California Bans Stream Dredge Mining

On Thursday California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill banning the practice of using suction dredge mining in stream beds to extract gold ore. “The bill is a major victory for the Karuk Tribe, whose members were overrun by the original Gold Rush of the 1850s and have been trying to rein in a new swarm of hobby miners as part of their campaign to restore salmon runs at the center of their culture.” Article from the Associated Press.