Washington State Miner

Tom

As reported previously on this blog, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is now actively recruiting a new director. WDFW issued a news release today calling for public input regarding the qualifications to be sought in the applicants for this position. To obtain this input, a public survey form is available on the commission's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/.

From the news release:

"We'd like to hear from anglers, hunters and everyone interested in the future of our state's natural resources," said Miranda Wecker, who chairs the nine-member citizen commission responsible for setting policy - and hiring a director - for WDFW. "We'll consider those responses as we get down to the business of selecting a new director."

Perhaps this is an opportunity to move WDFW toward a more small-scale-miner-friendly orientation?

Tom

A geologic map and data supplement for the Meeks Table and western two-thirds of the Nile 7.5-minute quadrangles, Yakima County, Washington, have been published by the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources.

The map, Geologic Map GM-74 (36 x 38 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000, with 12 p. text), is available through the Washington Department of Printing (http://www.prt.wa.gov/) for $23.48, including shipping and handling, or for free by download as a .pdf file from the link below:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm74_meekstable_nile_24k.zip [16.0MB]

The data supplement, Open File Report 2009-3, is only available online as a Microsoft Excel file at the link below:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_ofr2009-3_meekstable_nile_suppl.xls [4.4MB]

Tom

As noted in previous posts on this blog (here and here), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for a new director. According to a News Release from the Department yesterday, recruitment for this position is now officially in progress.

The announcement states that no closing date for the position has yet been set and that an initial review of applications will begin on June 24. Once hired, the new director is expected to commence duties in October.

You may read the original press release at the link here.

Tom

(Note: You may need to use Internet Explorer to visit the links below. Doing so with Firefox crashes the browser on my machine every time.)

At least one newspaper (albeit in California: The Union of Grass Valley) has published an editorial in support of suction dredging and countering the lies of the environmentalists. It would be nice if more newspapers...especially those here in Washington...would do the same.

You can read the article by James L. Butler, Other Voices: Fish, dredging and mercury — a second opinion, at the link here.

Tom

Two reports in the mainstream media mention gold prospecting in Washington State.

The first is from KING 5 News in Seattle and is titled Gold panning making a comeback. The article states that, "For the first time in a decade, panning for gold in Washington State is considered legal." While not strictly true (under the 1999 rules you could pan almost anywhere all year except in streams, where panning was allowed only during specified "work windows,") the message to the public is clear: Washington's streams are now essentially wide open to anyone with a gold pan. The story quotes Greg Christensen and Robert Cunningham of Bellingham and includes a video clip.

Read and view at the link here.

The second is from the Times Online and bears the headline New gold rush sweeps across America. The article cites the increase in interest in gold prospecting due to gold's rising price and the economic downturn. It mentions Washington State in particular and quotes GPAA general manager Ken Rucker and placer claim owner Ron Larson of Kent.

You can find this second report at the link here.

Tom

Now that prospecting season is drawing near, here are some online sources for geologic maps:

The Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources has announced that all of the 1:100,000-scale geologic maps which they publish, as well as many at other scales, are now available for download from the following link:

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Pages/PubMaps.aspx

Many of the maps not available from DGER can be found using the search functions of the USGS National Geologic Map Catalog at the link below:

http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/ngmdb/ngm_quicksearch.html

Happy prospecting!

Tom

In addition to the new 2009 Gold and Fish pamphlet (which has just been revised to correct printing errors -- see the link under "Prospecting & Mining Regulations" in the right-hand sidebar of this page to download a copy), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife now has an informational flyer on mineral prospecting in Washington.

Titled, Small Scale Mineral Prospecting and Placer Mining in Washington, the two-page brochure is available for download as a .pdf document at the link here.

Tom

Titled, Some New Wilderness for WA, Too?, an article at Public News Service informs us that, "Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash) have introduced a bill to expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area in the North Cascade Mountains by 22,000 acres."

The article quotes Reichert as saying, "It’s the idea of bipartisanship and working together to make this an area that all of us can enjoy. It (d)oesn’t matter what party you belong to, protecting our wilderness is important to all of us." (Emphasis added -- Tom)

True to the parameters of Orwellian Newspeak, it is obvious that "all of us" does not include ALL of us. But, I digress.

Apparently, this new bill would widen the boundaries of the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness, expanding the area that (not) ALL of us can enjoy into lower elevations along the Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers.

The article also quotes a John Chelminiak, identified as the North Cascades Initiative Director for the Wilderness Society, saying, "It will be a spectacular place to take your children and experience wilderness without having to go to the top of a peak, almost virtually in the backyards of the communities of the North Cascades."

How much longer before these land grabs actually take our backyards?

The bill, known as H.R. 1769, "To expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in the State of Washington, to designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers, and for other purposes," is currently in the House Committee on Natural Resources. Although the bill is listed on Thomas, the text is not yet available from the Government Printing Office. The companion bill in the Senate is S. 721 for which, at this point, almost no information exists in online sources. You might check Thomas or set up an alert on GovTrack if you're interested in further developments of this legislation.

The Public News Service article, by Chris Thomas, can be read at the link here.

On a related note, our Senator Murray is also sponsoring a bill, S. 635, that would add 14.3 miles of Illabot Creek in Skagit County lying outside the Glacier Peak Wilderness to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. This bill, currently without co-sponsors, is in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the Senate.

Tom

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has released the 2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet containing the new rules for mineral prospecting and placer mining in Washington State.

The link to the .pdf file for the new pamphlet is here. You may download and print the pamphlet from this link or order it from one of the WDFW offices listed here.

In addition, the WDFW Habitat Permits & Regulations web page has moved to a new address which is linked here.

Both of these new links have been added to the right-hand sidebar: the 2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet under "Prospecting & Mining Regulations" and the Habitat Permits & Regulations page under "Resources for Prospectors."

As the new regulations will not take effect until April 3, the current 1999 pamphlet is still available for download at the link here and in the "Prospecting & Mining Regulations" section of the right-hand sidebar until April 3.

Tom

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is calling for nominations of persons to serve on a new working group called the Habitat Conservation Plan Advisory Committee.

The WDFW press release, citing information provided by Greg Hueckel, assistant director of WDFW's habitat program, states that the new group "will consist of up to 24 advisors who will provide guidance on the development of a conservation plan to protect sensitive fish and shellfish species potentially affected by hydraulic project activities."

“We’ve contacted a variety of interest groups and individuals to make sure the new committee reflects all points of view as we develop this important plan," the release quotes Hueckel as saying. It then goes on to report that "(I)nvitations have been sent to tribal representatives, businesses, government agencies and environmental organizations."

Owing to WDFW requirements that prospectors and miners possess hydraulic project approval before commencing activities, one wonders if they will also be represented on the new committee?

The group is slated to start work this spring and is expected to continue for two years. The deadline for nominations is April 1. Nominations may be directed to Carol Piening, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Program, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. Or by email to carol.piening@dfw.wa.gov.

Further information is available from the WDFW press release at the link here.

Tom

There are several new geologic maps available from the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources, which agency has supplied the following list:

Geologic Map GM-68. Geologic map of the Camano 7.5-minute quadrangle, Island County, Washington, by Michael Polenz, H. W. Schasse, M. L. Kalk, and B. B. Petersen. 2009. 48 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Plotted; $22.18, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm68_geol_map_camano_24k.pdf [10.1 MB].)

Geologic Map GM-69. Geologic map of the Langley and western part of the Tulalip 7.5-minute quadrangles, Island County, Washington, by H. W. Schasse, M. L. Kalk, B. B. Petersen, and Michael Polenz. 2009. 47 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Plotted; $22.18, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm69_geol_map_langley_24k.pdf [10.1 MB].)

Geologic Map GM-70. Geologic map of the Juniper Beach 7.5-minute quadrangle, Island County, Washington, by H. W. Schasse, M. L. Kalk, and Michael Polenz. 2009. 39 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Plotted; $22.18, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm70_geol_map_juniperbeach_24k.pdf [11.5 MB].)

Geologic Map GM-71. Geologic map of the Olsen Canyon 7.5-minute quadrangle, Lincoln and Stevens Counties, Washington, by R. E. Derkey and M. M. Hamilton. 2009. 42 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Plotted; $22.18, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm71_geol_map_olsencanyon_24k.pdf [14.7 MB].)

Geologic Map GM-72. Geologic map of the Maytown 7.5-minute quadrangle, Thurston County, Washington, by R. L. Logan, T. J. Walsh, B. W. Stanton, and I. Y. Sarikhan. 2009. 42 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Plotted; $22.18, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm72_geol_map_maytown_24k.pdf [30.3 MB].)

Geologic Map GM-73. Geologic map of the North Bend 7.5-minute quadrangle, King County, Washington, with a discussion of the major faults, folds, and basins in the map area, by J. D. Dragovich, T. J. Walsh, M. L. Anderson, Renate Hartog, S. A. DuFrane, Jeff Vervoot, S. A. Williams, Recep Cakir, K. D. Stanton, F. E. Wolff, D. K. Norman, and J. L. Czajkowski. 2009. 38 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000, with 39 p. text. (Plotted; $23.48, including shipping and handling. Sold through the Washington Department of Printing. Also available online at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_gm73_geol_map_northbend_24k.zip [44.7 MB].)

These maps may be either downloaded from the links above or printed copies ordered from the Washington Department of Printing.

For more information on Washington geologic publications, visit the link here.

Tom

As you may recall from a previous post, last March the governor signed S.B. 6343 establishing a pilot program to allow small scale prospecting and mining on Washington's ocean beaches beginning July 1, 2008.

Thanks to the kindness of Lisa Lantz, Resource Stewardship Manager for the SW Region of Washington State Parks, who supplied a copy of an update report prepared for the Parks Commission on January 22 last, we now have some insight on what has been happening behind the scenes.

According to the report, beginning in May, 2008, State Parks personnel met with WDFW and selected three areas where prospecting would be allowed: "Long Beach – from Ocean Park Ocean Beach Access (OBA) to Klipsan OBA; South Beach – from Bonge OBA to Grayland OBA; and North Beach – from Ocean City OBA to Oyehut OBA."

Subsequently, State Parks received comments that the prospecting areas selected failed to provide freshwater access for miners. As a result, State Parks, in consultation with WDFW, "opened the Iron Springs area, a one-half mile stretch of North Beach, centered on the mouth of Boone Creek," in December.

It should be noted that all participants in the pilot project are required to obtain an HPA from WDFW. Information on applying for an HPA is available from the WDFW web page here. On-line forms and instructions may be found at the One-Stop JARPA Resource Center.

Originally, WDFW limited the equipment miners could use to "motorized pans, non-motorized pans, sluice boxes, mini rocker boxes and non-motorized concentrators." This list was subsequently expanded to include:

Pans; Spiral wheels; Sluices, concentrators, mini rocker boxes, rocker boxes, mini high-bankers with riffle areas totaling 3 square feet or less, including ganged equipment, and high-bankers with riffle areas totaling 10 square feet or less, including ganged equipment; Suction dredges with suction intake nozzle inside diameters no greater than 5-1/4 inches. The inside diameter of the dredge hose attached to the nozzle may be no greater than one inch larger than the suction intake nozzle size; Power sluice/suction dredge combinations with riffle areas totaling 10 square feet or less, including ganged equipment; suction intake nozzle inside diameters no greater than 5-1/4 inches; and pump intake hose inside diameters no greater than 4 inches. The inside diameter of the dredge hose attached to the suction intake nozzle may be no greater than one inch larger than the suction intake nozzle size; and, High-bankers and power sluices with riffle areas totaling 10 square feet or less, including ganged equipment, and pump intake hoses with inside diameters of 4 inches or less.

Furthermore, when miners receive their HPAs, they "also receive maps of the pilot areas and a letter from Parks requesting their cooperation in collecting basic information on the pilot project," including, "where each mining activity occurs, the number of people participating, number of days per activity, quantity of material removed from the beach, type of equipment used, and any difficulties encountered." Miners are also required to "notify WDFW and Parks staff prior to starting work."

According to the report, as of December, 48 people had registered in the North Beach area. The other areas had no reported activity.

For those interested in reading it, the update report for the Parks Commission is available the the link below:

Placer Mining Pilot Program Report.pdf