Oregon's new gold rush is not good news for the state

Oregon Wild Healthy Rivers Campaign Coordinator weighs in on the rising threat of mining in southwest Oregon.

When Oregonians think of mining, they probably think of coal mines in West Virginia or a 49er in California panning for gold beside a mule. Few think of our home as a "mining state," let alone know what a suction dredge is or how a patented claim can harm salmon and clean water.

But mining has long been a part of Oregon history, and it has generated tremendous conflict over the years. In the late 1800s, rumors of gold in the John Day, Rogue and Snake rivers prompted boom towns to spring up, and conflicts over gold that were often settled at gun point. In the 1930s and 1940s, industrialized mining came to the Cascades, unearthing lead, zinc, copper and silver, often leaving a toxic legacy.

Unfortunately, the environmental costs of mining are not just a legacy. The abundance of relatively cheap suction dredge equipment (diesel powered vacuums mounted on rafts that suck up gravel from the bottom of rivers and streams) has led to a booming industry in "recreational" mining. The damage from suction dredge mining has been so significant in California it has been banned to protect salmon and clean water.

California's problem is now being exported to Oregon as miners look north to "Oregon's Yellowstone" — the salmon-rich region of the Siskiyou Wild Rivers. Waterways such as the Rogue, Illinois and Chetco are the scene of ugly new conflicts over mining.

Last April, a Josephine County man received jail time for shooting an ATV rider at a mining claim in the Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest. In November, a miner from Gold Hill was convicted of illegally mining near the Illinois River, and quickly filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying restoration costs. This same miner is now hoping to work a claim on the same river — just two miles away! Along the Wild and Scenic Chetco River, surrounded by an otherwise protected wilderness, the owner of a 45-acre mining claim is promoting the idea of selling timeshares, despite the fact that he lacks valid water rights and sanitation permits.

This sad state of affairs is made possible by the 1872 Mining Act, an outdated law that was passed when Ulysses S. Grant was president and the latest mineral extraction technology included a metal pan and pickax. Today, the law still sells off valuable public lands for less than $5 an acre, and the desire to reform this outdated law has brought together conservation organizations, local businesses and outdoor enthusiasts.

The good news is that Oregon's elected officials are paying attention. Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Peter DeFazio recently requested the Obama administration withdraw the Siskiyou Wild Rivers area from new mining development. This common-sense step was first proposed by the Clinton administration, and would go a long way toward ensuring California's mining woes are not exported to Oregon's rivers and streams.

National mining reform legislation is needed to fully address the problem of private interests profiting from public lands and sticking American taxpayers with clean-up costs. New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the powerful Senate Public Lands Committee, recently unveiled a new initiative to reform the 1872 mining law. Wyden and Merkley have given support to the bill.

The growing mining conflicts in southwest Oregon also point out the need for Oregon to do more to protect our remaining wildlands and rivers. Despite its green reputation, Oregon continues to lag behind neighboring states when it comes to protecting pristine areas. Only 4 percent of Oregon has been protected as Wilderness, compared with 8 percent of Idaho, 10 percent of Washington and more than 13 percent of California. Wilderness designation protects public lands from logging, mining and other development, while preserving the public's right to enjoy these lands through activities such as hiking, camping, hunting and fishing.

America's public lands are an important part of our nation's natural heritage, and a tremendous legacy for our children and grandchildren. Through reform of the outdated 1872 mining law, and protection of Oregon's Yellowstone and rivers such as the Rogue, Illinois and Chetco, we can help ensure we pass on this legacy, and future opportunities to fish and float these amazing Siskiyou Wild Rivers.

Ani Kame'enui is healthy rivers campaign coordinator for Oregon Wild.