A special committee studying the future of Mt. St. Helens is laying out an ambitious plan for the Monument that includes new resorts, new roads, more recreation and more science.
The Mt. St. Helens Advisory Committee may have rejected the idea of a National Park. But the vision it lays out for the Volcanic National Monument is just as dramatic of a change.
Among the recommendations:
- Develop destination resorts “in and around the Monument” including lodging at Coldwater Ridge.
- New roads to improve access. One would connect Coldwater Ridge to Highway 12 making it easier to get from Mt. St. Helens to Mt. Rainier. None of the new roads would be built inside the Monument area.
- Broaden recreational activities, including more opportunities for fishing and camping.
- Increase tourism through better marketing, more interpretive programs and other tourist friendly services.
- Expand scientific work on the volcano with more money, involve universities and colleges, plus create a laboratory to conduct testing in harsh environments.
You can read the full list of recommendations at the Committee’s website.
Meanwhile, the Committee has scheduled two public hearings.
Monday, March 30
6:00pm to 9:00pm
Cowlitz County Commissioners Hearing Room, Kelso
Monday, April 13
Camas Police Department Community Room
2100 NE 3rd, Camas
Final recommendations will be drafted May 14.
Earlier Stories:
Did Apathy Kill Mt. St. Helens “National Park”?
Hopes Fade For Mt. St. Helens “National Park”
