Post Falls boat ramp to close for season

POST FALLS — The Q’emiln Park boat launch ramp on the Spokane River in Post Falls will be closed for the season beginning Monday.

The ramp, located upstream of Avista’s Post Falls hydroelectric development, is typically closed each year in mid-November due to weather conditions and dropping water levels.

The boat launch must remain closed for safety reasons whenever water is spilled through gates at the Post Falls Dam, which can be the case for much of the fall through spring.

Generally, the ramp re-opens in the late spring or early summer, depending on the amount of inflows into Lake Coeur d’Alene.

As a result of Avista’s annual drawdown of the lake, Spokane River levels above the dam will be approximately 2 feet below the summer full-pool elevation of 2,128 feet on Nov. 4.

Water levels may drop by as much as 6 additional feet by the end of January. These water levels are subject to change due to weather conditions.

Water levels and conditions around the dam are subject to change at any time, river users should exercise caution whenever using the waterways.

Customers can access waterflow information at avistautilities.com/waterflow or on our 24-hour telephone information line.

You will find notification of anticipated lake elevation changes at 769-1357.

The recorded information is provided to advise shoreline property owners, commercial and recreational users of changes in the lake elevations and river flows that may affect plans for water use.