OUR GEM: Why the Spokane ran low and what it means for the future
Stretches of the Spokane River ran dry this summer. Photo via Spokane Riverkeeper.
This summer, we saw stretches of the Spokane River run alarmingly low, and even completely dry. In some places, the thriving waterway we know and love completely disappeared. While it may feel sudden, there are clear reasons behind this — and a vision of how, together, we can keep water flowing in the future.
The Spokane River and the Spokane Valley — Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer are two parts of the same system, constantly exchanging water. When we pump water from the aquifer for homes, farms or businesses, it can reduce the amount of water feeding the river. In the heat of summer, when the river needs that connection most, this balance becomes fragile. Small changes in our pumping and the groundwater level can have big impacts on the river.
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