In May 1981, Mount St. Helens erupted on the coast of Northern Washington. The debris from the eruption blocked the Coldwater Creek and Toutle River in the North Fork Toutle River Valley creating two lakes Coldwater and South Fork Castle, commonly called Castle Lake.

Following the creation of these lakes, the United States Army Corps of Engineers took steps to prevent the debris dams from failing and creating mudslides. The Corps of Engineers placed outlets and spillways to Coldwater Creek and Toutle River into the Coldwater and Spirit Lakes. The Corps of Engineers placed another spillway to prevent water from overlapping the debris dams.

In 1989, the Washington Department of Wildlife placed 30, 000 rainbow trout in Coldwater Lake. Within two years, the Department of Wildlife found fish in Castle Lake. The fish population has increased and is self-maintaining. Today, visitors use the lakes for recreation: fishing, hiking, and tourists.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Kelcie Lloyd