Entire stretches of the Spokane River have gone dry this summer. Fish and wildlife are stranded, water quality suffers, and the river that defines our community is disappearing. Tell local leaders to act now.

Portions of the Spokane River — including stretches between Barker Rd. and Flora — have lost all surface water. This is not just “low flows.” In places, there is no water. When flows vanish, fish habitat collapses and the river’s health, recreation, and our region’s identity are at stake.

Why the Spokane River Is Running Dry

These low flows are caused by a combination of weather patterns, climate change, dam operations, drought conditions, and the river’s close connection to the local aquifer. When water levels drop, aquatic life struggles, habitats collapse, and water quality declines.

Understanding the river’s flow dynamics is key to protecting it. Learn More about the Spokane River–aquifer connection and why the river depends on careful water management →

Conservation isn’t just about the river — it benefits the entire community. Reducing unnecessary water use helps sustain flows, improves water quality, and protects wildlife.

Add your name

Choose your petition(s) below. Each message is tailored to the right decision-makers.

Spokane County

We call on County Commissioners to enact county-wide water conservation measures, apply state instream-flow protections in planning/permitting, and lead regional coordination.

City of Spokane

We call on City Council to enforce and expand water conservation, coordinate regionally, integrate river-flow protection into city water planning, and donate their unused water rights in trust for long-term river protection.

City of Spokane Valley

We call on Spokane Valley to adopt and enforce mandatory outdoor watering restrictions in drought/low-flow periods, coordinate regionally, and educate residents about aquifer–river connections.

City of Liberty Lake

We call on Liberty Lake to strengthen and enforce water conservation, create a drought response plan tied to Spokane River flow triggers, and join regional conservation efforts.

Take Your Impact Further — Speak Up for the Spokane River

Thank you for signing! Your voice matters, but you can make an even bigger difference by contacting your local representatives directly. Personal messages help decision-makers understand how critical the river’s flows are to the community, wildlife, and our shared future.

Ways to take action:

  • Email your City Council member or County Commissioner — use your personal story to show why protecting the river matters. Not sure what to say? Use our template here to get started.

  • Share your experience — explain how a dry river affects your family, neighborhood, or community.

  • Invite others to act — encourage friends, neighbors, and colleagues to sign the petition and contact their representatives.

FAQ

  • The Post Falls Dam operations certainly impact river flows. In August, the flows in this section largely depend on what is coming from Post Falls.

    Avista is legally required to keep the lake held at a summer recreational level through Labor Day as a requirement of their license.

    From Avista’s FERC license: “To enhance aquatic habitat for the wild rainbow trout population downstream of Post Falls dam, the license requires Avista to maintain a minimum discharge of 600 cfs from the Post Falls dam from June 7 until the Tuesday following Labor Day each year, and reduce the minimum discharge to 500 cfs if the lake level falls below 2,127.75 feet during the summer full-pool period. The contingency for a 500-cfs minimum flow release will help ensure that sufficient water is stored in Coeur d’Alene Lake to maintain lake elevations for summer recreation, and provide for protection of aquatic habitat for rainbow trout in the Spokane River during low-water years.”  

  • Yes, multiple sections have completely lost surface water. These are not just seasonal side channels.

  • Yes. If you live, work, or recreate in multiple jurisdictions, please add your name to each.

  • Reduced outdoor use, particularly irrigation during hot months, eases pressure on the aquifer and helps sustain river flows

  • As you move down river, the elevation of the river relative to the aquifer changes, and the aquifer starts discharging water into the river. During late summer, you can see this happening near Sullivan Road. The springs appear all along the shore! You can learn more about the Spokane River–aquifer connection here.