POST FALLS - Nearly a month after it normally opens, the boat launch at Q'emiln Park is finally open.

River recreation is now permitted in the area between the Spokane Street bridge and the launch upstream of the Post Falls Dam.

River flows have dropped sufficiently to allow all of the spillgates at the hydroelectric facility to be closed, officials at Avista Utilities said.

The city's boat launch at the park opened Monday. Typically the opening occurs between Memorial Day and July 4. The median date for closing the gates is June 22.

Avista began closing the spillgates of the dam three weeks ago after Lake Coeur d'Alene reached the summer lake level of 2,128 feet.

Monday marks the latest date that the launch has opened since the county and city boater/swimmer safety ordinances for the launch went into effect 14 years ago.

The launch had opened as late as July 8 in 2008 and as early as May 27 in 2005.

This year is the third year in the past four that the launch has opened after July 4.

Cool spring temperatures and a lingering, heavy snowpack caused longer-than-normal high water flows, which delayed the opening of the boat launch.

Avista expects summer operation at the dam to continue through Labor Day, as long as weather conditions allow. River users are cautioned that weather conditions can cause rapid changes in water levels. Exercise caution when using the waterways.

For current information on anticipated elevation changes on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Spokane and the Spokane River, call 769-1357.

The recorded information is provided to advise shoreline property owners, commercial and recreational users of changes in lake and river elevation levels that may affect plans for water use.