Over the last three weeks, TSF has led three tours to showcase two project sites as part of our program to asses and address legacy mining contamination.
Two tours of Combie Reservoir were arranged in early December for regulators from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and TSF Board Members. The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is piloting a Sediment and Mercury Removal Project at Combie Reservoir. Tour participants had the opportunity to witness the mercury removal process, which is carried out with innovative centrifuge technology called the Knelson Concentrator. TSF’s science department was at the project site during both tours conducting water quality testing.
The third tour was organized by The Sierra Fund for three members of the CA Department of Conservation, Office of Mine Reclamation (OMR). Pat Perez, the new Director of the OMR, Glenda Marsh and Jonathan Mistchenko joined TSF CEO Izzy Martin and TSF Science Director Carrie Monahan yesterday at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. Over the past three years TSF’s science department strategically and scientifically assessed mining impacts and provided recommendations for action to improve water quality at Malakoff Diggins. The data collected over this time period have been analyzed and compiled into the report Humbug Creek Watershed Assessment and Management Recommendations.
TSF is excited to lead two upcoming tours as part of our bi-annual conference entitled “Reclaiming the Sierra 2015: The New Gold Rush.” The Gold Country Mines bus tour and the Yuba Goldfields boat tour will allow participants to see how historic hydraulic mining shaped our local landscape. For more information, check out our conference website.