Courtesy National Weather Service
One of the best days of my life was my first visit to Mt. St. Helens.
This was in the early 1990s when the closest you could get to the crater was on the east side from the Windy Ridge viewpoint.
My future wife and mother-in-law were along for the ride. The narrow, winding road along steep slopes was just terrifying enough for them to constantly tell me to “slow down.” But thankfully not so scary that they made me turn around before we reached the ridge.
Save Money On New Light Bulbs
Energy Trust of Oregon is sponsoring state-wide discounts on compact fluorescent light bulbs. No coupon necessary. Retailers across the state are dropping prices. For a complete list of where to get the discount, see this story from the Salem Statesman Journal.
Maybe The Dam Should Stay
Some in Jackson County think tearing down the Gold Ray Dam is a bad idea. A candidate for county commissioner says a repaired dam could provide revenue for the county by producing electricity. From the Medford Mail Tribune.
29 Years Later And It’s Still A Mess
The Army Corps of Engineers starts work this month on removing a million cubic yards of silt from the Cowlitz River. The silt comes from Mt. St. Helens, the result of the “clear cut” explosion from about 29-years ago. The Corps continues to work on a long range silt control plan. From the Longview Daily News.
MONDAY’S STORIES
Did LNG Company Get A “Too Good To Be True” Deal For Land?
LNG opponents are raising questions about a land deal struck between the Port Of Astoria and Oregon LNG. The company is leasing 92 acres of land from the Port for about $38,000 a year. Critics say it should be a lot higher. From the Daily Astorian.
Proposed Wind Farm May Be Doomed By Endangered Bird
Plans to build the first wind farm in Western Washington are running into trouble. The site in Pacific County, called Radar Ridge, is on the flight path of the marbled murrelet. The murrelet lives mostly on the ocean, but nests in coastal forests. From the Longview Daily News.
What We Lose If The Dam Goes
Salmon counts on the Rogue River are considered some of the best in the region. That’s because biologists can count live salmon as they pass through the Gold Ray Dam. But Jackson County wants to remove the dam, perhaps as soon as next year. When that happens, officials will have to rely on counting methods that are not as accurate nor up-to-date. Still, they don’t mind. From the Medford Mail Tribune.
Thinking About Sewers
Coburg is one of the largest towns in Oregon without a sewer system. City officials say that’s limiting Coburg’s ability to grow and threatens the water supply. But building a sewer system would cost about $25 million and residents are in an uproar. From The Eugene Register Guard.
The Johnston Ridge Observatory at Mt. St. Helens reopens for the summer on Sunday May 17. This is about as close as most of us will get to the crater. The Gifford Pinchot National Forest says the visitor center will be open from 10am to 6pm, daily. Admission to Johnston Ridge and Coldwater Lake is $8 per person. But on Monday, May 18, admission will be free to mark the 29th anniversary of the 1980 eruption that shook the Northwest.
Courtesy U.S Forest Service
If you just can’t wait that long, the Mt. St. Helens Institute is holding an event with Bill Nye, The Science Guy on Saturday the 16th. Tickets are $10 per person if you just want to show up, or $35 if you want to attend the show with Nye. You can purchase tickets online.
Meanwhile, the road to the Windy Ridge viewpoint on the east side of the crater remains closed due to snow. It’s not expected to open until next month.
Courtesy National Weather Service
Tonight’s your last, best chance to be heard on the future of Mt. St. Helens.
Starting at 6pm, the Mt. St. Helens Advisory Committee holds its final public hearing on plans that could bring big changes to the volcano.
While rejecting the idea of a Mt. St. Helens National Park, the proposals include many features that are similar to what you’ll find in a national park.
Among the recommendations:
Tonight’s meeting will be held at the Camas Police Department Community Room, 2100 NE 3rd
St., Camas, WA.
You can also email comments to the Committee at: SHACComments@co.skamania.wa.us
The group will write up the final recommendations during an all day meeting on May 14.
