Oregon agency denies water permit for nickel mine exploration

State water regulators have denied a permit sought by a mining company trying to develop nickel ore deposits in southwestern Oregon.

The Oregon Water Resources Department order issued Tuesday says there was no water in the creek when its staff visited a couple weeks ago, and if there was, any withdrawals could affected protected salmon downstream.

Red Flat Nickel Corp. is trying to develop a nickel mine on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The remote site is in the headwaters of the Smith River in Northern California.

Company representative John Magliana did not immediately respond to an email for comment.

Steve Pedery of the conservation group Oregon Wild says he expects the fight to block development of a mine is far from over.