Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed
Water Level Control: Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District
Surface Area: 1,200 acres 
Shoreline Length: 10 miles
Normal Elevation: 2,124 feet
Average Depth: 19 feet
Maximum Depth: 30 feet
Water Volume: 22,800 acre-feet
Drainage Area: 29 sq.miles
Trophic State: Meso-eutrophic
Water to Aquifer: 15 mgd
Newman Lake is a natural 1,200-acre lake located about 20 miles northeast of Spokane, Washington. Although Newman Lake is relatively small compared to other lakes in the state, it lacks nothing in beauty. Ringed by pine and fir trees, Lake Newman is nestled at the southerly base of Mount Spokane, just minutes from the Idaho border. With sprawling hay meadows and snow-capped mountains nearby, Newman Lake is a beautiful setting for year-round recreation including fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and wildlife watching.
Newman Lake was formed when a tributary valley was dammed by glacial debris during the Pleistocene Epoch. There are no natural perennial surface water outlets or inlets to Newman Lake. Any water flowing in or out of the lake does so through excavated or artificially created channels. To control flooding, Lake Newman has a channel and an outlet structure that controls the lake level with two adjustable gates. The structure is managed by the Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District.
The County Shoreline Master Program has designated Newman Lake as Rural Conservation, which applies to environmentally sensitive areas and encourages low impact uses. Various projects and activities have been undertaken over the years to protect the water quality of Newman Lake. In the 1960’s and 70’s there was growing concern that Newman Lake was over-enriched with nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. Agriculture, timber activities, livestock, and residential development all contributed to the overabundance of nutrients that ended up in the lake. Work to correct these issues has been a cooperative effort by individuals, groups, and agencies. These various entities recognize that growth needs to be balanced with a reduction of nutrients making their way into the lake in order to preserve the water quality of Newman Lake.
Organizations Protecting Newman Lake
Newman Lake Community Website
Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District Eurasian Water Milfoil
Studies, Reports, Articles and Presentations
2014 Newman Lake Inspection Report NLFlood Control Zone District
2012 Newman Lake Water Quality Monitoring
2011 Newman Lake Water Quality Monitoring Report WSU
2005 Newman Lake Integrated Aquatic Vegitation Management Plan
1997 Newman Lake Watershed Plan
1997 Newman Lake Comprehensive Stormwater Plan
1994 Newman Lake Restoration Plan Phase II
