Little Spokane River

Little Spokane River
Name	Little Spokane River
Length	35 miles (56 km)
Source	Lake Spokane (Long Lake)
Source location	near Nine Mile Falls, Spokane County, Washington
Mouth	Spokane River
Mouth location	near Spokane, Washington
Basin countries	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Washington
Tributaries left	Deer Creek, Plantes Ferry Creek
Tributaries right	Gillenwater Creek, Cable Creek

Little Spokane River The Little Spokane River is a tributary of the Spokane River in northeastern Washington state. Flowing roughly north to south through Spokane County, it connects groundwater, wetlands, and riparian corridors to urban and rural communities. The river supports diverse fisheries and wetlands managed by regional, state, and federal agencies.

Course

The river rises near Nine Mile Falls, Washington and flows from Lake Spokane (also known as Long Lake), passes through or near Chattaroy, Washington, Spangle, Washington, and the rural communities around Medical Lake, Washington before joining the Spokane River near the city of Spokane, Washington. Along its course it receives flows from tributaries such as Deer Creek (Spokane County, Washington), Gillenwater Creek, and Cable Creek, and skirts protected areas including Plantes Ferry Wildlife Area and the Little Spokane River Natural Area. The watershed intersects transportation corridors like U.S. Route 2 (Washington) and Washington State Route 291 and lies within riverscape influenced by features linked to the Columbia River Basin and the Missouri River Basin divide.

Hydrology and Water Quality

Streamflow in the Little Spokane River is influenced by regulated releases from Long Lake Dam and seasonal snowmelt in the Selkirk Mountains and inland plateau. Historic gauging by the United States Geological Survey shows variability from summer low flows to spring freshets tied to Pacific Northwest climatology and precipitation patterns governed by the Pacific Ocean and Cascade Range rain shadow. Water quality monitoring programs run by the Washington State Department of Ecology, Spokane County Water Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency assess parameters including temperature, turbidity, nutrient concentrations, and bacterial indicators. Impairments identified in regional assessments reference nonpoint sources from agriculture in the Palouse and suburban runoff around Spokane Valley, plus legacy contaminants associated with mining and industrial activity in the Coeur d'Alene Basin. Groundwater-surface water interactions with the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer modulate baseflow and water temperature, factors relevant to listed species protections under the Endangered Species Act and state water quality standards.

Ecology and Wildlife

The Little Spokane River corridor provides habitat for anadromous and resident fish assemblages including rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, and populations of bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout in upper tributaries. Riparian zones support stands of black cottonwood, quaking aspen, and willow that in turn sustain bird species such as great blue heron, belted kingfisher, and migratory passerines using the Pacific Flyway. Mammals in the watershed include beaver, river otter, white-tailed deer, and occasional black bear movements from nearby ranges like the Selkirk Mountains. Wetland complexes and side channels host amphibians including western toad and invertebrate communities that underpin aquatic food webs studied by researchers at institutions such as Washington State University and Eastern Washington University. Conservation concerns focus on habitat fragmentation, invasive species like reed canarygrass and zebra mussel susceptibility linked to regional connectivity of the Columbia River System.

Human Use and Recreation

Local communities and visitors use the river for angling, with access points near Nine Mile Falls Dam, County Park (Spokane County), and county-managed boat launches. Recreational activities include fly fishing for trout and steelhead, paddling in calm reaches, birdwatching, and hiking on trails maintained by Spokane County Parks and Recreation and non-profit groups such as the Inland Northwest Fly Fishing Club. Land along the river supports rural residences, small-scale agriculture, and managed forestlands owned by entities like the Washington Department of Natural Resources and private timber companies. Cultural and ecotourism events sponsored by organizations including the Spokane Riverkeeper and regional chapters of the Audubon Society promote stewardship and public engagement.

History and Cultural Significance

Indigenous peoples, notably the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and bands of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, used the Little Spokane River corridor for fishing, transportation, and seasonal camps prior to Euro-American settlement. Explorers, fur trappers associated with the Hudson's Bay Company, and later settlers established trade and homesteads during the 19th century, intersecting with treaties such as the Treaty of 1855 and regional dynamics around the Oregon Trail migration. Industrial developments including timber extraction, irrigation projects, and hydropower installations around Nine Mile Falls influenced 20th-century land use, while local conservation movements in the late 20th century—driven by groups like the Sierra Club and local land trusts—worked to protect riparian corridors and public access.

Conservation and Management

Management of the Little Spokane River involves coordination among agencies and stakeholders including the Washington State Department of Ecology, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Spokane County, the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and non-governmental organizations such as Conservation Northwest and local land trusts. Key initiatives address riparian restoration, invasive species control, streamflow augmentation, and water quality improvement through best management practices promoted by Natural Resources Conservation Service programs and state grant funding. Conservation planning references regional frameworks like the Chinook Salmon Recovery Plan and integrated watershed management approaches used across the Columbia River Basin. Ongoing monitoring, habitat enhancement projects, and community outreach aim to balance recreational use, agricultural needs, and ecological resilience in the face of climate-driven hydrologic change.

Category:Rivers of Spokane County, Washington Category:Tributaries of the Spokane River