Claim forfeiture: Saving a river, saving taxpayer money

The recent forfeiture of nearly 20 miles of mining claims on the Wild and Scenic Chetco River means the effort to permanently protect this world-class salmon and steelhead river just got a whole lot easier. It also means there's a significant savings for the taxpayer with the potential for more.  However, to take full advantage of this rare opportunity, Congress needs to pass the Chetco River Protection Act before July of next year. Learn how you can help.

This idyllic reach of  the upper  Chetco River below Mislatnah Creek will be permanently protected from mining if Congress passes the Chetco River Protection Act before July 2013. Ann Vileisis photo.

Chetco River salmon in amazing underwater video

Photographer Thomas Dunklin shares this beautiful new video of the Wild and Scenic Chetco River's chinook salmon. See below for references and links to articles about the importance of native fish populations.

Chetco River Chinook Salmon - 11/11/11 from Thomas B. Dunklin on Vimeo.

SONCC Coho Recovery Plan comment period extended

NOAA Fisheries announced they've extended the comment period for the South Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Draft Recovery Plan another 60 days. The new deadline for comments is May 4, 2012.  For links to the plan and specific chapters for the Elk, Chetco and Smith River click here. For the official notice of comment period extension and where to send your comments click here.

Chetco River Revisited: A rare glimpse of a wild river

Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Representative Peter DeFazio introduced the Chetco River Protection Act in 2011. It's based on recommendations the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest made to Congress in 1993.  One of the recommendations is to reclassify two miles of the Wild and Scenic Chetco River from "Scenic" to "Wild."

Get a  unique preview of this beautiful, seldom seen stretch river between Boulder and Mislatnah Creek as Allen Wilson, Tim Palmer, Ann Vileisis and Oregon Field Guide go against the flow in an up river journey on, "Chetco River Revisited."

Coho recovery plan comment period update

Plans are underway to extend the comment period on the draft Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Salmon Recovery Plan until early May.  The extension and commented period ending date will be announced in the Federal Register. Currently the comment period closes on March 5, 2012. For information about the SONCC Coho Recovery Plan contact Julie Weeder at 707-825-5168 or julie.weeder@noaa.gov - To view the plan go to SONCC Coho Recovery Plan.

Chetco River named core population in draft SONCC coho recovery plan, but they're at high risk of extinction

On January 5, 2012, the National Marine Fisheries Service released the draft recovery plan for Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Coho Salmon (SONCC Coho Salmon). The public now has an opportunity to review the plan and submit comments.  Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 5, 2012. The Federal Register Notice with more about how to comment is available here.  The SONCC Coho Salmon Recovery Plan is available online here.  (Update: NOAA says plans are underway to extend the comment period into May. The extension will be announced in the Federal Register)

Northern extent of SONCC Coho Salmon Evolutionary Significant Unit. The Chetco River core population area is outlined in red. The Elk, Illinois and Smith River were also designated core populations.

Wild Chetco inspires new ATV inflatable kayak

In June of last year, four intrepid kayakers packed gear and boats 8 rugged miles into the heart of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness to run the Wild Chetco River.  Zach Collier of Northwest Rafting Company writes:

After running the wilderness section of the Chetco River last June I was inspired to design a new SOTAR inflatable kayak that could carry overnight gear. I also wanted a boat that would act more like a small raft rather than a traditional inflatable kayak. My friend Billy Miller paddled an Alpaca on our trip and I noticed some advantages to the larger and non-diminishing tubes.

Billy Miller in the boof. Wild Chetco River, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, June 2007. Zach Collier photo.

 Read more about the design process for the ATV.  See video of their trip here.

Chetco River, 20 pound steelhead caught and released

Kudos to John Sellers and guide Tony Sepulveda for their decision to release this beautiful 20-pound wild Chetco River steelhead on January 18th. The Chetco, with almost half of its watershed in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and 78 percent in National Forest or BLM lands, has proven it's priceless once more. The river was recently featured in a New York Times Guest Opinion A Mining Law Whose Time Has Passed, co-authored by fisheries scientist Robert Hughes.

Guide Tony Sepulveda (left) and John Sellers with 20 pound Chetco River steelhead.

FishWithJD describes the discussion to release the fish to keep its genetics in the gene pool:

Chetco River on New York Times Opinion Page

In "A Mining Law Whose Time Has Passed," fisheries scientists Robert M. Hughes and Carol Ann Woody use the Chetco River as one example of the need for reform of the 1872 Mining Law. Their Op-Ed, which appears on the Opinion Page of the January 11, 2012 New York Times, states:

The river’s gin-clear waters teem with wild trout and salmon, including giant Chinook salmon tipping scales at more than 60 pounds. In 1988, Congress designated the Chetco a national wild and scenic river “to be protected for the benefit of present and future generations.

But the river is now threatened by proposals to mine gold along almost half of its approximately 55-mile length. Suction dredges would vacuum up the river bottom searching for gold, muddying water and disrupting clean gravel that salmon need to spawn. Despite the Chetco’s rich fishery and status as a wild and scenic river, the United States Forest Service is virtually powerless to stop the mining because of the 1872 law.

Mikey Weir fishing for winter steelhead on Wild & Scenic Chetco River.

Hughes and Woody say the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the 1872 mining law is demonstrated by stopgap measures like those of members of the Oregon Congressional delegation to provide additional protection for the Chetco River, despite it's status as a National Wild and Scenic River.

Volunteers gather fish data on the Chetco River

According to an article in the Curry Coastal Pilot, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the aid of volunteers are doing salmon carcass county on the Chetco River to help determine future management.

ODFW officials and volunteers cruise the Chetco River on Thursday morning. The Pilot/Steve Kadel.

Protecting the Chetco gains support at Wild Rivers Night

A short presentation in Portland at Wild Rivers Night resulted in almost a hundred river lovers expressing their support for protecting the Chetco River from gold mining.

An added bonus was this short preview of film Andy Maser took while kayaking the Chetco this June with friends Zach Collier, Billy Miller and J. R. Weir. Read more about their trip.

For the beautiful Chetco River - Thank You

Thanks to all who took the time to submit comments in support of the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service's proposed "withdrawal in aid of legislation" for the Wild and Scenic Chetco River. It's estimated BLM received 9,000 or more comments in support of greater protection for this beautiful world class salmon and steelhead river.

Drift boats on recreational section of the Chetco River from Floating the Chetco.

Help save the Chetco River from gold mining.

If he could speak from the grave, Ed Abbey would explain it this way:

The love of [wild rivers] is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth … the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need — if only we had the eyes to see.

Billy Miller in Conehead on the Scenic Chetco River - Northwest Rafting Company photo. 

So if producing 40 to 65 pound chinook salmon is not enough, here's one more reason to protect the priceless Chetco River from proposals to mine almost half its length for gold. It's the epitome of America's Great Outdoors.

A 65-pound reason to protect the Chetco River from gold mining

There's few rivers like it on the West Coast. Extra large chinook salmon are not anomalies for this beautiful relatively small river. Last week saw a 65-pound record king salmon and three 45 to 50 pounders caught in a single day. Earlier this season over a dozen 45 to 50 pounders were reportedly caught.  See also "Chetco living up to it reputation as world-class."

Wayne Davis and guide Andy Martin with catch.

Chetco living up to its reputation as world-class

CHETCO RIVER, Ore.—The first 50-pound king of the season was caught trolling the estuary, along with a 47 pounder and a number of 40 pounders, according to guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. The main river doesn't open until Nov. 5. Expect the kings to pour into the main river regardless of the date, you just can't fish for them in the main river until Nov. 5.  Fishing Report Redding.com October 28, 2010.

Chetco River 47-pound chinook salmon.

Chetco hearing shows strong local support for withdrawal

Supporters of stronger protection for the National Wild and Scenic Chetco were significantly in the majority at the October 26 Forest Service/BLM hearing in Brookings, Oregon. Of the 40 speakers, 35 testified in favor of the Forest Service's proposal to withdraw ~ 17 miles of the Wild and Scenic River from mineral entry and location under the 1872 Mining Law for five years.

Forest Service and BLM officials hold a public meeting in Brookings, Oregon on the proposed temporary mineral withdrawal for the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River.

The Curry Coastal Pilot reported that:

Local residents strongly supported banning future mining along the Chetco River during a forum Wednesday afternoon at the Best Western Inn.

The economics of fishing and mining in Curry County

There are may reasons why the Wild and Scenic Chetco River should be protected from gold mining and withdrawn from mineral entry and location under the 1872 Mining Law. One particularly relevant for small businesses in Curry County is that protecting the river also protects a major economic engine for the area.

Brookings/Harbor at the mouth of the Chetco River during the 2009 Salmon Derby (Barbara Ullian Photo).

The travel expenditures associated with freshwater fishing in the county were estimated at $5.1 million for the year 2008. Local recreation expenditures associated with freshwater fishing were an estimated $673,000. Saltwater fishing provides additional significant economic benefits in Curry County. Hardrock mining, on the other hand, contributes little or nothing to the local economy and is unlikely to ever do so.

17 miles of Wild and Scenic Chetco River temporarily withdrawn from the Mining Law in aid of legislation

Small dredge mining upper Scenic Illinois River. Photo KS Wild

Updated on October 20, 2011 — On August 1, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management published a notice in the Federal Register that segregates (a temporary withdrawal) approximately 17 miles of the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River from location and entry under the Mining Laws of the United States. See Forest Service map of proposed withdrawal area and the Forest Service's Press Release explaining the withdrawal and announcing the time and place of the Wednesday, October 26th public meeting in Brookings.  Learn what you can do to help before November 15th.

The two year segregation period provides opportunity for the public to comment on the Forest Service's proposal to withdraw the 5,610 acres—the Wild and Scenic corridor of the river from Boulder Creek downstream to the Forest Boundary—for a period of five years. The purpose of the withdrawal is to provide congress with time to consider legislation to provide greater protection for this world-class salmon and steelhead river.  The withdrawal applies only to National Forest lands and does not affect private land in the corridor.

Chetco River clean-up October 22nd—Volunteers Needed

Brookings, Oregon – Community members are invited to join the Chetco River Watershed Council on October 22, 2011 for a Chetco River fall clean-up. Cleanup will start at Loeb State Park at 9 A.M. Lots of help is needed to make the cleanup a success. For more information contact: Stan Easley 541 661-1820 or Karen Munson 541 469-1043.

The Chetco River Watershed Council is working to preserve and enhance the Chetco River's watershed.

Trans Kalmiopsis Wilderness Trail maintenance update

Kalmiopsis leachiana was in bloom. 

This June 15th, volunteers maintained 7 more miles of the Trans Kalmiopsis Wilderness Trail between the Vulcan Lake Trailhead and Box Canyon Camp. The Siskiyou Mountain Club crew put in 790 grueling hours of work to make the trail passable.  Read about their amazing work and their update of the Trans Kalmiopsis Trail project at the Club's website.

Photo of the rare endemic shrub that the Kalmiopsis Wilderness was named for by Siskiyou Mountain Club,