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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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8

Salmon Protections Strike Calif.'s New '49ers

Gold prospectors banned from using 21st-century dredgers

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(Newser) – Prospectors seeking to join California's new gold rush are facing an upstream battle amid moves to protect the state's salmon stocks. Suction dredge mining, which uses gas-powered machines to scrape gold from river beds, has been banned while its environmental impact is reviewed, a process expected to take until 2011. The move came after pressure from the Karuk tribe, which was devastated during the original 1849 gold rush, the Telegraph reports.

"Our original intent was not to shut down dredging statewide, but because the new 49ers and these mining clubs fought us so hard, we had little alternative but to challenge the rules," says a spokesman for the 3,500-strong tribe. Prospectors complain that dredging is the only way to get at some deposits and are considering trying their luck in Oregon or Washington instead of going back to panning streams 19th-century style.

Russ Kurz, 77, carries up a bucket full of sand and gravel that he will use to demonstrate gold panning for a school group along the American River in Coloma, Calif.
Russ Kurz, 77, carries up a bucket full of sand and gravel that he will use to demonstrate gold panning for a school group along the American River in Coloma, Calif.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
New 49ers gold mining club founder Dave McCracken shows off gold he pulled from the bottom of the Klamath River near Happy Camp, Calif. with his suction dredge.
New 49ers gold mining club founder Dave McCracken shows off gold he pulled from the bottom of the Klamath River near Happy Camp, Calif. with his suction dredge.   (AP Photo/Jeff Barnard)
A sign displaying the current price of gold is seen at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, Calif., Thursday, April 16, 2009.
A sign displaying the current price of gold is seen at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, Calif., Thursday, April 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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8 comments
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cochiserocks
Nov 3, 09 6:47 AM CST
Yeeeeehaw old timer! Good to see the old ways are still about. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
bewilderbeast
Nov 4, 09 5:21 AM CST
Suction dredging is seriously damaging. It cannot be allowed in good conscience. For once let's put sense above dollars.
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JoeQ
Nov 3, 09 8:43 AM CST
No common sense going on here. Small hand dredges like people in mining clubs use are not bad at all. What wrecked the streams around Placerville in the 1830s was large placer mining operations. Whole mountainsides were carved away with high power water hoses. You can still see the damage today. Families going nugget hunting, panning, or running small dredges should be encouraged as a wholesome activity. Its a whole lot less damaging than ATV riding. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
dontlikenobody
Nov 3, 09 10:35 AM CST
The ban is on suction dredging - no matter how small a scale that may be, it silts the water badly, smothering salmon eggs and fry. Cal, Oregon, Idaho and Washington have to make the choice - salmon stocks (which are in SERIOUS decline) or "wholesome family fun," which is now being run as a multi-million dollar business by the "clubs." I know my choice.
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IN RESPONSE:
JoeQ
Nov 3, 09 4:02 PM CST
Gold clubs are a multi-million dollar business in California gold country? Gimme a break. Salmon stocks are impacted by blocking their migration, not a little silt here and there. Fish LIKE silt. Why not just stop monkeying with the river flow, or dumping tons of pesticides and exotic hydrocarbons into the watershed. Stockton has a fricken yacht harbor fer crissake. The whole central valley has been terraformed and turned to agriculture. If you want to improve the environment, start with the large problems and work your way down to the tiny stuff, unless you just want to feel good and not really do anything.
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