Every so often, reminders of the enduring impacts of California’s Gold Rush pop up in unusual places. While the media has covered multiple stories about people and pets, and even horses and cows, that have fallen into or become trapped in historic abandoned mines throughout California, not all such events have resulted in rescues, injuries,…
Category: Mining
DOC Seals 65 Dangerous Mine Openings in Cargo Muchacho Mountains
By: Don Drysdale A project that can trace its history to 18th century Spanish explorers and involved the use of drone technology is unfolding in the southeastern California desert. The Bureau of Land Management and California Department of Conservation’s Division of Mine Reclamation (DMR) are working to eliminate 65 hazardous legacy mine shafts and openings…
Stay Out, Stay Alive — Closing Abandoned Mines to Protect the Public
By Don Drysdale DOC Division of Mine Reclamation’s Abandoned Mine Lands Unit (AMLU) has been responsible for closing more than a thousand potentially dangerous legacy mine openings around the state, typically with protecting outdoor recreation enthusiasts in mind. Recently, though, AMLU facilitated a project that started with a mother’s plea to protect a child in…
DOC’s Women in Science Making a Difference
Women In Science Day “The Department of Conservation is home to dozens of earth science experts and experienced, talented staff. From professional engineers, to geologists, botanists, environmental scientists, and more, DOC is proud many of our science-based positions are held by women. I am proud of the contributions DOC’s women scientists are making toward helping California achieve…
New Year New Faces at DOC
A new year means new faces for our Faces of Conservation project. Faces of Conservation does just that. It puts a face to the work our staff do daily, often outside of the public eye. We are committed to employing top scientists, engineers, technicians, supervisors, and support staff and leveraging their talent to help balance…
It’s California Bat Week – October 24-31, 2018
It’s California Bat Week October 24-31, 2018. Bats are one of the most important animals in our environment. With more than 1,300 different species in the world, bats are diverse in both how they look and how they keep ecosystems balanced. While they might be creepy, bats are vital to a healthy environment. One bat…