Across Southwest Washington, various ecosystems help shape the natural landscapes that surround urban areas.
From snowy mountain peaks to mature and working forests, down in elevation to dry landscapes on the eastern side of the Columbia River Gorge, to oak prairies and wetland habitat of Clark County, to the mighty Columbia River and its tributaries flowing to the Pacific Ocean, Southwest Washington is full of defining landmarks.
Beyond the current beauty of the land are stories that stretch back thousands of years — stories of volcanic eruptions, ancient forests, working timberlands, recovering wildlife and the people whose livelihoods and recreation remain deeply connected to the land.
Over the next year, reporter Cade Barker will explore those stories through a multi-part series highlighting the natural landscapes that define Southwest Washington. Each installment will focus on a different destination, ecosystem or natural feature while examining its history, ecology, significance and the challenges and opportunities it may face today.
The series begins with two neighboring stratovolcanoes: Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams.
Though separated by only a couple dozen miles, the two Cascade volcanoes tell remarkably different stories.
Mount St. Helens remains internationally known for its catastrophic May 18, 1980, eruption, an event that forever changed both the mountain and the surrounding landscape. Decades later, visitors can witness one of the few examples of ecological recovery as forests, rivers, plants and wildlife continue to reshape the blast zone.
To the east, Mount Adams stands as Washington’s second-highest peak and the largest volcano by volume in the state. The mountain is less visited in comparison to other peaks with just dirt and gravel roads in its immediate vicinity. Its mountain glaciers, alpine meadows, recovering burnt forests to the south and an overall expansive wilderness around it all provide opportunities for recreation in one of the Pacific Northwest's most rugged landscapes.
Between and around these volcanic giants are millions of acres of forest — landscapes that serve many purposes at once. Some are protected public lands where old growth trees, wildlife habitat and recreation take the forefront. Other forested areas are carefully managed working forests that provide timber, support local economies and continue a tradition that has shaped the economy of Southwest Washington for more than a century.
Together, these forests store carbon, support countless plant and animal species, and offer opportunities for hiking, hunting, photography and exploration. The forests of Southwest Washington illustrate a vital balance between conservation and sustainable resource management.
As this series continues throughout the coming year, Barker will strive to highlight recreation opportunities with lakes and rivers, the importance of wildlife refuges along the Columbia River, how to restore native plant habitat in your own yard and the efforts to restore habitat in the wild, discovering not only the places that make Southwest Washington unique, but also the science, history and effort that shape the landscapes around us.
Here are all the Wild Southwest Washington articles by Cade Barker published to date:
• Mount Adams offers diverse landscapes, rich history
• Mount St. Helens continues to reveal lessons in resilience nearly five decades after eruption
• Mature forests play critical role in health of Southwest Washington landscapes
• Working forests provide jobs, recreation and healthier landscapes across Southwest Washington
