Saltese Flats facts for kids
The Saltese Flats is a flat area of land in Spokane County, Washington, in the United States. This area is home to the remaining wetlands of what was once a large body of water called Saltese Lake. When people talk about Saltese Flats, they usually mean both the flat land and the wetlands that are there now.
These wetlands are surrounded by the Saltese Uplands. They get most of their water from Quinnamose Creek and Saltese Creek. Saltese Creek also helps drain water away from the wetlands.
Long ago, the wetlands were drained so that people could use the land for farming. However, the Spokane County Environmental Services department is now working hard to bring these wetlands back to life. Their main goal is to restore the wetlands. They also want to increase the amount of water flowing into the Spokane River during late summer. This water will travel through the Spokane Valley–Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, which is like a huge underground water storage area.
History of Saltese Lake
The area we now call the Saltese Flats was once a big lake. It was even larger than the nearby Liberty Lake. But in the 1890s, a man named Peter Morrison decided to drain it. He wanted to grow Timothy hay on the dry lakebed.
Draining the Lake
Starting in 1894, Peter Morrison hired workers and used horses to dig many miles of drainage canals. These canals were about 10 miles (16 km) long. They were designed to send the lake's water into Saltese Creek. Just a few weeks after the canals were finished, the entire lake had completely drained away.
New Water Flow
Before the lake was drained, Saltese Creek ended at the lake. Now, the creek carries water an extra 2.5 miles (4.0 km) further. It now ends at a place known as Shelley Lake.
Who Was the Lake Named After?
The lake was originally spelled "Seltice" Lake. It was named after Chief Andrew Seltice. He was a leader of the Coeur d'Alene tribe. Chief Seltice lived in a home on the west side of the lake.
