Illegal dredging operations discovered at several California waterways

"According to a Sept. 26 news release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the citations began in August of last year, when authorities found someone operating a suction dredge - a powerful tool that sucks materials out of underwater cracks and crevices - on the Salmon River near Cecilville, an unincorporated community in Siskiyou County. After officers confronted them, the person admitted to using it to search for gold and other minerals as part of an ongoing "partnership," officials said."

"Subsequently, four more people were cited this summer for illegally dredging in the Klamath River and Elk Creek. According to the CDFW, this motorized equipment can harm fish and their native habitat by releasing contaminants, causing erosion and potentially creating more favorable conditions for the invasive signal crayfish: an aggressive, voracious crustacean that poses an existential threat to California's gentle, endangered Shasta crayfish - the state's last native crayfish species."

"Though mechanized dredging is prohibited, it's still legal to manually sift for gold using a pan, the release says, and individuals are still encouraged to do it recreationally. The aptly named Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park even offers lessons, where both adults and kids can learn how to sift for gold. CDFW press representatives could not respond to SFGATE's request for more information by the time of publication."

Five individuals were caught illegally mining along several California waterways. The initial citation began in August when authorities found a person operating a suction dredge on the Salmon River near Cecilville; the individual admitted using the device to search for gold and other minerals as part of an ongoing partnership. A clerical error temporarily dismissed that case and required refiling by the local district attorney. Subsequently, four more people were cited this summer for dredging in the Klamath River and Elk Creek. CDFW warned that motorized dredges release contaminants, cause erosion, and promote invasive signal crayfish that threaten the endangered Shasta crayfish. Manual gold panning remains legal and is offered as a recreational activity at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

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