By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau
Bill Kinzie carries a gas tank to his dredging rig on the Yuba River near Camptonville. Sacramento Bee/Brian Baer
Miners say bill that would limit dredging to protect native trout and other species goes overboard.
CAMPTONVILLE -- In his 49th year of life, veteran miner Jeff Kilgore feels increased kinship with the original 49ers who long ago worked the same frigid river high in the Sierra Nevada.
It's different now. The Gold Rush is gone. Kilgore uses modern equipment -- a gas-powered gold dredger -- to vacuum precious flecks from the cobbled rock beneath the Yuba River. And the takings are slim.
On good days, thanks to high gold prices, Kilgore says he recovers enough gold to earn $100 selling minuscule pieces and dust to jewelry makers and tourist shops along historic Highway 49. He used to take in barely $40 a day, working two mining claims six days a week.
Now Kilgore says he fears his modest livelihood is in danger from state legislation that seeks to restrict gold dredging in order to protect fish populations.
"They're messing with heritage here a little bit," Kilgore said of a species protection bill for native trout, aquatic and amphibian species moving through the Legislature. "Do people forget what put California on the map? It was the independent miners and the discovery of gold."
Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, and the California Trout environmental and sport fishing group say the state needs greater authority to ban gold seekers from using vacuum or suction dredge machines on rivers and streams where ...
Kinzie
points to the tiny specks of gold he's recovered from the river. Kinzie and
others oppose a bill to limit gas-powered dredging. Environmentalists say the
proposed limits are needed to save threatened fish. Sacramento Bee/Brian
Baer
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Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 29, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
