To Our Readers

Happy New Year!

The Washington State Miner

would like to take this opportunity

to

thank you for visiting our blog

and to wish you

A Healthy and Prosperous Year

in

2016

WDFW Inviting Comments on HPA Program

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) invites interested parties to comment on the new Hydraulic Project Approval program.  The Hydraulic Code rules were extensively updated in 2014 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, the same year in which WDFW introduced a simplified permitting system and online application process.

According to a December 21 news release, "Jeff Davis, assistant director of WDFW’s Habitat Program, said the department welcomes comments on recent updates to those rules, efforts to streamline the permitting process, and other aspects of the HPA program."

The news release further noted that "(s)tate habitat managers also plan to discuss the future of the program with tribal and other governmental representatives, environmental groups, business organizations and others involved in HPA issues, Davis said." (Emphasis added.)  Dare we assume that the "others involved in HPA issues" includes members of the small-scale prospecting and mining community?

To insure that it does, readers of this blog are encouraged to submit their comments via email to hpaprogramideas@dfw.wa.gov by April 15, 2016.

Those wishing additional information on the permitting process may visit WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/hpa/.

Those wishing to read the WDFW news release quoted above may do so here.

New Geologic Map Available

Washington State's Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of a new geology map of the Tacoma 1:100,000-scale quadrangle.

The new map may be downloaded for free from the link here or paper copies may be purchased from myprint.wa.gov.

The official announcment of the new map may be read here.

NOTE:  At the time of this writing the links to the free map and to the paper copies are not working.  Hopefully the problem will be solved reasonably soon.  If DNR announces corrected links, they will be posted in this article.

NOTE:  The link for downloading the free copy of the map has been repaired.  Also, the link to the site for purchasing the paper version of the map is also working.

New Washington Geologic Maps Available

Washington State's Department of Natural Resources has announced the availability of two new geologic maps:

1.  The Geologic Map of the Lake Roesiger 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Snohomish County, Washington, Map Series 2015-1, incorporating new geologic mapping, geochemistry, geophysics, and age data, is presented in a 42 x 36 inch 1:24,000 scale map sheet and 47-page pamphlet.  The entire package may be downloaded for free here or purchased in printed form at myprint.wa.gov.

2.  The Geologic Map of the Port Ludlow and southern half of the Hansville 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Kitsap and Jefferson Counties, Washington, Map Series 2015-2, incorporating new geologic mapping, geochemistry, and age data, is presented in a 42 x 36 inch 1:24,000 scale map sheet and 40-page pamphlet.  The entire package may be downloaded for free here or purchased in printed form at the same link as for the Lake Roesiger map.

The original press release from DNR may be found at the link here.

Suction Dredging Suspended in Washington Rivers Due to Drought

WDFW has announced that suction dredging for gold is prohibited or restricted in more than 60 rivers and streams until further notice.  The reason given for this action is to prevent additional stress on fish populations that are already suffering from high temperatures and low water levels.  On those rivers with hourly restrictions, gold dredging is prohibited between 2:00 P.M. and one half-hour after official sunset.  A detailed list of the rivers and streams affected by these emergency regulations may be found here.

Note that only suction dredging is affected by these regulations.  Gold panning by hand is specifically exempted and the regulations do not mention other gold recovery methods, such as by hand sluice, rocker box, etc., so it would seem these methods would be permitted as well.  If in doubt, contact WDFW at 360-902-2200 or at one of the numbers listed at the top of the official news release.