Oral Presentation Society for Freshwater Science 2026 Annual Meeting

20 Years and Counting: Long-term Monitoring of the Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer in Washington (135014)

Amy Sumner 1
  1. Spokane County, Spokane, WA, United States

The Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie (SVRP) Aquifer underlies about 370 square miles of the relatively flat valley spanning Washington and Idaho. Spokane County's SVRP Aquifer Long Term Water Quality Monitoring Program is a voluntary effort to monitor the quality and quantity of this important groundwater resource. Through this effort, consistent data has been collected since 1998 at monitoring locations across the aquifer. Data includes 17 inorganic chemicals, field parameters, and groundwater levels. A thorough analysis of the County's data from 1999 - 2019 was published in 2023, providing insights into the processes and human activities influencing groundwater quality and water levels. This presentation will provide background on the monitoring program, highlight the major findings of 20-year analysis, and discuss the next steps for evolving the monitoring program to address future concerns.

  1. Sumner, A. (2023). Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Spokane County, WA Long-term Monitoring Program 20-year Analysis (1999 - 2019). Spokane County Public Works, Water Resources.