The floating log mat of Spirit Lake, left behind after the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens can be clearly seen from the Windy Ridge viewpoint.
The public is invited to a presentation by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine that will detail the findings of a recent study regarding options for the ongoing management of the Toutle River and Spirit Lake.
That study, called “A Decision Framework for Managing the Spirit Lake and Toutle River Systems at Mount Saint Helens,” was requested by the U.S. Forest Service, and the findings will be presented at 2 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kelso.
Management of the Spirit Lake and Toutle River watersheds has been complicated over the past few decades by the continuous flow of ash and other debris stemming from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. That debris choked off the natural outflow of Spirit Lake and a tunnel had to be dug in order to allow for safe drainage. Similarly, silt from the mountain continues to flow downriver and mitigating infrastructure in both bodies of water are due for upgrade, repair or replacement.
“The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public of this independent study committee’s findings and recommendations,” read a press release from Sammantha Magsino, senior program officer for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
A preliminary version of the study is available for review along with an informational video online at http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Decision-Framework-Managing/24874.
“Many of you participated (in) the committee’s information gathering sessions and your input to the committee informed many of its findings. Members of the committee will summarize the report’s recommendations regarding a framework for decision making for the region and will answer questions from the public. You will also be able to provide input on topics for possible future informational workshops,” wrote Magsino.
Anyone interested in attending the briefing is asked to RSVP online at https://tinyurl.com/y9ln6rtk. The Red Lion Hotel is located at 510 S Kelso Dr, Kelso.
