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| Sep 5 2011 -- Oct 15 2011 Oregon Shores Seeks Again to Protect Rogue from Mining |   One of two former logging ponds at the mill site. 7/18/2000 photo from ODEQ ECSI database.
Tidewater obtained a conditional use permit for gravel mining at the “old mill” site off Jerry’s Flat Road near Gold Beach in 2009, over Oregon Shores’ objections. Last year, the company obtained a permit from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), subject to certain conditions. One of those conditions was to obtain a stormwater permit. But Tidewater began mining without obtaining this permit. DOGAMI subsequently shut down the mining operation, for this reason and because Tidewater was mining more deeply than permitted.
Late last year, Tidewater tried to obtain a new conditional use permit from Curry County. Oregon Shores again objected, and this time around both the planning commission and the Curry County commissioners agreed, denying the permit.
But Tidewater is back, and is now requesting a renewable three-year conditional use permit to mine up to 36,000 cubic yards of aggregate each year. The Curry County Planning Commission considered the request at a public hearing August 18, and the decision is awaited. (For more information, see our complete comments.)
The project has received significantly more scrutiny from state and federal agencies following Tidewater’s illegal mining at this site last year. Oregon Shores is pleased that Tidewater’s actions have prompted closer inspection by regulatory agencies. However, Oregon Shores remains concerned over the potential impact of the proposed mining on groundwater movement in the area. The site was previously used for a plywood mill, and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has found hazardous substances at the site including glue waste, asbestos, waste oil, and PCBs. Oregon Shores believes that a hydrologic study is necessary to understand how Tidewater’s trench mining will impact groundwater movement towards the Rogue River and the potential for that groundwater to carry toxins from the plywood mill site to the river. Oregon Shores is also concerned about impacts to fish habitat and river flows from the mining operation.
Given Tidewater’s past failures to comply with state and local law at this site, Oregon Shores believes more information must be gathered to evaluate these impacts before any permits to mine should be issued.
 Contact: Phillip Johnson, Executive Director, (503) 238-4450, or EMAIL
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MORE NEWS... | May 5 2011 -- Jun 15 2011 Efforts to Block Tidewater’s Gravel Mining Succeed
Oregon Shores’ long battle to block Tidewater Contractors from conducting destructive gravel-mining operations on the Rogue River took a favorable turn when the Curry County Board of Commissioners turned down Tidewater’s appeal on May 5. It isn’t known yet whether Tidewater will appeal the decision to the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals, but if it does, Oregon Shores will continue to oppose ... MORE | | Feb 10 2011 -- Mar 10 2011 Curry Planning Commission Turns Down Gravel Mining
Tidewater Contractors’ application to renew its permit to mine gravel at the “Old Mile Site” on the Rogue River has been rejected by the Curry County Planning Commission. Oregon Shores, joined by the Curry Sportfishing Association, Rogue Riverkeeper and other groups, opposed the gravel mining permit. Tidewater had been found by the state’s Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) ... MORE | | Jul 28 2010 -- Aug 28 2010 Efforts to Protect the Lower Rogue From Gravel Mining Continue
Oregon Shores’ Land Use Program continues to battle proposed gravel mining by Tidewater Contractors in the lower Rogue River watershed at Wedderburn. We contend that mining in this area, as intended by Tidewater, threatens water quality through pollution and sedimentation, and could thus impact riverine habitat and endangered species. Our latest effort focuses on Tidewater’s application to ... MORE | | Apr 5 2010 -- Jun 6 2010 Gravel Mining Continues to Threaten Chetco River, Rogue Estuary
The Rogue River and its estuary, along with the public, were the losers in two regrettable recent land use decisions concerning gravel mining. Oregon Shores, along with Kalmiopsis Audubon Society and the Curry Sportfishing Association, had taken two cases to the Land Use Board of Appeals in our quest to stop instream gravel mining in the Rogue River estuary. This ecologically important area, ... MORE | | Feb 15 2010 -- Mar 15 2010 LUBA: Tidewater May Apply for Wedderburn In-stream Mining
Tidewater Sand and Gravel wants to re-open, and possibly expand, its instream gravel mining operation at the Wedderburn site on the north bank of the Rogue River. To do that, they had to get Curry County to agree that the site is not in an"estuary natural" management designation in the Comprehensive Plan, which prohibits mining. The Curry County Board of Commissioners agreed with Tidewater in a ... MORE | | Oct 28 2009 -- Nov 28 2009 South Coast Rivers: Gravel Mining Continues
Curry County has been busily dealing with permit applications and permit renewals for instream gravel mining along its major salmon-bearing rivers. In most instances this year, the news is not good. However, there is vigorous opposition to the Curry County actions which threaten the valuable salmon habitat in these rivers. Rogue River The Rogue River is the most endangered by inappropriate ... MORE | | Jul 23 2009 -- Aug 23 2009 Results of Hearing on Gravel Mining on Elk
Curry County Board of Commissioners held a hearing on the 1987 Wagner permit, which allows instream gravel mining on the Elk River. There was a lot of testimony, nearly all opposed to the mining. The main arguments centered around the undeniable fact that conditions have changed since the original permit was granted in 1987. Conditions have changed a great deal! Curry County should definitely ... MORE | | Tue Jul 21 2009 1:30 PM -- Curry County Hearing July 21 on Gravel Mining in Elk River
Tidewater Sand and Gravel proposes to mine 12,000 cubic yards of gravel from four different gravel bars on the Elk River in Curry County, based on a 1987 county permit to the Wagner family. Tidewater's permit application to the Army Corps of Engineers for the mining is still pending. However, Curry County has decided to open up the old Wagner conditional use permit permit to a hearing. In 2006 ... MORE | | Jun 6 2009 -- Jul 15 2009 Two More Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
In late May, the Curry County Planning Commission turned down Tidewater Contractors' proposal to mine a 52-acre gravel bar on the lower Rogue River. This was the second time Tidewater had proposed to mine the gravel bar. The planning commission turned Tidewater down for the exact same proposal in 2008. Local people came out and testified in number against the proposal in 2008, and they came and ... MORE | | Thu May 28 2009 -- Jun 1 2009 Third Hearing Scheduled on Gravel Mining near Old Mill Site
Tidewater Contractors failed in 2008 to win approval from the Curry County Planning Commission for its proposal to mine a 52-acre gravel bar in the Rogue River estuary. Now in 2009, Tidewater is proposing essentially the same application. At the April hearing before the Planning Commission, local residents again showed strong opposition. The 2009 hearings will be continued on May 28 in Gold ... MORE | | Thu Apr 23 2009 -- May 28 2009 Tidewater Requests "Interpretation" of Estuary Boundaries
Tidewater Contractors is still seeking a means of resuming mining and expanding its existing gravel site and asphalt plant at Wedderburn, on the north bank of the Rogue River estuary. In 2008 Tidewater proposed an expansion as a "grandfathered" non-conforming use, which was approved by the Curry County Planning Commission, but overturned by the Board of Commissioners on appeal by Oregon Shores, ... MORE | | Apr 1 2009 -- Apr 30 2009 ACOE Solicits Comments on Tidewater Application on Elk River
Tidewater Company is proposing to mine gravel from the Elk River, near Port Orford in Curry County. The Corps of Engineers is requesting comments on the proposal. The deadline is April 27, 2009. Tidewater is a gravel company from Brookings. In 2008 Curry County turned down Tidewater's application to mine a new site, a 52-acre gravel bar on the Rogue River. Due to incomplete permits and ... MORE | | Sep 24 2008 -- Dec 24 2008 Two Victories on Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Oregon Shores, Curry Sportfishing Association and Kalmiopsis Audubon Society appealed a decision by the Curry County planning commission allowing Tidewater Contractors, Inc. to expand its instream gravel mining at the existing Wedderburn site, on the north bank of the Rogue River. This site is in the Rogue's upper estuary, and has been the focus of a violation and fines levied by the Department ... MORE | | Sep 23 2008 -- Oct 15 2008 New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
With assistance from Nicole Rentz and the Crag Law Center in Portland, Oregon Shores is providing "Salmon, Gravel and Rivers: A Citizen’s Guide to the Permitting Process". In its own words, the Guide "attempts to explain to citizens the permits and authorizations that a proposed instream gravel mining operation must obtain before it can begin actual work... and this guide tries to show ... MORE | | New Guide to Permitting for Instream Gravel Mining
With assistance from Nicole Rentz and the Crag Law Center in Portland, Oregon Shores is providing "Salmon, Gravel and Rivers: A Citizen’s Guide to the Permitting Process". In its own words, the Guide "attempts to explain to citizens the permits and authorizations that a proposed instream gravel mining operation must obtain before it can begin actual work... and this guide tries to show ... MORE | | Aug 7 2008 -- Sep 1 2008 Gravel Mining on the Rogue
Gravel mining controversy on Oregon's rivers has shifted focus recently to the Rogue River. In May 2008, the Curry County Planning Commission approved the application (AD-0802, AD-1743) of Tidewater Contractors to continue and expand a large aggregate-mining operation in the Rogue River estuary. Many people in Curry County were opposed to this; the fishing community also expressed grave concerns ... MORE | | Nov 1 2007 -- Dec 1 2007 Chetco River Gravel Mining
Curry County, Chetco River, November, 2007: Gravel mining has been a continuing controversy on the Chetco River for a long time. The Chetco is salmonid habitat and provides the domestic water supply for Brookings; it is also one of the few rivers in Oregon based solely on runoff, as it lacks any snowpack. The controversy increased when, in October, 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a ... MORE | | Nov 1 2007 -- May 18 2008 Rogue River Gravel Mining
Curry County, November, 2007: The Rogue River, literally wild and scenic, has an equally famous salmon run. Freeman Rock mines gravel from the lower Rogue, currently up to 40,000 cubic yards per year, which was an increase from its previously permitted amount of 20,000yd. Freeman requested an increase to 75,000 yd for the coming year, and a further increase to 100,000 yd each year for the years ... MORE | |
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