New Washington Geologic Maps Available Online

The following geologic maps are now available from the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources:

Open File Report 2009-5. Geologic map of the Lake Wooten 7.5-minute quadrangle, Mason County, Washington, by R. E. Derkey, N. J. Hehemann, and Katelin Alldritt. 2009. 35 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Available online only, at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_ofr2009-5_geol_map_lakewooten_24k.pdf [13.2 MB].)

Open File Report 2009-6. Geologic map of the Mason Lake 7.5-minute quadrangle, Mason County, Washington, by R. E. Derkey, N. J. Hehemann, and Katelin Alldritt. 2009. 35 x 36 color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Available online only, at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_ofr2009-6_geol_map_masonlake_24k.pdf [18.3 MB].)

Open File Report 2009-7. Geologic map of the Belfair 7.5-minute quadrangle, Mason, Kitsap, and Pierce Counties, Washington by Michael Polenz, Katelin Alldritt, N. J. Hehemann, I. Y. Sarikhan, and R. L. Logan. 2009. 45 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Available online only, at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_ofr2009-7_geol_map_belfair_24k.pdf [23.0 MB].)

Open File Report 2009-8. Geologic map of the Burley 7.5-minute quadrangle, Kitsap and Pierce Counties, Washington, by Michael Polenz, Katelin Alldritt, N. J. Hehemann, and R. L. Logan. 2009. 41 x 36 in. color sheet, scale 1:24,000. (Available online only, at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_ofr2009-8_geol_map_burley_24k.pdf [17.9 MB].)

The above information was kindly supplied by the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources.

California Bans Suction Dredge Mining -- Effective Immediately

I generally don't report on events taking place in other states but, since whenever something bad happens in California it tends to metastasize across neighboring regions, I'm making an exception in this case. It seems that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed SB 670, shutting down every in-stream suction mining dredge in California immediately and for an indefinite time to come.

According to the California Department of Fish and Game website, the moratorium on suction dredge mining will remain in effect for at least two years while the department completes a court-ordered review of the permit process and makes any necessary changes to the pertinent regulations. Not only are all current dredging permits no longer valid, but permit holders will apparently not be eligible for refunds of fees paid, according to the DFG statement.

In the meantime, running a dredge in a California stream can net you up to a $1,000 fine and six months behind bars.

Those interested may read the notice from the California DFG at the link here.

Countering the California development, Public Lands for the People is preparing a Federal Injunction to stop implementation of the moratorium. Donations for legal fees are requested at the web link above.

Article Exposes Pitfalls of Proposed Federal Mining Legislation

I haven't posted anything since early February on the various efforts in Congress to "reform" the 1872 mining law as most of the articles I've seen in the mainstream press are ignorant and shortsighted in their support of such legislation and I've already given more than enough space to the lies and misrepresentations contained within them.

Yesterday, however, there was a refreshing editorial at denverpost.com by Vincent Carroll which tells the other side of the story. Of course, the people who most need to know the facts presented by Mr. Carroll are not the ones reading this blog and, judging by the one comment below the article at the time I read it, at least some of those who need those facts are failing to grasp them still. In any case, it's nice to know that the truth is out there where those who need it may yet discover it and thereby help avert a calamity brought about by unwise mining legislation.

Read the Carroll piece for yourself at the link here.

WDFW Calls for Public Input on Selection of New Director

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?

New Geologic Map for Yakima County Area Available

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]

Recruitment Begins For New WDFW Director

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.

Finally! An Editorial In Support Of Suction Dredging

(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.

Washington Gold Prospecting (and Prospectors) in the News

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.

More Washington Geologic Maps Available Online

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!

Corrected Gold and Fish Pamphlet and Mining Brochure Now Available From WDFW

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.

Washington Land Grabs in the News

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.

2009 Gold and Fish Pamphlet Available From WDFW

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.