[env-trinity] Trinity Journal 3 9 2011

Fri Mar 11 14:31:54 PST 2011

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Draft report suggests limited dredging

BY AMY GITTELSOHN 

THE TRINITY JOURNAL 

<http://www.trinityjournal.com/sites/www.trinityjournal.com/files/images/201
1-03-09/1p1.Large.jpg> A suction dredger works the South Fork of the Salmon
River in Siskiyou County before such activity was banned awaiting study. A
suction dredger works the South Fork of the Salmon River in Siskiyou County
before such activity was banned awaiting study. As a moratorium continues on
suction dredge mining for gold in California, the state Department of Fish
and Game has proposed new regulations on the activity to protect fish.

The DFG is taking public comment on the recently released Draft Subsequent
Environmental Impact Report for the Suction Dredge Permitting Program. The
agency prepared the document to comply with a court order.

Suction dredge gold miners spend hours underwater in rivers, streams and
lakes using a powerful vacuum to suck up sand, gravel and rock which is sent
through a sluice box mounted on a floating platform. Most of the material
continues through the sluice and out the other side, leaving the heavier
gold in the sluice box.

The draft document just released by DFG evaluates the potential
environmental impacts of a proposed program and four alternatives. Under the
proposed program, changes include: 

. A limit on the number of permits issued annually of 4,000, on a
first-come, first served basis. Previously, there was no limit. On average,
the DFG issued approximately 3,650 permits annually for the 15 years prior
to the moratorium established in July 2009. However, in the early '80s, the
number of permits issued was approximately 12,000.

. Intake nozzles larger than 4 inches would not be allowed, except under
certain conditions. Previously, nozzles could be up to 6 inches. Pump
intakes would require screening.

. Changes to seasonal and year-round closures for various water bodies
throughout the state, based on potential for impacts to sensitive aquatic
species. For example, the main stem Trinity River from the Humboldt line to
the North Fork Trinity River would be open for dredging for four months from
June 1 through Sept. 30. Many tributaries would be closed to suction
dredging completely, such as the East Fork of the North Fork of the Trinity
River. In other cases, streams that previously were closed to suction
dredging would open to the activity.

. There is also a long list of operating conditions, among them no dredging
within three feet of the water's edge.

Terry Cato, of Weaverville, has claims along the East Fork of the North Fork
with his brother.

He had not expected a complete closure there.

"As a claimholder I'm not really pleased," Cato said. "I definitely plan on
filing some type of response to it so it can be addressed in their final
draft."

Previously, the area was open to suction dredging from July through
September. "That's not during spawning season at all," Cato said.

Although mining has not been a big source of income for him, it has been a
way of life for at least 18 years, Cato said, adding, "I have certain rights
as a claim holder and a miner."

>From the DFG, Environmental Program Manager Mark Stopher said the changes
are proposed to protect many different kinds of fish, given updated
information and species listed as threatened or endangered since regulations
were previously written in 1994.

"Most people think this is only about salmon and steelhead and it's not," he
said, adding that statute says the DFG is to consider impacts to all fish,
and that includes amphibians.

While suction dredges are unlikely to harm adult fish, amphibians and
smaller organisms aren't likely to survive a trip through a suction dredge,
Stopher said.

Furthermore, he said, the activity modifies habitat, including pools of cool
water the fish use.

"Sometimes it makes pools, sometimes it fills in pools," he said, adding
that the new pools might not be as good a place for fish.

He said the chief concern on the East Fork of the North Fork is displacement
of coho salmon, which are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Unlike
chinook salmon, they spend over a year rearing in tributaries before
migrating to the ocean. "There are no windows when they aren't there," he
said.

There has been much debate about release of mercury by suction dredge
miners. The miners note that they capture far more mercury than they
release, while opponents say they stir up mercury that was under the
riverbed.

However, Stopher said the DFG's authority is limited, and while mercury may
be a concern for humans consuming fish, "we did not change our regulations
to control mercury because we couldn't find an effect on fish."

The DFG's proposed changes came about as a result of a lawsuit. In 2005, the
Karuk Tribe sued the agency for allowing suction dredge mining in areas
known to be critical habitat for endangered and at-risk species. The suit
ended in a court order in 2006 directing DFG to review and amend its
regulations. The moratorium bill signed into law in 2009 suspended all
suction dredging until DFG completes the mandated environmental impact
report.

Thousands of comments are expected on the draft document, and some could
cause changes. A final environmental impact report and proposed regulations
are expected to be released in the fall, with the new regulations to be in
effect before the end of the year, Stopher said.

Meanwhile, the temporary ban on suction dredge mining remains in effect -
unless proposed legislation to lift the moratorium is successful. 

To comment 

Five public hearings on the Draft Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for
the Suction Dredge Permitting Program have been scheduled throughout the
state. Closest to Trinity, a hearing willbebeginat5pm.Thursday,March31,in
Redding at the Shasta Senior Nutrition Program, 100 Mercy Oaks Drive,
Redding, CA 96003.

A 60-day public review period of the document ends April 29. Written
comments should be directed to: California Department of Fish and Game,
Attn: Mark Stopher, Suction Dredge Program Draft SEIR Comments, 601 Locust
Street, Redding, CA 96001. Or e-mail dfgsuctiondredge at dfg.ca.gov.

Documents can be reviewed online at www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge. 

Byron Leydecker, JcT

Chair, Friends of Trinity River

PO Box 2327

Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327

415 383 4810 land

415 519 4810 mobile

 <mailto:bwl3 at comcast.net> bwl3 at comcast.net

 <mailto:bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org> bleydecker at stanfordalumni.org
(secondary)

 <http://fotr.org/> http://www.fotr.org 

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