Suction Dredge Mining Reform Action Alert

An important action alert from Native Fish Society.

Following California’s 2009 moratorium on the practice, Oregon has seen a dramatic increase in suction dredge mining activity, which impairs water quality and threatens critical salmon, steelhead, trout and lamprey habitat.

Suction dredge mining involves prospectors locating gold by sucking up stream and river bottoms through a gas-powered, floating vacuum. This mining technique leaves behind altered river bottoms, suspends previously undisturbed mercury deposits, and damages essential salmon habitat and spawning gravels.

Native Fish Society is asking for your help to protect native salmonids and lamprey habitat by supporting the increased regulations currently being proposed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). DEQ is in the process of revising the 700PM permit that will dictate suction dredge mining regulations for the next 5 years. Specifically, the Native Fish Society would like your help asking DEQ to restrict suction dredge mining in streams and rivers with designated Essential Salmonid Habitat (ESH).

TAKE ACTION NOW

Take Action for Striped Bass in Massachusettes

An important action alert from Stripers Forever.

There will be a joint hearing on the Economics study Bill that we have filed. We need you to send emails to the committee chairs in support.

BACKGROUND:

The Bills call for an economic study to be done on the striped bass fishery and directs the Div. of Marine Fisheries to manage the fishery for its greatest economic return to the Commonwealth and its citizens.

ACTION NEEDED:

Please send emails to both: The senate chair, Michael Rodrigues (michael.rodrigues@masenate.gov) and the House Chair, Jay Kaufman (jay.kaufman@mahouse.gov) cut and paste these e-mails from here.

Tell them the commonwealth is losing millions in tax revenue because of the mismanagement of the striped bass fishery and it needs to be addressed and fixed. Ask them to support  Bills SB-1452 and HB-2506.

TODAY!! - Attend the Seattle EPA Pebble Mine Public Hearing

The EPA released its draft Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment on May 18th and is holding a Seattle public hearing to listen to public comments about the proposed Pebble Mine. The public hearing is next week Thursday, 5/31 and is the only known hearing in the Lower 48, all others will be held in Alaska the following week.

Here is your chance to stand up for the protection of North America's greatest wild salmon fishery. Help send the message that Pebble Mine is the wrong mine in the wrong place. A huge turnout will send a loud message to the pro development side who will most certainly turnout for this meeting. 

When: Thursday May 31 at 2pm

Where: Jackson Federal Building, North Auditorium

915 Second Avenue - Seattle, WA

Full Details

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released a statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that the agency will hold a public hearing in Seattle next week to discuss how large scale development in Bristol Bay, Alaska – like the Pebble Mine proposal – could hurt salmon and Washington state jobs.

“I’m glad that Washington state voices will be heard as EPA works to finalize its scientific watershed assessment”

Recreational Genocide

The Karuk tribe has been lobbying the California Fiah and Game Department to limit suction dredge mining on the Klamath claiming hobbyist miners are damaging important spawning habitat. Recently a recreational gold mining club challenged the Karuk's tribe right to harvest salmon on the Klamath.

Leaf Hillman, Vice-Chairman for the Tribe, told Native American Times in an interview that the recent attacks upon their ancestral fishing grounds are, “Nothing more than Recreational Genocide.”

LINK (Via: Native American Times)

Klamath fish are worth more than gold!

Every summer, recreational suction dredge miners descend upon the Klamath and its tributaries in search of gold. Their gas-powered dredges disturb the river bottom, damage critical spawning habitat for salmon and other fish, release large plumes of sediment into the water, and are the source of fuel and oil spills directly into the river. Suction dredge mining harms aquatic life and fisheries and impacts anglers and other river users. 

LINK  (Via: Klamath Riverkeeper)

CSPA Joins Karuk Tribe in Lawsuit Against Suction Dredge Mining

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) has joined in a lawsuit by the Karuk Tribe of the Klamath River and a coalition of environmental and fishing groups against the California Department of Fish and Game's use of General Fund money to support suction dredge mining. The suit is asking for an injunction until California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review is completed and other mitigations take place.

LINK (Via: The Klamath Bucket Brigade)