Faster snowpack melt may impact aquifer – Coeur d’Alene Press

Report on Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Sustainable Development in the Inland Northwest

Introduction: A Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Perspective

• This report analyzes the impact of climatic changes on the water resources of the Inland Northwest, specifically focusing on the implications for several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The findings directly relate to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), as the primary drinking water aquifer is under threat.
• The issue challenges SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by jeopardizing the water security of the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane regions.
• The root causes are linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action), highlighting the local consequences of global temperature increases.
• The ecological damage impacts SDG 15 (Life on Land), threatening aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems dependent on the Spokane River.

Climatic Trends and a Call for Climate Action (SDG 13)

• Meteorological data indicates a significant and progressive warming trend in the region, particularly during warmer seasons.
• Historical records for Spokane dating back to 1881 show that the hottest months on record have all occurred within the last decade.
• Recent years have been characterized by consistently warmer and drier spring seasons, followed by increasingly hot summers, demonstrating clear local impacts of global climate change.

Impact on Water Resources and Ecosystems (SDG 6 & SDG 15)

1. Declining Snowpack: The regional snowpack, a critical water resource, is dwindling. The peak snowpack in the Spokane River basin has steadily decreased over the past four decades, from a peak of 29 inches (1983-2003) to 26 inches (2003-2013), and most recently to 24 inches (2013-2023).
2. Accelerated Spring Melt: Experts report that a faster rate of melting and runoff in the spring is a more immediately impactful issue than the gradual decrease in overall snowpack volume. This rapid runoff affects the rate of aquifer recharge.
3. Threat to Water Security: These trends directly threaten the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for local communities. This poses a significant challenge to achieving SDG 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water.
4. Ecosystem Degradation: In late August 2025, low water flows resulted in sections of the Spokane River running completely dry. This event posed an immediate threat to fish, wildlife, and the overall health of the river ecosystem, undermining the objectives of SDG 15 to protect biodiversity and freshwater ecosystems.

Implications for Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

• The vulnerability of the region’s primary water source presents a direct risk to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane urban areas.
• Ensuring a stable and safe water supply is fundamental to community health, economic stability, and the overall quality of life, which are core components of SDG 11.
• The observed environmental changes necessitate the development of adaptive water management strategies to secure the future of these communities.

Future Outlook

• Meteorologists had anticipated a low water year, but the severity of the river drying was alarming and highlighted subsurface water table issues.
• While the upcoming winter season has not yet seen significant snowfall, forecasts suggest a potential shift to cooler conditions, which may improve the snowpack.
• The situation underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate climate change impacts and secure water resources in alignment with global sustainability targets.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article’s primary focus is on the health and availability of freshwater resources. It discusses the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, the main source of drinking water, and the Spokane River. The dwindling snowpack, faster melting, and low river flows directly impact water availability and the health of water-related ecosystems, which are central themes of SDG 6.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article explicitly links the environmental issues to climate change. It cites “rising temperatures” and “things getting progressively warmer over time” as the root causes of the faster snowmelt and dwindling snowpack. The mention of historical data showing the hottest months occurring in the last decade directly connects the local environmental problems to the broader global challenge of climate change addressed by SDG 13.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The consequences of the drying riverbed are described as an “immediate threat to fish, wildlife and the overall health of the river ecosystem.” This directly relates to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. The article highlights the degradation of the Spokane River ecosystem, which ran dry in stretches, and the stress on the aquifer it recharges. The work of the “Aquifer Protection District” and the “Spokane Riverkeeper” nonprofit group directly relates to the protection and monitoring of these water-related ecosystems.
2. Under SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article discusses climate-related hazards such as “rising temperatures,” “drought connections,” and “faster melting” of the snowpack. The community’s concern over these impacts, such as the dry riverbed, reflects the need to adapt to these changing climate conditions.
3. Under SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services… The article’s statement that the dry river “posed an immediate threat to fish, wildlife and the overall health of the river ecosystem” directly addresses the core of this target, focusing on an inland freshwater ecosystem.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The drying of the riverbed represents a significant degradation of a natural habitat for fish and other wildlife, aligning with the concerns of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
   • Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time (for Target 6.6): The article provides a clear, albeit alarming, indicator of ecosystem degradation: “stretches of the Spokane River ran completely dry, exposing the rocky riverbed.” The mention of “low flows” also serves as a measurable indicator of the river’s health.
   • Change in water resources (for Target 6.4/6.6): The article provides specific quantitative data on the decline of the snowpack, which is the primary source for the aquifer and river. It states the peak snowpack was “29 inches” (1983-2003), then “26 inches” (2003-2013), and finally “24 inches” (2013-2023). This data serves as a direct indicator of dwindling freshwater resources.
2. Indicators for SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Increase in temperature anomalies (for Target 13.1): The article implies this indicator by stating that “the hottest months recorded in Spokane since 1881 were all within the last decade” and that “Spring temperatures have been consistently warmer and drier in recent years.” This historical temperature data is a key indicator of climate-related hazards.
3. Indicators for SDG 15 (Life on Land)
   • Degradation of habitat (for Target 15.1/15.5): The primary indicator mentioned is the physical state of the river: the “dry riverbed.” This serves as a direct visual and measurable indicator of the degradation of an inland freshwater habitat essential for fish and wildlife.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cdapress.com