Just over a hundred and fifty years ago, gold was discovered in the Sierra foothills and the modern state of California was born. It’s one of our most romantic sagas, but it has alo left an unexpected, and deadly legacy.
Update November 20, 2006
There are more than 47,000 abandoned mines across the state, many abandoned long before regulations were put in place. Now, as California’s rapid growth expands into foothills, more and more mines that were once remote are now closer to population centers.
The state Department of Conservation’s Abandoned Mine Unit has inspected 2,300 of these sites over the past nine years. Those that pose the greatest dangers are given top priority for mitigation projects - such as backfilling, bat-friendly gates or even polyurethane plugs.
Tragically, injuries and accidents at abandoned mines are still happening across the state. In March 2006, a 41 year-old man fell to his death down a steep incline while exploring an abandoned mine shaft in San Bernardino County with his son.
If you come across an abandoned mine, do not go in. Instead report it by calling the Dept. of Conservation’s toll free hotline: 877-OLD-MINE.
- Office of Mine Reclamation, California Department of Conservation
- “PUF in the Closure of Abandoned Mine Openings,” (PDF) National Parks Service report on the technology used to seal abandoned mines