With Governor Schwarzenegger’s signature at the bottom of California Senate bill SB-670 on August 5th, 2009, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has issued an immediate moratorium on “Instream Suction Dredge Mining.”

Here is an excerpt from the DFG notice:

“The new law, SB 670 (Wiggins), prohibits the use of vacuum or other suction dredging equipment for instream mining in any California river, stream or lake… A violation of the ban on instream suction dredge mining is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail.”

This new law impacts current permit holders by making their permits null and void (with no refunds by the way) and prevents any new permits from being issued until the environmental review by the California Environmental Quality Act is complete which could take until Summer 2011 according to the public notice issued by the DFG.

If you would like to read the public notice issued by the California Department of Fish and Game, click here for the pdf version.

If you would like to read the bill as signed into law on August 5, 2009, click here for the pdf version.

If you are mad about this action, as many of us are, let yourself be heard. Here are some ways to make some noise:

1. Contact the Governor’s office directly and let him know how unhappy you are.
2. Contact the folks at Public Lands for the People to find out what you can do to help with their efforts to over turn this law.
3. Leave a post here.

Just make sure you do something, or you may never be able to use your dredge again in California.