The U.S. Forest Service and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are planning a pair of stakeholder meetings to assist with development of potential options for a long-term Spirit Lake outflow solution at Mount St. Helens, according to a news release.
“The lake has the potential to affect tens of thousands of people in the downstream communities within the Toutle, Cowlitz and Columbia River systems,” the Forest Service stated. “Safely managing the water level of Spirit Lake is paramount, as nearly 50,000 people live downstream of the tunnel outflow. Identifying a solution that maintains safe water levels of Spirit Lake while addressing the unique resources and values present in the Mount St. Helens area are all part of this unique project.”
A virtual public meeting for attendees to learn about the project, ask questions and provide input is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, 2024. Those interested can register for the Microsoft Teams webinar at https://tinyurl.com/3ey2pk9w.
A second virtual public meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. July 24. Anyone interested in taking part can register at https://tinyurl.com/wfbyhy89.
The National Environmental Policy Act process is scheduled to begin in August. That’s when interested parties will have an opportunity to engage in the environmental analysis process.
Following the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the natural outflow for Spirit Lake was blocked by a debris avalanche. The Spirit Lake outlet tunnel was constructed under emergency conditions to maintain safe lake levels.
The tunnel is in an area of volcanic, geologic, hydrologic and seismic hazards. The hazards increase the potential for a breach of the debris blockage or tunnel failure, putting downstream communities at risk of a catastrophic mudflow in the event of a full lake breach.
For project details and additional information, visit https://tinyurl.com/39syak9e.
