The Karuk Tribe in northern California has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service to protect the Klamath Basin from gold mining enthusiasts.

The tribe relies on the Klamath River and the Salmon River for fish and water. The lawsuit says techniques used by New 49'ers, a sport mining club, threatens these resources. The club employs suction-dredge mining to look for gold.

A federal judge has ordered no mining to take place without an environmental review. But the tribe says the Forest Service is not enforcing the order.

Get the Story:
Hitting a vein (The Los Angeles Times 12/7)
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Relevant Links:
Karuk Tribe - http://karuk.us