Post Falls’ Q’emiln Park boat launch ramp will close for the season Monday, Nov. 9. The ramp is located on the Spokane River upstream of Avista’s Post Falls Hydroelectric Development.
Post Falls Boat Ramp Closure
Weather conditions and falling water levels typically lead to the annual mid-November closure. The ramp remains closed for safety through much of fall and spring and generally reopens in late spring or early summer.
The reopening date will depend on inflow into Lake Coeur d’Alene. The lake is undergoing its annual fall drawdown, with an elevation of 2,125.79 feet, about 2 feet 2 inches below its maximum summer level. The target elevation for the end of November is 2,123.50 feet.
Spokane River Water Conditions
Spokane River flow below Post Falls was about 1,140 cubic feet per second, including approximately 150 cfs in the North Channel and 990 cfs in the South Channel. Flow at Spokane was about 1,420 cfs Monday morning.
Lake Spokane stood at 1,535.7 feet at the Long Lake dam and was expected to remain near its current fall elevation until January.
A press release stated, “We have begun our annual fall drawdown of Coeur d’Alene Lake.” It also cautioned that water levels and conditions around the dam can change at any time and urged river users to exercise care on the waterways.