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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Nine Mile Reservoir drawdown starts Friday

Water spills over the Nine Mile Dam operated by Avista on Thursday, March 24, 2011.   (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)
Water spills over the Nine Mile Dam operated by Avista on Thursday, March 24, 2011. (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)

WATERSPORTS -- The water level of Nine Mile Reservoir will be lowered 3 to 6 feet starting Friday to accommodate work underway at Nine Mile Dam.

Avista Utilities is replacing original 1906 turbine generating Units 1 and 2, and associated equipment. The project requires the reservoir to be drawn down below normal levels until the end of the year.

The reservoir will be drawn down more sharply to about 12 feet during the middle of October for approximately one week, officials said. This drawdown will allow Avista to replace additional equipment.  Avista will take two days to draw the reservoir down in an effort to minimize erosion and other effects on aquatic resources. 

Avista plans to take advantage of the extended October drawdown to construct a Nine Mile Boat-Take-Out just upstream of the dam, and will increase efforts to remove invasive flowering rush plants along the shoreline.

Landowners should secure docks and plan recreation activities with the drawdowns in mind.



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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