What efforts were successful in aiding the recovery processes?
The first thing to point out in answering this question is that there is a very important difference between areas within the boundaries of the legislated National Volcanic Monument and adjacent lands designated for commodity production. Within the legislated Monument 110,000 acres are managed by the USDA Forest Service for research, recreation and most importantly to ensure that natural processes and features continue to develop substantially unimpeded by human activity. To examine successes and/or failures in aiding recovery process, one has to look outside of the legislated National Volcanic Monument in the managed landscape. In 1982 Congress established the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (red at center is volcanic crater and Monument boundary is outlined in blue). The Monument is dedicated to the protection of the unique natural features created by the 1980 eruption for the benefit of future generations.
