Hangman (Latah) Creek Watershed Planning Project

Water Quantity

Water levels in Hangman Creek are extremely low during the critical summer flow period (July – October). The USGS gage (#12424000) has been recording stream flow in the watershed since 1948. During this time, the lowest recorded flow was 0.74 cfs in September of 1992. The average minimum monthly mean flow for the summer period is just below 3.0 cfs.

This trivial amount of water presents a number of problems, including water rights disputes, challenges to the instream flows designated for fish to water quality issues such as high temperatures and pollution concentrations.

Of particular interest is that the flow measured at the USGS gaging station represents only the flow for the lower five miles of the creek. Studies conducted by the Spokane County Conservation District indicate that during low flow conditions, the flow in most of Hangman Creek (80 percent) is even less than the flow measured at the gage. For example, a reading of 4 cfs at the gage indicates that most of the watershed is below 1 cfs.

This situation is further complicated by the proliferation of domestic exempt wells, the high summer water use of small purveyors, and the over allocation of certificated water rights, permits, and claims. While unlikely, if all these uses were exercised to their full extent (119 cfs), the creek would certainly run dry.

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