The Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is an aquifer in the northwest United States, underlying 370 square miles in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The aquifer is centralized under Spokane Valley and the Rathdrum Prairie, hence the name, and is part of the Columbia River drainage basin. It is composed of unconsolidated gra…
The Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is an aquifer in the northwest United States, underlying 370 square miles in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. The aquifer is centralized under Spokane Valley and the Rathdrum Prairie, hence the name, and is part of the Columbia River drainage basin. It is composed of unconsolidated gravels, cobbles, and boulders deposited during the glacial flooding of Lake Missoula. The aquifer is highly permeable and in direct contact with the surface, so there is a high interchange rate between surface water and the aquifer. The Spokane River and Little Spokane River lie directly above the aquifer and receive aquifer outflow. The area surrounding it receives an average of 15–30 inches of rain annually. The aquifer is the primary water source for the greater Spokane area.
Location: Inland Northwest, United States
Primary inflows: Lake Pend Oreille · Lake Coeur d'Alene · Hayden Lake · Liberty Lake · Shelley Lake · Hauser Lake · Newman Lake · Spirit Lake · Twin Lakes · Blanchard Lake
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