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1983 Map of Elk Rock

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Elk Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest dominate this landscape, which was captured shortly after the 1980 eruption. The terrain reflects a period of massive geological transformation, with extensive areas of blowdown and mudflow recorded throughout the drainage basins of the North Fork Toutle River and Castle Creek. These features illustrate the raw impact of the volcanic event on the local topography and timber.

Hydrological changes are evident with the formation of Coldwater Lake and the presence of smaller bodies like Fawn Lake. Human activity in the area is represented by numerous borrow pits and a quarry, likely used for the massive recovery and road-building efforts following the eruption. Landmarks like Elk Rock stand amidst the altered drainage patterns of Hoffstadt Creek and Maratta Creek, providing a detailed look at the recovery-era geography of Cowlitz County.