Let summer begin
<p>Lifeguard Veronica Buck guards the East side of City Park beach while Kimberly Felts, 8, and Conner Bellus, 6, play on the beach. Lifeguards will be on duty everyday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. until mid-August.</p>
Avista Utilities advises Spokane River users that river recreation is now permitted in the area between the Spokane Street Bridge and the boater safety cables located just upstream of the Post Falls Dam.
Meanwhile, lifeguards at City Beach in Coeur d'Alene started Monday. They work from noon to 6 p.m. each day.
The opening of Honeysuckle Beach in Hayden was June 14. Lifeguards will be staffing the beach from noon to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Again this year, concessions are available at Honeysuckle Beach.
River flows at the Post Falls Dam have dropped sufficiently to allow all the spillgates at the hydroelectric facility to be closed.
The city of Post Falls boat launch and swim beach at Q'emiln Park is opening to the public today at 10 a.m. Typically this occurs sometime between Memorial Day and the July 4 holiday and on average about June 22.
Visitors to the park are reminded of upgrades taking place this summer to the South Channel Dam located adjacent to Q'emiln Park. To ensure public safety, park visitors should be alert to signs and stay out of designated construction areas. Information on the upgrades is available at www.avistautilities.com/postfalls.
Avista expects summer operation at the dam to continue through Labor Day, as long as weather conditions allow.
River users should always be alert and aware that weather conditions and dam operations can cause rapid changes in water levels. Please exercise caution when using the waterways and always wear a life jacket when boating.
In an emergency, if spillgates need to be opened, the boat launch and swim beach at Q'emiln Park may be temporarily closed, as well as the area of the river downstream from Spokane Street Bridge.
If this occurs, boaters in the area will be notified, and temporary closure signs will be posted. This specific "ordinance area" is addressed in the Post Falls Boater/Swimmer Ordinances; City of Post Falls Ordinance 875 sec 8.44.010 and Section II-D of Kootenai County Resolution 2006-68.
For current information on anticipated elevation changes on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Spokane and the Spokane River, go to AvistaUtilities.com/Waterflow.
The information is provided to advise shoreline property owners, commercial and recreational users of changes in lake and river elevation levels that may affect plans for water use. You can also check weather and water flow information at that site.