Ecology and Water Resources boards with Washington DEQ is attempting to force similar agencies in Idaho into a water agreement for the water under the Rathdrum Prairie claiming that since the common water supply also supplies Spokane and some Washington surrounding areas that the Rathdrum Prairie (extending to Sandpoint as well) should fall under Washington style regulation and management (water rights limits, use limits) to prevent Idaho from over using the "very limited water supply". Washington agencies also claim that the water source also flows into the Spokane River and might also fall under Salmon recovery minimum flow regulations as well.
Another item worth noting is that the City of Spokane and City of Spokane Valley are in the process of locating a new sewage treatment plant at the old Spokane Stockyards just west of BNSF's Yardley Yard. One of the proposals reported to be on the table is to pipe the treated waste water directly into the ground water rather than constructing an outlet pipe all the way to the Spokane River near SCC.