Due to pressure from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and “to help meet the energy shortage facing its customers,” Avista Utilities has taken the drastic measure of diverting all flow from the Spokane River through its turbines, effectively shutting off the Falls.

Avista, under prior licensing agreement with FERC, had been required to allow a minimum flow to the falls - even during times when the river is low. Under a special permit granted late June, 2001, that agreement was amended to allow a “one time only” diversion of the flow.

The move comes at a time when both hydropower is in short supply—due to an unusually low snowpack - and when energy prices in general are at record levels in the wake of California’s energy woes. “With energy supplies extremely tight, we want to capture every available megawatt of available energy to meet our customers needs,” said Avista Utilities President Scott Morris. Daylight flow to the falls has never before been halted since the current dam was constructed in 1973.

By keeping the falls dry throughout the day, Avista hopes to generate an additional one megawatt of electricity, or enough power for about 650 homes, according to the utility. The Spokane River peaked on May 2 at 16,800 cubic feet per second, and has since dropped below 8,000 cfs. Its normal peak flow in the spring is 26,000 cfs.

Avista met with numerous groups and organizations, including local tribes, the Spokane Parks Department, and Friends of the Falls to seek input on the proposal. Through these discussions, Avista plans to refine its schedule to allow flow over the Falls on weekends and during summer holidays. In addition, Avista plans to resume normal operations in late September or early October, not November, as was earlier proposed.

After considering the measure at its May 16, 2001 meeting, the Board of Friends of the Falls voted to neither support nor oppose Avista’s application, rather, a written statement encouraged several measures if the utility pursued the shut-down; the measures, taken directly from the letter of response, are listed below:

“We commend Avista in its ongoing conservation initiatives. Beyond simply reducing power demand, we hope these measures will also serve to underscore the truly severe conditions under which this decision to shut off flow to the Falls might be made - and to heighten appreciation of the value of our community’s water resources.”

“We appreciate your company’s assurance that this measure, if taken, would be a ‘one-time request for this summer only...with regular operations (to) resume in early November.’”

“Our group would like to participate in any deliberations that may occur with other organizations concerning the possibility of restoring normal ‘spills’ for special community events during the summer.”

“As expressed at our recent meeting, Friends of the Falls hopes this circumstance will be used in other ways to educate the public, and to highlight Avista’s long-term stewardship of the river and falls area. The absence of the falls is likely to be remembered for many years to come, and such an event presents unique and timely opportunities.”

“This is certainly an extreme measure,” said Friends of the Falls President Rick Hastings. “The Falls are a huge part of Spokane’s identity, and we don’t want them to be seen as simply a utility.” “If this is indeed necessary, we hope it’ll be worked toward a long-term benefit.”

Copies of various documents related to Avista’s actions are linked below:

Avista’s press release (124 Kb, Acrobat® file)
FERC Notice of Application (96 Kb, Acrobat® file)
Spokesman-Review article (48 Kb, Acrobat® file)
FOF response letter (185 Kb, Acrobat® file)

Sunset, a regional lifestyle magazine, listed the Spokane Falls among “The West’s best waterfalls” in its March 2001 issue.

Among high and scenic falls located everywhere from Arizona to Hawaii, and Wyoming to Washington, the magazine included the Spokane Falls as the only such wonder located in an urban area.

“Stoked by runoff from the mountains of Idaho, the Spokane River barges through downtown Spokane in a yearly performance that is a rite of Spring,” the article states, and “Overlooks north and south of the lower falls provide unnerving views of the river’s springtime virility.”

Also included were the Palouse Falls, just south of Spokane.

In November of 2000, the Spokesman-Review endorsed the participation of the National Parks Service’s River, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program in the development of concepts for the River Gorge.

In ”Our View,” John Kafentzis of the editorial board stated that:

“The Spokane River is our city’s single most important piece of geography...Spokane without its river gorge would be like Seattle without Puget Sound or San Francisco without the bay.” “Now,” he continued, “with a little help from the National Park Service, Spokane has the opportunity to display this natural jewel in a way that it can be fully appreciated.”

To read the full version of the Spokesman’s editorial, click on the link below.

SR: “Natural Jewel” (69 Kb, Acrobat® file)