February 25th, 2010
Fellow Miners:

My name is Kerby Jackson and I am a small scale gold miner, mining historian and author here in Josephine County. Some of you who attend monthly meetings of SWOMA at Pottsville or those of you who frequent online mining communities may know me from www.OregonGoldHunters.com or www.OregonGold.net where I frequently post information about the mining history of this region.
On the following pages, you will find information passed on to me by Mr. Randy Waters of Gold Beach pertaining to a Draft Resolution which the Board of County Commissioners of Curry County recently drafted which calls for seventeen miles of the Chetco River to be withdrawn from mineral entry. Their intent is to request the official support of Congressman Peter Defazio and Senators Wyden and Merkley to enact legislation that would upgrade the Chetco River’s current status as a Wild and Scenic River. Their document states that their request will have no negative impact on our right to engage in varying forms of small scale mining and other activities on the Chetco River, but as has been proven time and time again, we know that this is simply an untrue statement.
On the following pages, you will find a copy of the Draft Resolution written by the Curry County Board of Commissioners, as well as a copy of Randy’s letter to the board opposing their request.

As Randy will not be attending the March 2010 SWOMA meeting at Pottsville, I have taken it upon myself to distribute this information to the miners of this and other counties.

It is our hope, that all of you will take the time to read the accompanying information and to make your feelings known to the Board of Commissioners of Curry County, even if you are not a resident of that county. Please send them a written letter or an e-mail and inform them of your feelings and your concerns. (Written letters get more attention, by the way.)

Though I realize that many of you may feel that what goes on in Curry County may not personally affect you, it is important that we send a strong message to those who would attempt to violate our right to mine and make it clear that we will allow our enemies absolutely no leverage.

Write to them at:

George Rhodes RhodesG@co.curry.or.us

Bill Waddle WaddleB@co.curry.or.us

Georgia Nowlin NowlinG@co.curry.or.us

Or send a letter to:
Curry County Commisioners, PO Box 746 Gold Beach, Oregon 97444

May Your Pans Be Heavy,

Kerby Jackson
Josephine County, Oregon

E-mail: kerby@western-stories.com
Web: www.KerbyJackson.com

This just came across my e-mail: I had to type it all because it was in PDF file and I couldn’t copy. Please note my letter to the 3 commissioners in Curry County. If you all would slam them with letters, it might wake them up.

Draft Resolution

Protecting The National Wild and Scenic Chetco River: A National Treasure and a Key Local Asset.

Whereas the Wild and scenic Chetco River is a key asset to Curry County and our Wild Rivers Coast, providing for our commercial fishing industry, for our sport fishery (including the livelihoods of professional fishing guides), for other recreation of Curry County residents and visitors, and for a pure drinking water supply for the cities of Brookings and Harbor,

Whereas the Wild and Scenic Chetco River is nationally recognized for crystal clear water quality, for a world-class fishery, and for providing the unique recreational opportunity to catch large salmon and steelhead,

Whereas local citizens and local and state agencies have invested considerable effort and funds to restore and maintain fish habitat and water quality in the Chetco River,

Whereas emerging conditions now threaten to degrade the nationally outstanding qualities of the Wild and Scenic reaches of the Chetco River, including our local fishery,

Whereas upgrading the National Wild and Scenic designation would not effect valid rights on existing mineral claims, property of private landowners, timber harvest, recreational gold panning or gravel mining in the river downstream from the wild and scenic reach,

Therefore be it resolved that the Curry County Board of Commissioners urges Congressman Peter Defazio to reintroduce into the U.S. House of Representatives and enact into law his legislation that would upgrade protection for the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River by modifying river classifications on 3.5 miles of the National Wild and Scenic River, as recommended by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, and by withdrawing from the new mineral entry 17 miles of National Wild and Scenic Chetco River classified as “Scenic” and “Recreational,” thereby fully protecting this critically important national and natural resource for current and future generations of citizens of Curry County, Oregon, and the United States.

Further be it resolved that the Curry County Board of Commissioners urges Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to introduce and enact into law companion legislation in the United States Senate.

On the following page is Randy’s letter to the Curry County Board of Commissioners.

George Rhodes: RhodesG@co.curry.or.us
Bill Waddle: WaddleB@co.curry.or.us
Georgia Nowlin: NowlinG@co.curry.or.us
PO Box 746 Gold Beach, Oregon 97444

I just read about the commission plannig to ask Representative DeFazio to enact a law closing mining on 17 miles of River and changing designations on other parts of the river. Let me bring to your attention the fact that dredging our rivers is very beneficial to all creatures that reside in our rivers. Dredging losens the hardpacked river bottom making it easier for fish to spawn and it releases nutrients into the water for fish and other residents to feed on. Dredging removes lead and mercury from our waters which is harmful to fish and other residents. Dredging removes gold from our rivers adding NEW money into our country. Dredging brings people from out of our area and they spend money in our communities. They need food, gasoline, machine parts, camping equipment and many other items to function. By closing our rivers to mining you are removing income in our communities. Dredging is only allowed when fish eggs and young fish are not in danger of injury or death. Why do you even consider designating more of our country OFF LIMITS.

Mr. Defazio has turned rogue and needs to be replaced. He has been instrumental in locking up a good portion of Oregon and with our Governors’ help and support, he is trying to close an additional 213 million acres so that I can’t go into these areas. You, the commissioners are aiding in our land and water removal. I ask you to rethink your decision concerning the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Randy L. Waters
Gold Beach, Or 97444

cowboy444

FREEDOM- is only for those with the guts to defend it!!!

Ocean beaches along the entire county, but especially North and South of the mouths of the Chetco River and the Rogue River, in blacksand deposits you will find placer gold and platinum. All regional streams (gravel bars, benches, terraces), placers formerly worked and still yielding colors and nuggets to the seasonal gold panner.

Beaches

Gold Beach area ocean beach blacksand deposits was once extensively worked for its rich placer gold and platinum. Port Oxford area beach blacksand deposits also contain placer gold and platinum (fine to very fine). The Sixes River on the inside of Cape Blanco, in section 4 of township 32S and Range 15W, you will find the Madden Mine which was a large lode gold producer.On the north side of Cape Blanco, the beach deposits of blacksand on both sides of the Sixes River contain placer gold and platinum.

Chetco River

Northeast of Brookings to headwaters of the Chetco River, located at township 38S and range 10W, center in section 26 you will find the Frazier Mine which was a rich producer of lode gold associated with pyrite. The Golden Eagle Mine was a hydraulic placer gold operation.. Near the head of Slide Creek the Golden Dream Mine was a large lode gold operation. In the center of section 23, the Peck Mine was a good producer of lode gold. Near the edge of section 35, the Young Mine had rich pockets of free gold. In section 10, the Hoover Gultch Mine, worked intermittently since 1900 for its lode gold.

Illinois River

The old mines and prospects along the lower Illinois River also had rich gold deposits with a by-product of copper.

Lobster Creek

Gold is found throughout Lobster Creek, located 10 miles east of Gold Beach, up to Rogue River. It is actively being worked at a place called “Old Diggings”. There are nice nuggets and flour gold dredged up every year. Most areas are claimed, so permission is required to work these areas.

Rouge River

The Rouge River gravel bars, benches, terraces from Marial, in the northeast corner of the county to its mouth at Wedderburn has abundant placer gold deposits. Around the Agness area on the Rogue River gravel bars, benches and terraces had rich placer gold deposits. Near Marial, to the southwest by 1 mile, in section 17 and 20 of township 33S and range 10W, you will find the Mule Moutain Group of mines which consisted of 11 lode mines, 1 placer mine and mill site. If you go to the northeast 2 miles in the northwest 1/4 section 3 and the northeast of section 4, you will find the Mammoth Mine which was a rich lode gold producer. The Marigold Mine was also a rich lode gold in quartz mine. Near Saddle Peaks (reached by rough trail), is the Paradise Mine which produced free gold.

Sixes River

Along the South Fork of the Sixes River and heads of Salmon and Johnson Creeks there are numerous extensive placers that have been worked. If you go east on a dirt road to the head of Rusty Creek you will find the Big Ben Mine which was a rich lode producer, with lead and silver. Also in the area is the Combination Mine, which was a rich lode gold producer as well. There is also a BLM mineral withdrawal area setup at the old ghost town of Sixes. The area is set up for recreational mining using pans, sluices, and dredges up to 4″ hose diameter.

A view of the Sixes River

Panning the Sixes River