Oregon’s Chetco River On “Most Endangered List”

The Chetco River in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Photo by Lee Webb, U.S. Forest Service.

Plans for a huge gold mining operation has put the Chetco River in Southern Oregon on this year’s “Most Endangered Rivers” list.

What’s at stake is a river praised for it’s wild salmon and steelhead, and needed for supplying clean drinking water for the town of Brookings.

The threat comes from a Washington state real estate developer who’s filed for a permit to operate suction dredges on 24-miles of the Chetco. All of those miles fall within the area of the Chetco that’s been designated a Wild and Scenic River. Six of those miles are in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.

The environmental group, American Rivers, put the Chetco as number seven on its 2010 “Most Endangered Rivers” list. It highlights rivers that face serious problems – and a major decision that could change the outcome.

In the case of the Chetco, American Rivers and several Southern Oregon groups want the Interior and Agriculture departments to withdraw the river from entry under the 1872 Mining Act. They hope that will give Congress time to pass a law to permanently protect the Chetco.

“It’s hard to believe a law passed in 1872 can still be used to hold a priceless wild river and its abundant salmon hostage. We need to use 21st century knowledge to protect our natural resources. The Chetco River should be protected for its fish, rather than degraded for the short-term profit of a Seattle-based developer.”

-Lesley Adams, Rogue Riverkeeper

Meanwhile, DEQ is writing new regulations for gold mining in Oregon’s rivers. It would force gold miners to use smaller dredging machines than they can now use. It also tightens standards for water turbidity in several wilderness areas. That would include the portion of the Chetco River in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness area. DEQ is taking comments until June 8 and hopes to finish work on the rules by the end of the month.

Tags: american rivers, chetco river, Mining