Siskiyou, Oregon

Rough and Ready Creek. Credit: Siskiyou Project

Southern Oregon's Siskiyou region is one of the great reservoirs of biological diversity in North America.  It is home to more than 280 plants unknown anywhere else in the world.

It is also home to five National Wild and Scenic Rivers and nine candidate rivers.  These rivers and their tributaries contain some of the most valuable salmon and steelhead habitat in the lower 48 states -- and are a critical refuge for native wild fish populations.

Small Mining

Mining is a serious threat to this unique area.  In a given year, the Siskiyou National Forest may receive from 125 to 200 notices of intent to mine.  These mining operations are generally smaller "recreational" mines.  Though economically insignificant, the cumulative impacts of these mines present a serious threat to salmon, rivers and rare plants in the Siskiyou.

The grossly-outdated 1872 Mining Law (passed before the light bulb was invented) allows miners to bulldoze and suction-dredge prime salmon spawning habitat, degrade river banks, pollute sensitive areas and even privatize public lands for just $2.50 to $5.00 an acre - the price set in 1872.

"Juxtaposed with the deleterious impacts of road development and mining in an area of incredible natural values is a mining proposal that is seemingly
uneconomical and speculative."
-- J. Michael Lund, Siskiyou Forest Supervisor, August 4, 1999 in Record of Decision for a proposed Nickel mine in the Siskiyou Area.

For More Information

• Oregon Wild's Kalimposis Wilderness website
• Siskiyou Project