An interesting proposal...

is being considered in order to augment summertime low flows in the Spokane River by importing water from Lake Pend Oreille. But rather than discharging the imported water directly into the river, it is proposed that it will be injected into the Rathdrum Prairie aquifer. The point of injection will have to be carefully determined to account for the extraordinarily high transmissivity of the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, so that the water added to the aquifer arrives at the appropriate effluent (gaining) reach of the river at the desired time. Also, are water rights available in the Pend Oreille River drainage for diversion to another basin?

This strikes me as an overly complex solution to sustaining flows in the Spokane River during the driest time of the year, especially when the simplest and most direct strategy would be to allow more water to flow out of Lake Coeur d'Alene at Post Falls dam. But of course that's not a popular political position as many people in the area value the recreational opportunities at the lake, especially during the hot summer, many of which would be impaired by lower lake stages.

Truth: water doesn't flow down hill anymore. It flows towards money.