Thursday, September 3, 2026 - 4:00pm
Spokane Riverkeeper: The Spokane River is changing, and the way we manage its flows needs to change with it. The river is losing water faster and earlier, and potentially for a greater distance than we have seen before. At the same time, less snow, hotter temperatures and longer dry periods are putting more pressure on summer flows.
We don't have every answer yet about why those losses are increasing. But we do know the current flow regime at Post Falls isn't keeping enough water in the river.
FERC created the current flow rules based on the available science and conditions at relicensing in 2009. The 500 cfs provision was designed for drought years with exceptionally low lake levels. It has now been used 9 of the last 15 years, and the river is showing us that 500 cfs is no longer enough to sustain the losing reach.
We need leadership to address this now, while continuing to study what is changing. So, we're calling on Gov. Ferguson to lead and direct Washington agencies to work with Idaho and Tribes to change how flows are managed at Post Falls and pursue the FERC changes needed to protect the Spokane River.
Join us Thursday, September 3, at the Barker Road Trailhead for the Rally for Spokane River Flows.
Come see the dry reach. Hear what's happening. And help us call for action.