The new Facebook page is going well. (Thanks for asking, Dan.) It's called Fish Not Gold for those who'd like to visit. And it contains links to peer-reviewed scientific studies of the adverse effects of suction dredging of our streams as well as abuses by the miners who proclaim themselves "stewards of the land." I've said my piece in this forum more than once and I'm not going to try to refute anecdotal "evidence" based on someone's personal experience, which is inherently limited. Again, take a look at the extensive scientific studies done by, to take just one example, the Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Other fisheries scientists have performed data-based studies (reviewed by other expert scientists before publication) that show the "do-no-harm" claims of the suction dredgers are questionable at best or outright false and deceptive. There are links to such studies on the Fish and Gold Facebook page. And please do not try to claim that the biased opinions (rants, actually) of those two gold prospectors who are retired EPA employees trump the peer-reviewed science we have on our side. You guys can't refute these scientific studies so you rely on anecdotes and personal experience, which is supposed to negate everything to the contrary.
Edited by smelt (02/26/14 10:47 PM)