Spokane River

Spokane River
Kmusser · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Spokane River
Country	United States
States	Washington (state), Idaho
Length	111 miles
Source	Coeur d'Alene Lake
Mouth	Columbia River
Basin	Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie
Cities	Spokane, Washington, Spokane Valley, Washington, Post Falls, Idaho, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Spokane River The Spokane River flows from Coeur d'Alene Lake in Kootenai County, Idaho across northeastern Washington (state) to join the Columbia River near Pine Point, Washington. The river shaped regional development, powering early hydroelectric power and sustaining indigenous communities including the Spokane Tribe of Indians. It traverses urban centers such as Spokane, Washington and natural corridors like the Selkirk Mountains and the Columbia Plateau.

Geography

The Spokane River originates at Coeur d'Alene Lake in Kootenai County, Idaho, passes through Benewah County, Idaho and enters Spokane County, Washington before reaching the Columbia River near Franklin County, Washington and Whitman County, Washington borders. Along its course it links notable features including Post Falls, Idaho, the dramatic Spokane Falls in downtown Spokane, Washington, and the broad Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie. The river drains portions of the Selkirk Mountains, skirts the Bitterroot Range foothills, and intersects transportation corridors such as Interstate 90, U.S. Route 2, and historic Northern Pacific Railway alignments. Numerous tributaries join it, including the Little Spokane River, the Spokane River (tributary) — DO NOT LINK—(note: forbidden), and streams draining from Mount Spokane and the Coeur d'Alene Mountains.

Hydrology and Watershed

The Spokane River watershed encompasses the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie aquifer system and parts of Kootenai County, Idaho and Spokane County, Washington. Seasonal snowmelt from the Selkirk Mountains and runoff from Coeur d'Alene Lake drive annual discharge fluctuations that historically supported spring freshets important to the Spokane Tribe of Indians and colonial-era navigation efforts tied to Hudson's Bay Company trade networks. Dams constructed by entities like Gonzaga University-associated utilities and corporations such as Avista Corporation altered flow regimes for hydroelectric power at projects like Long Lake Dam (Washington) and Little Falls Dam (Spokane County, Washington). Measurement stations operated by the United States Geological Survey monitor streamflow, sediment transport, and seasonal variability connected to broader Columbia River Basin water management.

History and Human Use

Indigenous peoples including the Spokane Tribe of Indians and neighboring Coeur d'Alene Tribe historically fish, camp, and conduct ceremonies along the river, with sites recognized in treaties such as the Treaty of 1855 (United States) context. European exploration and trade involved figures associated with the Northwest Fur Company and expeditions linked to David Thompson and Alexander Ross. The 19th-century steamboat era, railroad expansion by the Northern Pacific Railway, and the rise of mills and sawmills transformed riverine use. Hydropower development by companies like Avista Corporation and infrastructure projects tied to Bonneville Power Administration and regional utilities reshaped riparian landscapes. Urban development in Spokane, Washington centered on industrial uses near Spokane Falls, including flour mills like those driven by entrepreneurs connected to Sherman Booth (merchant)-era enterprises. The river corridor later hosted civic works such as parks designed by planners influenced by movements linked to Olmsted Brothers-era park design currents.

Ecology and Wildlife

The Spokane River supports riparian habitats that host species protected under laws associated with Endangered Species Act listings in the Columbia River Basin context and regional management by agencies like the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Aquatic fauna include native and introduced fish historically targeted by the Spokane Tribe of Indians and recreational anglers, with runs influenced by dam passage issues similar to Columbia River salmon management debates. Riparian corridors provide habitat for birds recorded by organizations such as the Audubon Society, and mammals tied to the Rocky Mountains-adjacent ecosystems. Invasive species monitored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies include aquatic plants and nonnative mussels that threaten water quality and native assemblages.

Recreation and Parks

The Spokane River corridor hosts municipal and regional amenities managed by entities including Spokane Parks and Recreation Department, Spokane County Parks, and nonprofit groups like Friends of the Spokane River (local coalitions). Notable sites include Riverfront Park (Spokane), Idaho Centennial Trail connections near Post Falls, and trails linking Mount Spokane State Park and urban greenways. Boating, kayaking, rafting, and angling draw visitors to stretches managed for whitewater features near Nine Mile Falls and calmer reaches by Coeur d'Alene Lake outflow. Events organized in downtown Spokane, Washington leverage the falls and riverfront as focal points, supported by institutions such as Riverfront Spokane and cultural venues including Spokane Convention Center.

Environmental Issues and Conservation

Water quality challenges stem from historic industrial contamination, municipal effluent oversight involving agencies like the Washington State Department of Ecology, and legacy pollution from mining activities tied to the Silver Valley (Idaho) region. Management efforts involve remediation and monitoring coordinated by the Environmental Protection Agency (United States), state environmental agencies, tribal authorities including the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and conservation NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy. Restoration projects focus on riparian revegetation, fish passage improvements analogous to initiatives across the Columbia River Basin, and stormwater management integrated with urban planning by City of Spokane officials. Ongoing research by institutions like Washington State University and Gonzaga University examines contaminant fate, aquifer interactions with the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie system, and climate-driven hydrologic shifts affecting regional water resources.

Category:Rivers of Washington (state) Category:Rivers of Idaho