Sacramento – Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill last Thursday that will temporarily ban the use of suction dredges in gold mining following a California judge’s ruling. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch created a moratorium two weeks ago on the issuance of suction mining permits in California. The ban will remain in effect until a lawsuit against the Department of Fish and Game asserting that tax dollars are being used to illegally subsidize dredge mining is resolved. The lawsuit was filed in 2005 by the Karuk Tribe, who also claim the Department of Fish and Game allows the practice of suction dredge mining to occur in areas known to be critical habitats for endangered and at risk fish species. Mining groups like the New 49’ers Prospecting Association say there is no proof that dredging harms river environments. The New 49’ers urged the Governor to veto the bill, though there were enough votes in the Senate to override a potential veto. Approximately 3,500 permits are issued nationally each year for suction dredge mining. Many of these miners come to California’s Gold Country. The Mother Lode was ground zero for the original 49er movement and has since hosted hundreds of thousands of hopeful prospectors. Karuk Spokesman Craig Tucker said less than half the cost of issuing dredge mine permits each year is collected from permit fees. He said the rest “is subsidized by California taxpayers, including tribal, commercial and recreational fishermen who depend on healthy salmon runs for their livelihood or their businesses.” The ban will remain in effect until the state Department of Fish and Game completes an environmental review of suction dredging and creates new rules and regulations, said Lisa Page, a spokeswoman for the Governor’s office. Suction dredge mining is an underwater process that works like a vacuum to suck up and filter gravel from river bottoms. Miners who already have a permit can continue using dredges. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.