Research

Core Department Functions


The 2 key activities that are funded from operating dollars are Groundwater (Aquifer) Monitoring and
Spokane County Coordinated Water System Plan.

Groundwater (Aquifer) Monitoring


Groundwater Monitoring is funded by the voter-approved APA Fee which is an annual fee assessed to those who live over the designated Aquifer Protection Area. Objectives of the groundwater monitoring program include:
  • Establish the areal distribution of groundwater quality from a network of wells covering the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer recharge area;
  • Identify water quality impacts from activities on the land surface;
  • Collect long-term data from wells to establish water quality trends; and
  • Evaluate the potential water quality impacts of aquifer discharge on river quality.
Learn more at the link above and for water monitoring reports.

Spokane County Coordinated Water System Plan


The Coordinated Water System Plan is a planning responsibility of the County - in collaboration with numerous stakeholders - and is updated approximately every 10 years. Visit this page to learn more about that planning process and view CWSP maps.

Projects


In addition to core department functions, Spokane County Water Resources consistently has one or more ongoing projects. Project lengths and purposes vary widely with some projects ending temporarily only to be revisited and updated later, pending available funding.
  • Ongoing Projects
  • Completed Projects
Select a link to a list of Ongoing or Completed projects above or link to the specific project you'd prefer in the grid below. Depending on the project location on the grid, you can see whether the project has stronger water quality or water quantity impacts and whether it is more closely connected to surface water or groundwater.

Water Quality


Surface Water


  • Saltese Flats Wetland Restoration
  • Nonpoint Source Phosphorus Assessment

Ground Water


  • CARA Wastewater Evaluation

Water Quantity


Surface Water


  • WRIA 55/57 Wetland Restoration and Storage

Ground Water


  • Water Bank Feasibility Study
  • west Plains Hydrogeologic Framework
  • West Plains Geophysical Orientation Survey
  • Water Availability Standard
  • Little Spokane Groundwater Inventory and Mapping
  • Water Demand Forecast Model