Avista reducing water releases from Post Falls Dam

 Avista will reduce water releases from Post Falls Dam to the minimum level required under Avista’s federal operating license beginning this week.

The region’s continued hot and dry weather is decreasing water levels in Lake Coeur d’Alene, a press release said Friday. As a result, Avista, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and the Washington Department of Ecology will follow licensing requirements to reduce water releases from Post Falls Dam.

"The goal of this long-established process is to help balance lake levels while maintaining as much water as possible in the river during continued dry conditions," the release said. 

Avista expects to reduce flows from Post Falls Dam to the federally required minimum of 500 cubic feet per second. Under the federal license, these reduced releases typically occur in late summer, when Lake Coeur d'Alene reaches low-water levels specified in Avista’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license.

Avista, DEQ, and the Washington Department of Ecology encourage residents to practice water conservation until the end of the summer. During periods of low river flow, some sections of the Spokane River, particularly upstream of Sullivan Road, can become more vulnerable to low-water or dry conditions.

Similar conditions occurred in 2025 and could occur again this year.

“Every drop counts during dry summers. The river depends on the aquifer, and dry stretches like we’ve seen are likely to continue if we don’t commit to conservation at home," said Jaime Short, Washington Department of Ecology Eastern Region Water Resources Program section manager. “Check for sprinkler leaks, avoid watering sidewalks, and water during cooler hours. Make conservation part of your summer routine and help keep our river flowing.”