We did get to enjoy some rocky terrain and have an exceptional view of a nearby valley. But when looking at our hiking site from a distance, we could see a large stretch of area had been recently clearcut and was not replanted. Not required, we were told. It didn't matter much that stream restoration projects were taking place in the same meandering creek on the other side of the mountain. Federal policy follows the 1872 Mining Act, which was set up to encourage migration from East to West.
New claims require only proof of ore, and patented claims require an active operation.
And the miners get to log the trees. The previous evening at a forum at the Douglas County library, Larry told of his adventure of the mid-90's. He hiked from the foothills of Mt. Hood to the heights of the Rockies in Colorado. He visited many mining operations and saw the good, the bad and the ugly. The effects of large-scale mining operations affect large distances, and the results are not very pretty.