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Spirit Lake Toutle Cowlitz River Collaborative

Workshop Day 1: March 21, 2023

Setting the Stage of the Workshop.

Purpose: Provide context to the possibilities that can come from working together on shared challenges in the Spirit Lake-Toutle/Cowlitz River Watershed.

  • Colin Thorne, University of Nottingham Presentation. Transcript.
  • Video: Colin Thorne, University of Nottingham. “Framing the collaborativehistory & intent, what it can create together” 

Building the Foundation 

Purpose: Provide foundational information so all have a shared understanding of the geology and sediment management of the watershed. 

  • Jon Major, USGS Presentation. PDF of Slides.
    • Video: “Geologic and Geomorphic Context for the Toutle River Basin”
  • Valerie Ringold and Karl Ahlen, Army Corps of Engineers. PDF of Slides.
    • Video: “Response to Mount St. Helens Eruption”

Understanding the Operating Environment for Working in the Basin 

Purpose: a shared understanding of the legal operating environment of sediment and land management in the watershed. 

  • Valerie Ringold and Sally Bird-Gauvin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. PDF of Slides.
  • Adam Trimble, Cowlitz County. “Cowlitz County, Development and the Environment”. PDF of Slides
  • Maddie Nolan, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. PDF of Slides.

Workshop Day 2: March 22, 2023

Looking Ahead: Federal Agency Projects at Spirit Lake 

Purpose: Build an understanding of USFS management present and future.  

  • Michele Palmer (USFS). no slides.
  • Jon Major (USGS) USFS Projects/Spirit Lake outflow. Note: this USGS Presentation is not available for distribution. 
  • Justin Rittgers, US Bureau of Reclamation – 2022 Spirit Lake seismic surveying;  Note: this presentation is not available for distribution.

Looking Ahead: Natural and Nature-based Solutions 

Purpose: Explore multi-benefit project possibilities working with the natural environment  

  • Peter Chaput (USACE) “Natural & nature Based Features: Applications for River Restoration” (slides prepared by Chris Haring). PDF of Slides.

Mid and Lower River Challenges & Opportunities 

Purpose: Explore how to coordinate and integrate projects with multiple benefits to complement flood protection work for public safety in the SLTCR System.  

  • Ben Lind O’Connor, (USACE) – Cowlitz River Level of Protection 2022 Update” PDF of Slides.
  • Adam Trimble (Cowlitz County) – “County-Wide Flood Hazard Management Plan” PDF of Slides
  • Matt Gerlach (Dept of Ecology) – “Floodplains by Design”. PDF of Slides
  • Jim Mallett, (Cowlitz County), Riverbank Restoration 

The Economic Engine of the Region – Panel: Mount Saint Helens and the Toutle River. 

Purpose: Common understanding of what type of economic opportunities exist for the watershed & how they could be accomplished & integrated in other projects 

Video Coming soon

  • Mark Smith (EcoPark Resort). PDF of Slides
  • Alyssa Hoyt (Mt. St. Helens Institute). PDF of Slides
  • Bill Fashing (CWCOG) (no slides)

Tools for Application to SLTCRC Project Opportunities 

Purpose: Explore the work being done to aid in future project opportunities. 

  • Brice Crayne (LCFEG) “STHD, Painting a Picture of Recovery”. PDF of Slides
  • George Fornes (WDFW). “Using Drone Surveys as a Tool for Planning and Monitoring Projects in Upper NF Toutle River”. PDF of Slides

Examples of Good Work Inspired through the SLTCRC 

Purpose: Provide examples to show how the Collaborative can generate real-world projects with multiple benefits 

  • SLTCRC project successes 
    • Joe Skalicky (USFWS) – Reintroduction of lamprey above the SRS. PDF of Slides
    •  Mark Smith – Culvert replacement for fish passage (no slides)
    • Colin Thorne – Wall-based channel preservation for downstream fish migration. PDF of Slides