations up near summer full-pool levels.
Depending on weather conditions and subsequent levels along the river and in Lake Coeur d'Alene, Avista will reassess whether to draw down Lake Spokane as previously planned.
Property owners and lake users are reminded to make necessary preparations, including removing boats from the water, and removing or securing docks and boathouses to accommodate changing water conditions.
"Water levels are subject to change quickly due to a variety of factors, including weather," according to a press release. "Lake and river users should always be alert to signs of such changes and exercise the highest level of personal caution and safety when using the waterway."
Info: (509) 495-8043. Current lake and river levels can be seen online at http://www.avistautilities.com/inside/resources/Pages/waterflow.aspx.