Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument was formally established by Congress and signed into law in 1982. On August 27th, 2022, the Monument will be celebrating its 40th anniversary–an impressive milestone for the first National Volcanic Monument in the nation.
The Monument is still the best place for visitors from around the world to experience the power of a Cascadian volcano up close. In addition to creating opportunities for people to get close to and connect with the natural world, the protections created by the National Monument have allowed scientists and researchers an unprecedented opportunity to study how ecosystems recover following a cataclysmic disturbance in an area with limited human impacts.
For those of us lucky enough to visit the Monument, it’s easy to understand why the 40-year-old designation was enacted with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is an incomparable and sublime landscape filled with jaw-dropping beauty, vibrant ecosystems, and watersheds that support a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Mount St. Helens itself is also officially recognized as a Traditional Cultural Property of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe due to the profound cultural and spiritual significance of the area to the Indigenous peoples of the region.
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Monument, we’re reminded that the significance of this landscape extends beyond the designated boundary approved by Congress. The areas surrounding the Monument are similarly treasured by Indigenous communities and those looking for a chance to connect with the natural world and escape the busyness of everyday life. While the lands within the boundaries of the Monument have certain levels of protections, the areas just adjacent to the Monument are still under threat from activities such as mining.
The Green River Valley Alliance is continuing to fight for permanent protections against mining within an area of the Green River Valley directly neighboring the Monument–lands that were included in the initial 1982 proposal, but were removed at the last minute due to politicking around the mining issue. Many groups have been fighting for decades to prevent the construction of a mine in this part of the forest. It is well past time that we secure the permanent protections against mining that very nearly were established 40 years ago.
In pursuit of those protections, the Alliance is pursuing a legislative mineral withdrawal - a federal land management tool, secured through an Act of Congress, that would prohibit mining activities within a given boundary without impacting any other activities in the area.
Our coalition of individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the region are coming together to raise awareness and make our voices heard that this incredible landscape is no place for a mine!
Please take a moment this week to sign our petition and share it with 3 of your friends and loved ones. As we reflect on the last 40 years of the National Volcanic Monument, let’s reaffirm our commitment to ensuring this area is protected against the threat of mining, once and for all!
