Master Petroleum in the Trinity Alps

One of the most remarkable gateways to the Trinity Alps WIlderness in Northern CA is now threatened by a Texas-based company as part of the Trinity 1-8 Placer Mining Claim on the Shasta Trinity National Forest. This open pit mine would remove about 1 1/2 million tons of soil and gravels to extract gold on at least 22 acres of public lands, for up to 25 years, directly adjacent to Canyon Creek, an eligible Wild and Scenic River. The creek side forest would be stripped of vegetation, including ancient forest of Douglas Firs on the way to the popular Canyon Creek Trailhead. Over 300,000 gallons of water would be used a day from the East Fork of Canyon Creek, depleting the flows and impacting water quality for the Canyon Creek watershed all the way from the WIlderness Boundary.

Past mining has taken a serious toll on the salmon runs in Ca's northcoast rivers. However, streams such as the Canyon Creek have slowly been recovering and now are once again becoming an important source of high quality, cold water in the Trinity-Klamath river basin. This mining project poses a monsterous threat to water quality and fisheries in the entire basin.

Salmon will be impacted by increased turbidity, sediment, temperature, lower water levels, and poor water quality. Mercury left from past mining in the soil will be disturbed and get into the water, threatening the health of anyone who swims, recreates, eats the fish or drinks from the water from Canyon Creek.

Please contact the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Mater Petroleum to let them know you oppose the project. Scoping comments will be accepted until August 26th.

For more information, contact: Mike Mitchell, Shasta Trinity National Forest, (530) 623-2121
Cullen Thomas, Master Petroleum Inc., (530) 623-3039

Mail Comments by 9/26/2004 to: Mike Mitchell
PO Box 1190
Weaverville, CA 96093