Lake Type: Artificial Reservoir, Dammed
Water Level Control: Avista Corporation 
Surface Area: 5,020 acres
Shoreline Length: 54 miles
Normal Elevation: 1,536 feet
Average Depth: 50 feet
Maximum Depth: 180 feet
Water Volume: 243,341 acre-feet
Completion Year: 1915
Trophic State: mesotrophic
Long Lake Dam
Lake Spokane, a 24 mile long reservoir, is so named because of its close proximity to Spokane, Washington. However, some people call it Long Lake, after its dam, Long Lake Dam. The dam was built in a spot where the Spokane River makes a complete horseshoe bend and was completed in 1915. At that time Long Lake Dam had the distinction of being the tallest dam in the world.
Today, Long Lake Dam is listed in the
Nine Mile Falls Dam
National Register of Historic Places due to it’s previous architectural reign. Nine Mile Falls Dam is located at the headwaters of Lake Spokane.
Sections within the Spokane River and Lake Spokane, have low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels during summertime low flows which violate the Washington State water quality standards for DO and as such are listed on the 2004 list of impaired water bodies. Maintaining good water quality in the river and lake, especially adequate concentrations of DO, is important for supporting fish, invertebrates and other aquatic life.
Organizations Protecting Lake Spokane
Avista Spokane River Project Lake Spokane Aquatic Weed Program
Avista Utilities Spokane River Project
Avista Water Quality
Center for Justice
City of Spokane
City of Coeur d’Alene
City of Post Falls Conservation
Department of Ecology Water Quality Improvement Project
Department of Natural Resources
Hayden Area Regional Sewer Board
Inland Empire Paper Company
Lake Spokane Association
Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District
Spokane Aquifer Joint Board
Spokane County Conservation District
Spokane County Utilities Water Resources
Spokane EnviroStars
Spokane Lake Association
Spokane Regional Health District Environmental Public Health
Spokane River Forum
Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force
Spokane River Stewardship Partners
Spokane Tribe of Indians
The Lands Council
Studies, Reports, Articles and Presentations
2014 Avista Spokane River News
2010 Spokane River and Lake Spokane Dissolved Oxygen Total Maximum Daily Load
2007 Ecology Spokane River–Project Update Cleanup Focuses on PCBs, Lead, Arsenic, Zinc, and Cadmium
2004 Ecology Spokane River and Lake Spokane (Long Lake) Pollutant Loading Assessment for Protecting Dissolved Oxygen