This type of dredging takes place in fairly deep water near the main channels of the rivers. In several Oregon rivers, mostly on the west side of the state, sand and gravel companies conduct gravel bar scalping operations, which involves removing material that builds up on sand bars in the river. There are also gravel pits excavated by sand and gravel companies in floodplain areas near rivers. The four gravel mining operations mentioned above fall into this category. Gravel pits are located in areas where flood activity of nearby rivers has caused huge amounts of sand and gravel to accumulate over time.
State laws regulate gravel mining on floodplains.
The Department of Environmental Quality plays a part in this regulation because of its role in managing water quality. The Division of State Lands also is directly involved in regulating gravel mining due to its authority to require a permit for the fill or removal of material in all waters of Oregon. For example, the DSL regulates gravel bar scalping operations by limiting the amount of gravel that can be removed and requiring the operators to survey the removal site before and after the extraction. Also, operators working on gravel bars cannot remove any material below the surface of the water and usually they cannot move any equipment into the water. These rules help protect salmon that spawn in the shallow gravel of shaded, calm portions of streams and rivers.