The Spokane River is entering a long process that will shape its future for decades, and now is the time for the public to get involved if you want to make a meaningful difference in what that future looks like. The City of Spokane has started the Upriver Dam relicensing process by filing its pre-application document with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Learn more about the process, and get involved in the river’s future!

Hangman Creek is known for it’s muddy waters that frequently follow rain on snow events or thunderstorms-an unfortunate result of losing the riparian vegetation and floodplains in the watershed. However, the muddy waters that followed late May’s thunderstorms in 2026 was worse than we’ve ever seen.

Katelyn Scott and Greg Gordon wrote this Op-Ed to draw attention to the privatization of the river’s waterfront. They call attention to the environmental impacts and lack of public involvement in the permitting process.