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Project summaries
Spokane River
The Spokane River and Long Lake
system is a product of
historic Glacial Lake Missoula Flood deposits and is currently
controlled by significant boulders, large cobbles, and
bedrock outcrops. The project area encompasses 59 river
miles from the Idaho/Washington state line, through five
hydroelectric developments (HEDs), to the Stevens County
boundary.
Hydrologically, the Spokane River is the most
stable river
system in Spokane County. Functional condition ratings
for
this system were third highest overall, but only due to
its
size. It has 95 percent of its shorelines in good functional
condition (56.3 river miles) and only five percent assessed
as at-risk (2.7 river miles). There are no nonfunctional
reaches within this system.
The areas rated functional-at-risk
are subject to
concentrated recreational use. The activities and foot
traffic
have trampled banks, worn trails, and suppressed the
establishment of riparian trees and shrubs. Local areas
of
accelerated erosion have resulted and caused these areas
to be susceptible to damage during large flow events.
Click photos for larger view.
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