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SB 670, the Suction Dredge Bill, clears the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
by Jerry Neuburger
June 17, 2009 -- Senator Wiggins bill to temporarily halt suction dredging for gold in California's rivers and streams has passed the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, 11-0. The bill has already cleared the senate, 31-8, and will go before the full assembly for a vote in the near future. If passed, the bill will then go to the governor for signature. A previous bill sponsored by then Assemblywoman Lois Wolk was vetoed by Schwarzenegger but it's anticipated he will sign this bill since it is expected to receive more than a two thirds vote in both houses.
The bill came about because the Department of Fish and Game dragged its feet in preparing an EIR on the environmental effects of suction dredging. The department was charged with preparing an EIR in 2004 but did nothing through 2008, claiming lack of funds.
It's estimated that DFG spends almost a million dollars annually to administer the suction dredge program, far beyond the cost of the license fees. It's believed that the dredging process is disruptive to spawning fish and injurious to steam ecology because of the material displaced and the resultant silting.
A number of fishing and conservations groups support SB 670 including the California Sportfishing Association, the Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, the California Coastkeeper Alliance, California Tribal Business Alliance, California Trout, Clean Water Action, Friends of the River, Karuk Tribe, Klamath Riverkeeper, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Planning and Conservation League, Ramona Band of Cahuila, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sierra Club California, Sierra Fund, Sierra Nevada Alliance and Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.