Originally published February 10, 2009 at 4:37 PM | Page modified February 10, 2009 at 5:46 PM

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Settlement reached on Spokane River dams dispute

A deal has been reached that will lead to relicensing of four dams on the Spokane River operated by Avista Corp. Avista will receive certification from the state Department of Ecology, which was the last hurdle to federal relicensing of the Upper Falls, Monroe Street, Nine Mile and Long Lake dams, utility spokesman Hugh Imhof said.

By The Associated Press

SPOKANE — A deal has been reached that will lead to relicensing of four dams on the Spokane River operated by Avista Corp.

Avista will receive certification from the state Department of Ecology, which was the last hurdle to federal relicensing of the Upper Falls, Monroe Street, Nine Mile and Long Lake dams, utility spokesman Hugh Imhof said.

Avista should receive its new 30- to 50-year licenses later this year, officials said.

The Sierra Club and the Center for Environmental Law and Policy had appealed DOE's water-quality certification, seeking higher summer flows over the Spokane Falls. They agreed to other provisions in the agreement, but will continue to pursue higher summer flows.

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