COEUR d'ALENE -- Water levels continue to decrease on the lake and the rivers in Kootenai County. As of 7:45 a.m. Sunday, Coeur d'Alene Lake's water level was measured at 2134.25 feet of elevation, which is 1 ¼ feet above flood stage. Although the water levels are decreasing, it is occurring at a very slow pace, and the lake continues to be in flood stage.

As the water recedes, large amounts of debris are beginning to appear on shorelines. The Office of Emergency Management is currently conducting assessments of that debris on the lake, and will continue to do so as the water levels decrease.

These assessments will help determine what resources will be needed to assist in clearing the debris from the lake and the shores.

The communities and businesses that have placed sandbags are asked to keep their sandbags in place, at least until the waterways are well below flood stage. The National Weather Service has advised that the amount of snow pack remaining in area mountains is equivalent to what we would expect in a "normal" year.

If the weather pattern causes that snow pack to melt at this point, we could see an increase in the water levels that could still significantly impact the area with more flooding.

SPOKANE -- Flood warnings continue for the following rivers and lakes in North Idaho and Washington: Lake Coeur d'Alene affecting Benewah and Kootenai Counties; Spokane River at Spokane affecting Kootenai and Spokane; Counties St. Joe River at St. Maries affecting Benewah and Shoshone Counties.

The flood warning continues for the Spokane River until Sunday, June 1. At 8:45a.m. Saturday the stage was 28.4 feet minor flooding is occurring and will likely continue through most of the week.

The river will slowly drop through the end of the week falling below flood stage, which is 27 feet, by next weekend.

The flood warning continues for Lake Coeur d'Alene until Sunday, June 1 as well. Saturday morning the stage was 2,135 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and is forecast to continue through the end of the week. Flood stage is 2,133 feet.

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SPOKANE -- The Spokane River is still under a flood warning and it could crest sometime Friday night.

The river could still rise another six inches prior to that happening.

Since many people have plans to be outside for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the City of Spokane is stressing they should stay out of the water.

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Spokane Falls

In fact, the public is prohibited from entering the river even with floatation devices. This ban also includes anyone with boats, rafts, or kayaks.

Because the Spokane River is so high and moving so fast, Fire Chief Bobby Williams says his department would have to think twice about going in to save someone in trouble.

"We will risk a lot to save some one who is in trouble," says Chief Bobby Williams, Spokane Fire Dept. "If we can't save that life and all we're doing is endangering the life of somebody else for a life we can't save, we may not go in the water."

The fire department has even scaled back its river rescue training operations until the danger passes.

COUER D' ALENE -- The Coeur d’Alene Lake may have peaked today at 2,134.77 feet of elevation.

As of 11:45 a.m. Friday, Coeur d’Alene Lake receded to 2134.74 feet. The lake is still nearly seven feet over summer level.

The Coeur d’Alene River at Cataldo was at 2,141.76 feet of elevation as of 11:30 a.m. today, which is below flood stage.  Current river flows below the Post Falls Dam show that the river is running at 39,100 cubic feet per second.

Current weather information from the National Weather Service indicates the warming trend and current snow pack conditions could cause some additional snow melt, which may then cause water levels to rise again next week.

 Coeur d’Alene Lake is not anticipated to be below flood stage until at least May 31, 2008.

SANDBAGS THAT WERE PLACED FOR FLOOD PROTECTION SHOULD BE LEFT IN PLACE UNTIL THE LAKE IS WELL BELOW FLOOD STAGE.

There is still a great deal of debris coming down the rivers and floating in Coeur d’Alene Lake.

As the water recedes, it is anticipated that there will be a significant amount of debris left on the shorelines.

The Emergency Operations Center will begin developing a plan to assist the community in the clean up and disposal efforts concerning debris.

Private property owners and businesses are encouraged to clear debris from their properties by removing the debris.

Pushing the debris back into the water system is illegal.  Because of unknown contaminants in the water, please take extra precautions when handling debris or when entering the water for any other purposes.

Hygiene information related to flood water contaminates can be reviewed at the Panhandle Health District website at:  http://www.phd1.idaho.gov/ .

In Kootenai County, the public is strongly encouraged to visit this website or contact the Panhandle Health District at (208) 415-5100 with questions regarding hygiene information related to flood water contaminates.