Survey Questions:
 
The questions are listed below.  Use them to guide input, answer as
many as you want specifically, or none at all. Any response you can
offer will be fine, a written narrative, anecdote of when you came in
contact with recreational placer mining activity etc, responses to some
or all of the questions, whatever works best for you.  Also please
mention any articles in scientific journals or other sources, as well
as individual persons you think we should investigate.

a.. What is the case for permitting recreational suction dredge mining
in Oregon Scenic Waterways?

b.. What is the case against it?

c.. To what extent does recreational suction dredge mining interfere
with other recreational users of the rivers?

d.. Do recreational suction dredge miners annoy or do harm to adjacent
landowners?

e.. Does recreational suction dredge mining, as it is currently
practiced, cause harm to fish and wildlife, or to water quality?

f.. Do permitting requirements sufficiently protect the waterways; do
they need to be strengthened; do they go too far and impose an
excessive burden?

g.. Is it recreation?

h.. Much less than 1% of Oregon river miles are at stake here? Why not
just ban the practice on this small area?

i.. Why should placer mining be banned if there are few complaints, a
small number of miners, and little conclusive evidence about harm to
fish and wildlife and water quality?

j.. Why should the practice be allowed? It cannot help - no study
suggests that. It's noisy and leaves a large plume. Rivers are for all,
not just miners - why should rights of one group be allowed to
supercede the rights of others?

k.. Do you know of any studies relevant to the placer mining issue that
we should know about?

l.. To what extent do you believe the government should be able to
regulate activities such as placer mining?

m.. Would you be willing to make a compromise on placer mining? In what
way? What would you want in return?

n.. In what ways do you use Scenic Waterways?

o.. What does the program need to do better or differently?

p.. What does it do well?

q.. What should the program stop doing?

r.. What are the major strengths and weaknesses of the program?

s.. Is the program effective in meeting its goals?

t.. Do people even know about the program? Does that matter?
 
Our work is being conducted through a state institution and technically
involves human "subjects", so we must adhere to guidelines regarding
voluntary consent to be interviewed, and making sure interviewees are
informed about the project. In light of this, here is some information
our research department asked us to provide to comply with guidelines
for human subjects research:

"I am working under supervision of Professor David Bernell from the
Oregon State University Political Science Department.  We are
conducting a review of the Oregon Scenic Waterways Program, looking at
the strengths and weaknesses of the program, and also at the issue of
recreational placer mining in Oregon scenic waterways.  We are
interested in soliciting views from stakeholders and other interested
parties about the program and about the management of these Oregon
waterways.

Dr. Bernell can be reached at david.bernell@orst.edu
or 541.737.6281
 
Thanks in advance,
 
Jeff Behan
jrbehan1@attbi.com
541.757.0524

Those wishing to learn more about this issue should check out the following links:

OR Dept of Fish & Wildlife current in-water Work Periods
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrHbt/0600_inwtrguide.pdf
The Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife provides a list of in-water work periods for suction dredging. In general, work period is mid to late summer, designed  to minimize impact on  fish spawning.

Oregon Administrative Rules governing Rec. Placer Mining
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_100/OAR_141/141_089.html
Read the Oregon Administrative Rules related to placer mining and fill-removal in Scenic Waterways (page down to section 141-089-0030).

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