The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will discuss the long-term management of the Spirit Lake and Toutle River system during a two-day committee meeting next week at the Red Lion Hotel Kelso/Longview in Kelso.
The 10-person Spirit Lake study committee will meet Aug. 3 and 4 at the hotel, 510 S. Kelso Drive. It’s the second of four planned committee meetings as part of a study to develop decision framework related to the long-term management of Spirit Lake and Toutle River system.
Since the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, the natural flow of water from Spirit Lake into the Toutle River has been blocked. To avoid a catastrophic flood, a tunnel was constructed to allow outflow, but the tunnel is at risk of failure.
Emergency repairs are being made, but a long-term solution is needed. The study will produce a decision framework for management plans.
From 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3, the committee will host panel discussions with stakeholders, including state, local and tribal groups and members of the private sector. Environmental and recreational groups also are expected to talk about their concerns regarding the management of the waterway system.
Following the panel talks, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., the committee will host a town hall meeting in which the public can share concerns. Those wishing to speak need to sign up in advance, and there is a three-minute limit for each speaker, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
From 8:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 4, the committee will hear from experts on natural hazards and alternative management strategies.
The study committee won’t make recommendations on engineering decisions. It will recommend a framework for decision-making by the U.S. Forest Service and other infrastructure owners in the region.
For updates on the study, visit dels.nas.edu/Study-In-Progress/Long-term-Management-Spirit/DELS-BESR-15-03.
