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Lake Roosevelt drawdown reveals hint of Kettle Falls

At 1,218 foot elevation the waters of Lake Roosevelt, behind Grand Coulee Dam, on May 5, 2011, are 72 vertical feet below ‘full pool’. Upstream of the two bridges most of Hayes Island and the beginning of the historic Kettle Falls is just starting to show. (J. Foster Fanning)
At 1,218 foot elevation the waters of Lake Roosevelt, behind Grand Coulee Dam, on May 5, 2011, are 72 vertical feet below ‘full pool’. Upstream of the two bridges most of Hayes Island and the beginning of the historic Kettle Falls is just starting to show. (J. Foster Fanning)

FISHING/BOATING -- The water level in Lake Roosevelt (behind Grand Coulee Dam) today is elevation 1,218 feet. 

That's 72 feet below full pool.

Anglers say fishing is spotty.  Boaters say launching is difficult to impossible because the water level is below all of the reservoir's boat ramps.

"Upstream of the two bridges (Highway 20), most of Hayes Island and the beginning of the historic Kettle Falls is just starting to show," said local resident and Facebook friend J. Foster Fanning, who snapped the photo above this morning.

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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