Response, both states have created regulatory and legal reforms to protect Impacts of suction dredge mining on water quality and fish species. The results of these studies consistently confirm negative

Studies of the effects of suction dredge mining on aquatic environments haveīeen completed ad nauseum by the States ofĬalifornia and Oregon. Spawning, creating unstable tailings, and killing eggs and larvae. The serious environmental risks posed by suction dredge mining and need forĭredge mining can harm fish, including endangered salmonids, by disrupting It impacts fish and the aquatic food web by destroying aquatic habitat, physically “processing” fish and aquatic life, creating fish stranding risks in dredging pools (where fish are restricted to poor habitat as a consequence of physical separation from a main body of water), and destroys riparian vegetation.ĩ th Circuit in support of Oregon and California laws regulatingĪttorney General Bob Ferguson wrote the following:

It mobilizes mercury and other heavy metals. More specifically, it causes erosion and sedimentation.

The science is clear: Suction dredge mining degrades water quality and harms fish. Though you may see comments from a select few upholding the activity, the science is incredibly clear on negative impacts it causes to our already-stressed fish populations. Two bills will move through the Washington legislature this session with the goal of updating the state’s laws protecting its fish and waterways from impacts of suction dredge mining.

The image on the right shows the area which will be destroyed if the Enterprise is allowed to continue, the dredge mining will move over the ore body shown in purple on the left. (Mapping for Queensland is available from DME”s interactive mapping website: ) The image on the left shows the Department of Mines” mapping of the ore bodies on North Stradbroke Island, marked in purple. See the mining company”s diagram from their Plan of Operations for further detail. The sand residue is then dumped at the other end of the dredge pond, and the dredge then ‘eats’ away at the sand to move the whole dredge pond. This slurry is then processed through a floating Mineral Concentrating Plant, extracting the heavy mineral sands. The dredge sucks up a sand/water slurry from the bottom of the dredge pond. This hole is then flooded with water and a dredge is floated on this ‘dredge pond’. A very large deep hole is dug out of the island using mining machinery. ‘Dredge mining’ is the main method used for obtaining the mineral sands from the Yarraman and Enterprise mines.