© Ken Morrish

Reform Suction Dredge Mining in Oregon

Reform Suction Dredge Mining in Oregon

Ask your elected leaders to support the Suction Dredge Reform Bill (SB 3-8) to protect clean water and native fish!

The Suction Dredge Reform Bill will permanently prohibit suction dredge mining in streams that support sensitive salmon and lamprey.

Suction dredge mining is a type of recreational gold mining that uses a motorized floating dredge to vacuum up riverbeds. This type of mining can:

  • Kill fish eggs and young fish;
  • Release plumes of sediment that coat riverbeds where salmon spawn; and
  • Stir up legacy mercury from historic mining, exposing fish and people to this toxin.

On April 10, 2017 the state Senate voted in favor of the Suction Dredge Reform Bill.