Trees planted 25 years ago within the Mount St Helens volcanic blast zone are now being harvested by Weyerhaeuser.
Contractors have started thinning Douglas fir stands on land in the Green River Valley which was covered with volcanic ash when the trees were planted following the May 18, 1980 eruption.
Logs will be sent to lumber and pulp mills three times a year in order to allow remaining trees room to grow. Further harvesting will take place in 15 years.
Some 18.4 million trees were planted in the 45,000 acres which Weyerhaeuser retained within the blast zone.
