Washington state to host WSLCA meeting

Washington state is gearing up to host the WSLCA members attending the 1998 July conference in Olympia, Washington July 26 - 30. The theme of this summer's conference is "Building Partnerships in Resource Management." This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about partnerships which have been successful and the challenges the participants overcame to succeed. In keeping with the WSLCA's decision to use our summer meeting for educational purposes, Washington has developed a program to take advantage of innovative and successful programs in that state. On Monday, WSLCA members will hear about three of the state's most successful partnership programs involving upland management:

• The Timber-Fish-Wildlife Cooperative
  A partnership of tribes, environmental community members, the timber industry and government agencies working together to address land and resource management issues.
• Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
  A partnership of organizations, community leaders, and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to protect and enhance an important greenway corridor near the Seattle metropolitan area from the Cascade Mountains to the Puget Sound.
• Students in the Watershed
  A DNR program that works with students, teachers, and land managers to create teaching and learning opportunities in Washington's watersheds.

On Wednesday, WSLCA members will hear about partnerships at the water's edge:

• Puget Sound Dredge Disposal Analysis
  A ten-year partnership between the federal and state governments (including DNR, the Washington Departments of Ecology and Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency), dealing with sediment disposal issues in Puget Sound.
• Aquatic Land Enhancement
  A grant program that makes a portion of the revenue from aquatic lands available for projects to improve waterfront lands and enhance public access to state aquatic lands.
• Joint Natural Resources Cabinet
  A partnership between the Washington Governor's office, state executive agencies, and the DNR to work together and create a joint, cooperative, and coordinated response to the listing of salmon under the Endangered Species Act.

Conference participants also will take a DNR geologist-led tour of Mt. St. Helens. On May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m., Mount St. Helens exploded to life after sitting dormant for more than 120 years. The lateral blast destroyed over 150,000 acres of forest land. About 540 million tons of debris and volcanic ash fell on northern states or drifted around the globe. More than 1,300 feet of the mountain's top cascaded into Spirit Lake and the Toutle River Valley, causing mudflows that choked the Toutle, Cowlitz, and Columbia rivers. The eruption left the area ash-gray and seemingly barren. Now, almost 20 years later, plant life and wildlife are recovering, and the mountain offers some of the most spectacular sights in Washington state.

Following a short briefing about the mountain's eruption by Washington DNR's Geology and Earth Resources Division staff, conference participants will head south to what is now the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument for a day-long field trip (bring sunglasses, binoculars, and a camera; lunch is provided).

On the tour, participants will see the debris avalanche deposit (chunks of the mountain from the world's largest recorded landslide), a forest of trees blown down by the blast, varying levels of landscape recovery around the mountain, and a wealth of exhibits at the Johnston Ridge Observatory, featuring a "reach out and touch it" view of the crater.

The eruption of Mount St. Helens was a spectacular, destructive event that has improved our understanding of past geologic events and better prepares us for similar events in the future. Come learn what the mountain has to teach us about geology, ecosystem recovery, and the awesome power of nature.

e have a very special evening planned for Monday night. The Squaxin Island Tribe will prepare a traditional Pacific Northwest salmon feast for our enjoyment. We'll head to the Squaxin Island Tribal Center in nearby Shelton for dinner in their long house. Open-pit barbequed Northwest salmon will be served with fry bread, salads, and dessert. We're planning an evening of good food, camaraderie, and relaxation in a beautiful Pacific Northwest setting.

These are just some of the activities that we have planned for July. We look forward to sharing our beautiful state with you.