Preparations for Spirit Lake infrastructure project to take place this summer

Posted

After 40 years, continued improvements are needed to support operations and maintenance of the Spirit Lake infrastructure that controls water levels in Spirit Lake. 

In the summer and fall of 2022, improvements will be made to Forest Road 99 Extension #207 located on the northeast side of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.

Road improvements are needed to mobilize appropriate equipment, materials and supplies for the Spirit Lake Intake Gate Replacement and Geotechnical Drilling Project scheduled to begin in 2023. 

For more background information, visit fs.usda.gov/pro ject/?project=57259.

As of July 1, improvement work on Forest Road 99 Extension #207 started at the Windy Ridge Interpretive Site gate and trailhead for #207 and continues along an approximate 2-mile section of the road to the researcher parking lot at the junction of Abraham Trail #216D. 

Forest Road 99 Extension #207 is an administrative use only road that is closed to public motorized vehicles. Administrative use includes agencies, special-use permittees, search and rescue and tribal groups. During the project, permitted access to these groups will be coordinated by forest personnel.

The area is usually open to the public and is often used as a connector to the Abraham Trail for hiking or mountain biking or the Truman Trail for hiking. During improvement project work, it will be closed on weekdays and open on weekends through the end of 2022.

The closure begins every Monday at 6 a.m. and will continue until every Friday at noon. Windy Ridge Interpretive site remains open to visitors seven days a week.



The closure order and map can be found online at fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1037939.pdf. 

Visitors can expect to see large construction equipment and materials, culvert replacements, and widening of corners. Dust may be seen from various locations on the monument. Rock hauling will occur on Forest Road 99. Visitors will encounter large vehicles and are advised to use caution when traveling to the area.

These temporary closures are needed to implement the road work and ensure a safe work environment. Visitors are asked to respect closures and to recreate in other areas of the monument during closure periods.

Visit  the  Gifford  Pinchot  National Forest website for updates online at fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot.