TUMTUM, Wash. — Avista will start drawing down of Lake Spokane next week to help control invasive aquatic weeds and prepare for lakeshore construction projects.
The drawdown is dependent on precipitation and river flows, Avista says, but operators expect to lower the reservoir created by Long Lake Dam a foot per day. Avista will attempt to keep the lake drawn down to a maximum of 13-14 feet below summer elevation for a duration of three to six weeks, depending upon flows and the weather.
Under the right weather conditions, including sustained periods of single-digit temperatures and little or no snow on the exposed lakebed, the drawdown is expected to help control Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasive aquatic weeds in Lake Spokane. It also allows shoreline homeowners to complete federal, state and locally-permitted repair and construction projects along the lake shoreline…