Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Study Results and Policy Summit

May 8-9, 2007

Spokane Valley, Washington

2007 USGS Reports

prepared in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the Washington State Department of Ecology

Ground-Water Flow Model for the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer,
Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho
View the report

Hydrogeologic Framework and Ground-Water Budget of the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer,
Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho
View the report

Assessment of Areal Recharge to the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer,
Spokane County, Washington, and Bonner and Kootenai Counties, Idaho
View the report

Link to Washington State Department of Ecology - Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Study Background Page

Media coverage:

USGS News Release  May 1, 2007 - Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer Study Wraps It Up

Spokane's aquifer doing OK — for now-from Seattle Times from May 9, 2007

Other useful links:

Agenda & presentations

8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.-Welcome, Introductions, and Project Background-Guy Gregory, WA Dept. of Ecology  (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.-Hydrogeologic Setting of the SVRP Aquifer-Sue Kahle, U.S. Geological Survey (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

9:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.-Geophysics-John Oldow, University of Idaho- Mark Nell, University of Idaho (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)  (View Fly-Through AVI Movie)

2:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.-Overview of the SVRP Aquifer Model Akram Hossain, State of WA Water Research Center  (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

3:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m.-Model Limitations and Uncertainties-Paul Hsieh, U.S. Geological Survey (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

Model Scenarios-Akram Hossain, State of WA Water Research Center   (View the PowerPoint presentation) Allan Wylie, Idaho Dept. of Water Resources (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

7:00 p.m.-7:15 p.m.-Overview of Activities-welcome, introductions, overview-Jonathan Coe, Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce-Amy Johnson, VP of Workforce Development, Greater Spokane, Inc. (Listen to MP3 Audio)

7:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m.-Project Panel Presentation-Guy Gregory, WA Dept, of Ecology-Bob Haynes, ID Department of Water Resources (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

7:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.-Moderated Panel:  Speakers-Sue Kahle, U.S. Geological Survey- (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio) Jim Bartolino, U.S. Geological Survey- (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio) Paul Hsieh, U.S. Geological Survey- (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)   Panel-Gary Johnson, ID Water Resources Research Institute-Bryce Contor, ID Water Resources Research Institute-Mike Barber, State of WA Water Research Center-Ken Sprenke, University of Idaho

8:15 a.m.-8:45 a.m.-The study: Recap of purpose and results-Bob Haynes, Idaho Dept, of Water Resources (View the PowerPoint presentation)  Keith Stoffel, Washington Dept. of Ecology-(View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)

8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m.-Recognition and Acknowledgements-Jonathan Coe, Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce-Neil Beaver, w/Senator Lisa Brown (3rd District-WA)--Amy Johnson. VP of Workforce Development, Greater Spokane, Inc, (Listen to MP3 Audio)

9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.-State regulatory perspectives-David Tuthill, Director, Idaho Dept. of Water Resources (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio) -Bob Graham, Idaho Water Resource Board (View the PowerPoint presentation)  (Listen to MP3 Audio)-Jay Manning, Director, WA Dept. of Ecology- (Listen to MP3 Audio) -Ken Slattery, WR Program Manager, WA Dept. of Ecology (Listen to MP3 Audio) Question & Answer Period (Listen to MP3 Audio)

10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.-Break

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.-The Discussion Begins-Tribal and stakeholder interests-Intro: Quanah Spencer, Dir. of Leg. Affairs, Coeur d'Alene Tribe-Moderator: Barb Cosens, Univ. of Idaho, College of Law with Mike Galante, Manager, North Kootenai Water District-Barry Rosenberg, Exec. Dir., Kootenai Environmental Alliance-Mike Petersen, Exec. Dir., The Lands Council-Ty Wick, President of Spokane Aquifer Joint Board-Phillip Cernera, Lake Mgmt Dept. Director, Coeur dfAlene Tribe-Tom Hargreaves, former commissioner, Spokane County-Conservation District-Judy Morbeck, Kootenai County Planning Commission-Freeman Duncan, Chair, Kootenai Co. Aquifer Protection District (Listen to MP3 Audio)

3:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.-Previous panel members Q&A-Moderator: Mike Barber, WA Water Research Center

Left to right-Idaho Water Resource Board member Bob Graham, Washington Department of Ecology Water Resource Program Manager Ken Slattery, Washington Department of Ecology Director Jay Manning, Idaho Department of Water Resource Director Dave Tuthill.

Barb Cosens of the University of Idaho College of Law moderates a panel of stakeholder interests.