California Crackdown on Illegal Suction Dredging | Eureka News

Eureka News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 12, 2026 · 1m

California wildlife officials are hitting illegal suction dredging hard—recently seizing a dredge on the Klamath River with a helicopter after a spot check caught a violator. This banned practice devastates native fish and invites invasive species, and there’s no legal loophole: no permits, no exceptions. Violators face citations, court, and gear forfeiture. Officials are actively cracking down statewide, while reminding the public that gold panning and non-motorized sluice boxes are still legal. If you witness a fish or wildlife crime, report it anonymously via CalTIP Hotline…