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Spirit Lake/Toutle-Cowlitz River Collaborative (SLTCRC)

Situation Assessment, 2018 - 2019

Changes to the Spirit Lake/Toutle-Cowlitz River System from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens put the region at ongoing risk of moderate and potentially catastrophic flooding, due to the buildup of sediment. Engineering measures from the 1980s to reduce flooding risks now need costly repairs or modifications, presenting an opportunity to re-evaluate risk management strategies.

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) asked the Center in 2018 to conduct a situation assessment for long-term risk management, given the different economic, cultural, and social priorities of regional stakeholders and the respective roles of federal, tribal, state, and local authorities and other groups in the region.

The Situation Assessment for the Long-Term Management of Spirit Lake/Toutle-Cowlitz River System report summarizes an interview-based assessment process. The assessment explored prospects for a collaborative system-level entity to identify resources and additional information needed to inform long-term management decisions. The assessment found conditions favorable to a collaborative process.

SLTCRC Declaration of Cooperation (approved December 2021)

Final Draft Declaration of Cooperation_12-09-21

Final Draft Declaration of Cooperation_all signatures (with the exception of NOAA) (Note: NOAA fisheries signature, coming soon)

 

Original Signatures (before combining into one document):

SLTCRC Operating Protocols (approved on March 10, 2022)

SLTCRC_OP.PROTOCOLS_Final approved 3.10.22

Annual and Quarterly - Summary Reports

Current Participants

For more information, contact project lead:

Chris Page

 

Spirit Lake/Toutle-Cowlitz Rivers Collaborative, April 2021 – Present

Representatives of the U.S. congressional delegation, Cowlitz Tribe, and state and federal agencies expressed support for a collaborative approach to long-term sediment management and related issues. The watershed-wide consortium is intended to benefit current and long-term planning efforts to address sediment and land management, public safety, and other important issues.

The first phase of the Collaborative was very successful leading to the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation and the establishment of operating protocols. (see above)

Meeting Materials & Schedule

See below for past meeting materials and upcoming meeting dates through the end of the calendar year. All meetings will be held in in Cowlitz County and will have a remote attendance option. See information on each meeting below.

If you are interested in the work of the Collaborative and would like to observe a meeting, please contact Kara Whitman at kmwhitman@wsu.edu.

Workshop: March 21-22, 2023

The SLTCRC Workshop will take place on Tuesday, March 21st and Wednesday, March 22nd at the Cowlitz County Event Center. If you would like to register for the Workshop, please contact Chris Page (c.page@wsu.edu) or Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu).

Workshop Goals:

  • Hear about and discuss sediment management efforts: past, present, and future.
  • Generate ideas and potential partnerships for projects that address multiple benefits.
  • Build understanding of the operating environment in the watershed, how the river system works.
  • Establish short-term workgroups focused on specific interests or geographic areas.

Workshop Materials:

 

February 9, 2023

The February 9th, 2023 meeting will be held at the Longview Training Room from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. WebEx will be available for remote attendees.

City of Longview, Training Room, Longview City Hall 2nd floor 1525 Broadway Longview, WA  98632

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on February 2nd, 2023 *. If you did not receive an email, please email Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu)

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details

January 12, 2023

The January 12th, 2023 meeting will be held at the Longview Training Room from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. WebEx will be available for remote attendees.

City of Longview, Training Room, Longview City Hall 2nd floor 1525 Broadway Longview, WA  98632

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on January 5, 2023 *. If you did not receive an email, please email Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu)

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details

December 7th, 2022

The December 7th meeting will be held at the Longview Training Room from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. WebEx will be available for remote attendees.

City of Longview, Training Room, Longview City Hall 2nd floor 1525 Broadway Longview, WA  98632

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on November 30, 2022 *. If you did not receive an email, please email Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu)

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details

November 9, 2022

The November 9th meeting will be held at the Longview Training Room from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. WebEx will be available for remote attendees.

City of Longview, Training Room, Longview City Hall 2nd floor 1525 Broadway Longview, WA  98632

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on November 2, 2022 *. If you did not receive an email, please email Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu)

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

October 12, 2022 (Tour)

September 8, 2022

The September 8th  meeting will be held in person from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Cowlitz County Museum at 405 Allen St. Kelso WA.

Google Map of Location

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on June 9, 2022 *.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

August 11th, 2022

The August 11th meeting will be held via WebEx from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. .

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on August 4th, 2022 *. If you did not receive an email, please email Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu)

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

June 16, 2022

The June 16th meeting will be held in person from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm at the Cowlitz County Museum at 405 Allen St. Kelso WA.

Google Map of Location

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on June 9, 2022 *.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

May 11, 2022

Meeting Materials:

In-Person Location and WebEx information sent out to participants on or before May 5, 2022 *.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Maggie Counihan (maggie.counihan@wsu.edu) for details.

 

April 14, 2022

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on April 7, 2022 *.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

 

March 10, 2022

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on March 3, 2022*.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

February 10, 2022

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on February 3rd, 2022 *.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

January 13, 2022

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on January 6th, 2022*.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

December 9, 2021

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on December 2nd, 2021*.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

November 10, 2021

Meeting Materials

WebEx information sent out to participants on November 14th, 2021*.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

October 14, 2021

Meeting materials

DRAFT Summary Notes from the meeting:

WebEx information sent out to participants on October 7th, 2021*.

*If you wish to attend this meeting, but do not have the WebEx attendance information please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for details.

September 9, 2021

Meeting Materials

Examples of Declaration’s of Cooperation for Reference

*Please contact Kara Whitman (kmwhitman@wsu.edu) for WebEx information if you wish to attend the meeting.

 

July 8, 2021

Meeting Materials: 

June 2, 2021

Meeting Materials:

April 28, 2021

Meeting Materials:

Steering Committee Meetings (formerly Funding Working Group)

Meeting Summaries

Steering Committee

Finance Committee

Information Working Group

Meeting Summaries

 

Other materials of interest

Resources