Spokane River Flows Meet Level 2 Drought Response

Spokane has activated Level 2 drought measures as river levels drop below 1,000 cubic feet per second. Residents must limit outdoor watering to two days a week and avoid peak hours from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m.

Public Works Director Marlene Feist highlighted community involvement in water conservation efforts. The Water Wise Spokane program provides free consultations to assist residents and businesses in reducing their water consumption. Since its launch, the program has saved over 344 million gallons of water, demonstrating its effectiveness. Spokane's summer water usage is significantly higher than the national average, emphasizing the urgency of these measures. Approximately half of the water recharging the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer comes from the Spokane River, further illustrating the need for conservation.

The city encourages all residents to follow the suggested watering schedule to protect local water sources.