Washington Senate Approves Legislation to Protect Salmon from Suction-dredge Mining… On to the Governor’s Desk! BY: Gabe Scott, Cascadia Wildlands In-House Counsel MARCH 5, 2020 | After a 37-10 vote in the Senate, the suction-dredge mining reform bill (HB 1261) — which had already passed through the House — has passed the Washington legislature! Thanks to … Continue reading Breaking Victory: Salmon Protected from Suction-dredge Mining in Washington State!
Press Release: WA Fish and Wildlife Commission Orders Rulemaking to Require Permits for Suction Dredge Mining
April 14, 2018 — A milestone for aquatic health was achieved today when the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously ordered the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to initiate a rulemaking process that would require individual permits for suction dredge mining in the state.
Press Release: Oregon House of Representatives Passes Suction-Dredge Mining Reform Bill
May 31, 2017 — The Oregon House passed legislation today in a show of bipartisan support to protect sensitive salmon and lamprey habitat from suction dredge mining. The Suction Dredge Reform bill (SB 3-A) takes a measured approach to protecting the most sensitive rivers and streams from the impacts of suction dredge mining, while still allowing suction dredges in areas where they do less harm.
Blog: Summer Interning with Cascadia Wildlands
by Legal Intern Kat Fiedler This week I am wrapping up my legal internship with Cascadia Wildlands. I have spent my summer conducting legal research and drafting memos and litigation documents across the scope of Cascadia’s work. While much of my time was spent in the legal weeds, the breadth of issues left me … Continue reading Blog: Summer Interning with Cascadia Wildlands
Cascadia Wildlands Joins Lawsuit to Protect Wild Salmon and Clean Water from Gold Mining
November 20, 2015 — To defend an Oregon law designed to protect wildlife from damaging gold mining along waterways, a broad coalition of groups moved to intervene today in a lawsuit by mining interests challenging the restrictions. Passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2013, Senate Bill 838 placed restrictions on gold mining using suction dredges and other motorized equipment along streams to prevent harmful impacts to salmon and develop a permitting process to better protect Oregon’s waterways. Miners are now alleging that the state law conflicts with federal laws passed in the 1800s to encourage westward expansion.
We are Salmon
By Bob Ferris When reading Tim Egan’s recent op-ed in the New York Times on salmon I was reminded of an “aha” moment I recently experienced at the Tongass talk I gave for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Science Pub. Towards the end of the talk I asked the crowd of 90 or … Continue reading We are Salmon
Press Release: Bills to Curb Suction Dredge Mining Approved by Key Senate Committee
April 18, 2013 — Outdoor businesses, the commercial fishing industry, fisheries experts, and conservation organizations applaud the passage of Senate Bill 838 and SB 401 by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee last night. The legislation aims to protect water quality and salmon in Oregon’s iconic river systems from the impacts of harmful suction dredge mining.
Bills Introduced to Curb Suction Dredge Mining to Protect Wild Salmon and Clean Water
The Oregon legislature is currently considering: 1) SB 838 which would enact a moratorium on suction dredge mining in Essential Salmon Habitat in Oregon, and 2) SB 401 which would require the state of Oregon to review a list of nearly 30 river segments and make a recommendation as to whether or not they should … Continue reading Bills Introduced to Curb Suction Dredge Mining to Protect Wild Salmon and Clean Water
Suction Dredging and High Banking for Gold
What is Suction Dredge Mining and High Banking? Suction dredging for gold involves the disruption of compacted stream beds and underwater gravel deposits by dislodging materials and sucking them through a tube attached to a gasoline-powered water pump. The 2-6 inch tubes employed by recreational suction dredgers act like underwater vacuums. The resulting silt and … Continue reading Suction Dredging and High Banking for Gold