32nd anniversary of Mount St. Helens eruption on Friday

This gaging station located one mile below the junction of the North and South Forks Toutle River, northwest of Mount St. Helens, was completely wiped out by the May 18, 1980, mudflow. A five-inch concrete reinforced gage well was sheared off at the ground, leaving the re-rod bent in the downstream direction and completely stripped of concrete. A staff gage found inside of the well had an upper elevation of 17 feet. The elevation at the top of the mudflow was 53 feet. Cowlitz County, Washington. 1980. (Courtesy USGS)