Submerged Valley

A dam keeps the valley drowned. In 1906 Washington Water Power finished its dam at Post Falls, on the Spokane River nine miles below the lake's outlet, and the lake has been held near its high-water level since. At the south end that turned Chatcolet, Round and Benewah, once separate lakes that joined Coeur d'Alene only in high water, into permanent arms of it, and the St. Joe now runs between them on its own natural levees, a river inside a lake. Avista, the utility's successor, still adjusts the level under its federal license.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes — 0.7 mi
  Seventy-two paved miles laid over a railbed poisoned by a century of ore trains.
• Cataldo Mission — 21 mi
  The Schitsu'umsh built it, the 1873 reservation line left it outside, and every August 15 they come back.

More markers nearby

• Joseph Garry (1910-1975) — 6.3 mi
• Mullan Road — 6.3 mi
• Saint Joseph Mission (St'uts'te'wes) — 7.1 mi
• John Mullan (1830-1909) (After the Road) — 13 mi