Avista Testing Spokane River Flows in Riverfront Park
August 25th
Spokane River Forum Staff
People hanging out in Riverfront Park or crossing downtown bridges may have noticed cranes, sandbags and people in the north channel of the Spokane River. No, the big flood isn’t coming.
What’s going on is Avista conducting an “Upper Falls Aesthetic Spill Pilot Test,” a condition of Avista’s new FERC license for the Spokane River Hydroelectric Project. Results of this test will help determine how to assure the most aesthetic (pleasing to the eye and ear) flow in the north and middle channels during the dry summer months.
The test was first conceived by a variety of interested stakeholders involved early on in the relicensing process. Their goal was to determine if channel modifications could be used to direct water out of the human made troughs that once channeled water to mills and passed raw sewage downstream.
Historically, Avista’s hydropower operations resulted in little to no flow in the north and middle channels during the summer. Avista used its spill gates (located by the Red Lion Hotel on the north bank) to divert water into the south channel. The south channel allows water to migrate past the Opera House and Carrousel before a long underground pipe sends it to Upper Falls Dam (located on the south bank by the walking bridge that connects to Canada Island). The water then reenters the mainstem of the river.
As part of Avista’s new 50 year license, water will flow year-round in the north and middle channels. The sandbagging you see is to test whether the water looks and sounds better with a 300 cfs flow with some channel modifications to direct the flow out of human made troughs, or if it looks better with a 500 cfs flow and no modifications.
Speed Fitzhugh, Avista’s Spokane River License Manager, said the test is happening August 25th and 26th. An advisory group of about 15 people representing diverse interests and backgrounds will evaluate test spills and help decide if the proposed channel modifications will look better than no modifications.
“My initial observations, based on what I have seen so far, is that the modifications could be successful in creating a much more beautiful river in downtown Spokane during the summer months –something we can all be proud of,” he said.
The cranes, sandbags and other materials used for the test will be removed from the channel next week. If modifications to the channel are the best way to go, Avista anticipates completing the work in 2011.