SACRAMENTO, 11 August 2009 – Due to the urgency clause in SB 670 signed by the Governor last week making it effective immediately, it is now unlawful to operate a suction dredge for mining in California until a study on the impacts of this activity is complete. This law, administered by the California Department of Fish and Game, pertains to all properties including the millions of acres of federal USDA Forest Service and US Bureau of Land Management in the state as well as all other public and private property. All suction dredge machines need to be removed from the water body and placed at least 100 yards from the water’s edge.
To report unlawful suction dredging, you can call the California of Fish and Game’s “CalTIP” line, established for confidentially reporting fish and game violations, including operating a suction dredge vacuum. To help the responder include as much information as you can, such as the name of the water body where the dredging is occurring, the latitude and longitude of the operation, license plate of vehicles, and any nearby crossroads or trails.
The CalTIP hotline number is 1-888-334-2258. Listen for the prompt about reporting a fish and game violation (extension 03).
More information on CalTIP from DFG’s website:
CalTIP (Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters) is a confidential secret witness program that encourages the public to provide Fish and Game with factual information leading to the arrest of poachers and polluters.
To Report a Poacher or Polluter
If you witness a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation, or have information about such a violation, immediately dial the toll free CalTIP number: 1 888 DFG-CALTIP (888 334-2258), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Be prepared to give the fullest possible account of the incident including the name, address, age and description of the suspect, vehicle description, direction of travel, license number, type of violation and when and where it occurred. You do not have to give your name.
Information from the call is relayed to the Fish and Game region where the offense occurred and an investigation is undertaken locally. If the information supplied by the caller results in an arrest the caller becomes eligible for a reward. (Rewards up to $1,000 have been paid.) The case is then reviewed by a volunteer citizen’s group known as the “Caltip Citizens Review Board”.
CalTIP rewards come entirely from donations, no state funds are used. The CalTIP Citizen’s Review Board, not the Department of Fish and Game receives and administers these funds. Money not used for the payment of rewards goes toward furthering CalTIP’s educational goals (public service announcements, informational videos, billboard campaigns).
