The Washington State Department of Commerce presented the city of Spokane with the Governor’s Award for SMART Projects for the Cochran Basin stormwater improvement projects.
The Cochran Basin is the largest stormwater collection area, collecting runoff from over 5,000 acres from residential, commercial and light industrial zoned properties in north Spokane.
The Cochran Basin stormwater improvement facilities are made up of five projects. First, a large stormwater conveyance pipe was installed right through the middle of Downriver Golf Course. The work provided an additional benefit of upgrading the irrigation system, allowing the course to conserve millions of gallons of water annually.
Next, work turned to TJ Meenach Drive where extensive infrastructure connections were installed and a fresh new driving surface tops off the project. Moving massive amounts of stormwater requires technology, which is the Cochran Control Facility located at the southeast corner of TJ Meenach Drive and Northwest Blvd.
Finally, Downriver Park and Whitewater Disc Golf Course are the last stop for the stormwater. While river recreation enthusiasts are excited for improved access and parking, an even bigger benefit are engineered natural facilities like the tiered swale structure with native plants, filtration ponds and a runoff overflow system fighting pollution.
The Cochran Basin Stormwater Improvement projects provide:
- Improved outdoor recreational areas at Downriver Park, including trails, natural areas, increased parking and river access
- An 18-hole redesigned Whitewater Disc Golf Course
- Upgraded irrigation system for Downriver Golf Course conserving millions of gallons of water annually
- A resurfaced TJ Meenach Dr. and nearby residential streets
Facts about the project:
- Projects cost a total of $25.5 million, mostly funded by Washington State Department of Ecology and supported by local utility and streets funding
- Planning and design of the projects began in 2017, construction began in 2019, and the projects were completed in 2024
- Cochran Basin collects stormwater runoff from over 5,000 acres reaching from as far as Market St. and Francis Ave. to the TJ Meenach Bridge
- Stormwater runoff mostly comes from three types of land use: residential (85%), commercial (2%), light industrial (3%)
- Thousands of people access the Spokane River every year from City of Spokane Parks locations
