Mudflow Wildlife Area Unit
The Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area is comprised of units that span Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, and totals approximately 10,500 acres of land. Habitat include tidal mudflats, wetlands, riparian, old-growth forest,forested floodplains, early seral mixed forest, ancient lava flows and volcanic deposits, and open grasslands. The units receive the most attention from a wildlife management perspective and provide some of the most critical winter range habitat for a portion of the Mount St. Helens Elk Herd. Many of the units support salmonid rearing and spawning habitat for threatened or endangered fish species.
All of the units are open to the public except for the Carnine Unit, which has no public access. The Mudflow Unit has a seasonal closure and is closed to all public access from December 1 through April 30 each year to protect the Mount St. Helens Elk Herd. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the department serves as stewards for Washington's natural places, protecting the state's land and water for its human and wildlife populations.
Wildlife area units
Management planning
2019 Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed the new management plan for the Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area, which is comprised of 18 units in Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties, and totals 10,002 acres. The Mount St. Helens Wildlife Area is largely managed for elk in the North Fork Toutle River Valley, but the area units are diverse, and provide habitat for multitudes of species, over a broad range of habitats including old growth forest, forested floodplains, riparian areas, ancient lava flows, mineral springs, tidal mudflats, and wetlands. The new management addresses the status of wildlife species and their habitat, ongoing restoration efforts and public recreation opportunities at the wildlife area.
Planning Advisory Committee
Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area Advisory Committee