Washington Council of Trout Unlimited
Help us protect Washington State’s imperiled fish populations from the harmful effects of poorly regulated suction dredge mining by making your voice heard in Olympia next Tuesday, January 17th.
Introduced earlier this week, House Bill (HB) 1077 and HB 1106 will require Washington State to begin tracking and monitoring all suction dredging activities to ensure they do not threaten our already struggling fish populations.
- Washington is the only state with populations of Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed Pacific salmon and steelhead that still allows unpermitted suction dredging and other forms of motorized mineral prospecting.
- Due to proven impacts to fish habitat caused by suction dredging, California (2009) and Oregon (2016) no longer allow this activity, and Idaho regulates it strictly under the Clean Water Act (2013).
- The current regulations in Washington allow suction dredge mining without oversight, tracking, or accountability – no permits, no fees, no monitoring required.
This is simply unacceptable giving what’s at stake with our critical fish populations – many of them on the brink of extinction. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on fish habitat restoration efforts throughout Washington State’s watersheds over the past 20+ years. These investments are literally being washed downstream.
Show your support for suction dredge mining reform by joining us at the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee hearing for HB 1077 and 1106 on Tuesday, January 17th at 10am in Hearing Room B, John L O’Brien Building at the Capitol.
Thank you for your support!
Crystal Elliot
Western Water and Habitat Program
