Agricultural Research Center: Mt. St. Helens Ash Research Records, 1980-1981

The Agricultural Research Center, a division of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics, began its studies on volcanic ash from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption in the years 1980 to 1982. Their study goals were to ascertain the short- and long-term impact of the ash on agriculture, forestry, water and land resources in the state of Washington. The purpose was to generate information to aid people immediately affected by the eruption and also generate a body of knowledge and a response capability to guide activities in event of future occurences of this type. The 1980 eruption was the first time in recorded history that an eruption of this type could be systematically and scientifically studied.