Water fact sheet; evolution of sediment yield from Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1980-1993
Open-File Report
94-313
By: John E. Costa
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Abstract
The most enduring geological consequence of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington, on May 18, 1980, and the most costly single element in the recovery effort, has been the persistent downstream sedimentation caused by erosion of the approximately 3 cubic kilometers (km3) of sediment deposited on the landscape surrounding the volcano. Most of the sediment was associated with the emplacement of a 2.8 km3 debris avalanche in the upper part of the watershed of the North Fork Toutle River, and debris flows in the channels of the South Fork Toutle River, Pine Creek, Swift Creek, and Muddy River. An additional 0.2-0.3 km3 of volcanic material was emplaced by pyroclastic flows, blasts, and ash fall. Part of this vast quantity of volcaniclastic sediment has been subsequently eroded by runoff and streamflow. This brief report summarizes the changes in sediment yield at five locations around Mount St. Helens in the first 13 years following the May 18, 1980 eruption.
Suggested Citation
Costa, J.E., 1994, Water fact sheet; evolution of sediment yield from Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1980-1993: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-313, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr94313.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Water fact sheet; evolution of sediment yield from Mount St. Helens, Washington, 1980-1993 |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 94-313 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr94313 |
| Year Published | 1994 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | Volcano Science Center |
| Description | 2 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| Other Geospatial | Mount St. Helens |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |