Thank you Todd

This is an extremely important issue not only for the East Lewis but for rivers all around the country. SO even if you never see the east fork this issue affects YOU as an angler because your river is likely to be next. currently there are many mining companies waiting to see how this turns out so that they can start similar operations in other areas.

In 1996 the East Lewis blew through the levy that separated the river from their abandoned mine pits. now the river flows through thoes pits. where the river was once 60 feet across is now several hundred yards across. The water temps raise about 10 degrees in this area in the summer months and become exceptional habitat for both native and non-native predatory species.
the lower portion of the river has been completely inundated with silt and spawning has plummeted in that area and spawning in other areas remains the same. This means that fish didn't simply move to other areas IT WIPED THEM OUT.. This includes the rivers run of Chum salmon.

Keep in mind that Stordahl "sold" this mine to another company that subsequently went filed for bankruptcy so no one was ever held responsible and the local fishermen of the area are the only ones working on cleaning it up. I have my differences with fish first but in regards to the east fork my hats off to them.

Now Stordahl wants to start minine a little upriver from his current site leaving his old pits the same way he left the old one. He also has manupulated government agencies who ARE NOT ENFORCING the enviromental regulations he is already breaking.
And by the way the river has changed course as it does OFTEN and is currently running against his access road which creates a levy exactly like the one that broke in 1996.
Stordalh is responsible for the destruction of the Lower East Fork and is doing the same exact things he was before. He has contempt for his neighbors, for the river and it's fish.

Now keep this in mind. When a miner begins to excavate a deposit of whatever he is mining, in this case gravel, he has the legal right to follow that deposit wherever it goes. That means he could force people off their land and homes to get at that gravel. He is already buying mineral rights. For thoes that know this area the deposit of rock he will be working extends from his current site to the daybreak bridge! Also he can take as long as he wants to mine this gravel and not start any restoration work until he is done.

This is a bad mining operation by what I would call an evil man who doesn't care about anything or anyone other than himself.

Also I'd add that Todd has more credibility than anyone else on this board ever even thought of having..