Sullivan Park on the weekend of the tour. EWU geologists at work!
Click here to view and print the EASTERN half of the tour map that shows the following locations.
Click here to view and print the WESTERN half
of the tour map that shows the following locations.
A: Snow Pack Measurement
Turn north off of Trent onto Starr Road. Take Starr Road and
then Muzzy Road to Thompson Creek Road. Follow Thompson Creek Road
to the gate.
Snow pack measuring demonstrations on the hour. Some walking
involved.
A major source of water in the Aquifer is snow in the mountains
that surround the Aquifer. Spokane County measures the snow pack
above Newman Lake.
Learn how and where the snow pack is measured to determine the
potential runoff in the spring. The snow does not last through the
whole year at this site, so in September you will have to use your imagination.
(Spokane County staff)
B: Newman Lake Sump
The sump access is a gravel and boulder track leading north off of
Trent (Highway 290) between Starr Road and Idaho Road. Look for signs.
There is a gate across the road with a Spokane County sign. Park
at the gate and follow the track north.
A stream flows out of Newman Lake but it never reaches the Spokane
River. Learn why this stream and many others in the Spokane Valley
disappear.
Any other liquid dumped into or on the ground above the Aquifer
will also disappear. Learn what happens to those liquids.
(Spokane County staff)
C: Hand Pump Along The Centennial Trail
From Interstate 90 take exit 299 (the last exit in Washington).
Park in the Centennial Trail access parking lot just south of the interchange.
Walk east along the Trail about half a mile, across the river, to the hand
pump and sign.
Pump water out of the Aquifer with your own hands. Learn how
the water purveyors pump Aquifer water and distribute it to you.
(Spokane Joint Aquifer Board)
D: Sullivan Park
Just north of the Spokane River on Sullivan
Talks on the hour.
Learn about how the huge floods during the Ice Age formed the
Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. See the how big some of
the boulders in the Aquifer are. Water flows through this material
very easily making a very good aquifer.
(Dr. John Buchanan, EWU Geology)
Sullivan Park on the weekend of the tour. EWU geologists at work!
E: Hutchinson Irrigation District
618 N. Sargent Road (2 blocks west of Argonne)
Learn about a high tech, totally automated water pumping and
distribution operation.
(Spokane Joint Aquifer Board)
F: An Original 1907 City Water Well Near Upriver Dam.
Saturday only.
Turn north off Trent at the blinking yellow light onto Waterworks.
Follow Waterworks and the signs to the Upriver Dam visitor parking lot.
Upriver Dam was built in 1894 to provide water from the river
for the City of Spokane. The existence of the Aquifer was discovered
at this site during excavation for the dam. The first public water
supply wells in the Aquifer were dug here in 1907. See one of these
original wells and learn about the history.
Group tours of the facility, including the dam, can be arranged by
calling 625-6641.
(City of Spokane staff)
G: Spokane Hatchery
2927 W. Waikiki Road
Saturday only tours on the hour (10 & 11 a.m., 12, 1, 2, &
3 p.m.)
Griffith Spring, located at the Spokane Hatchery, is one place water
flows out of the Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. Water
from this spring, and other springs in the area, flow to the Little Spokane
River. See how the hatchery uses the Aquifer water.
Tours for groups at other times can be arranged by calling 625-5169.
(Hatchery volunteers)
H: Painted Rocks Gaging Site
Just north of where Rutter Parkway crosses the Little Spokane River.
Park at the Painted Rocks parking lot and follow the path south to
the Little Spokane River.
Discover how much water flows out of the Spokane Aquifer through
springs and into the Little Spokane River. Participate in measuring
the amount of water in the river. Explore the Little Spokane River
Natural Area.
(Department of Ecology and USGS)
I: Wastewater Treatment Plant
4401 N. Aubrey L. White Parkway
Two Saturday tours only: Saturday Sept 26 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The tours last 1 to 1½ hours.
The water that goes down your drain and into the sewer ends up
at this plant. Learn how the water is treated and discharged.
Arrange for group tours on weekdays by calling 625-4600.
(City of Spokane staff)
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