As of Jan 1 , 2015 there is no dredging on the Burnt River from Unity dam to the snake river.  This is due to the Burnt River being a 303D listed river. It is polluted with arsenic & sediment

Heard back from my contact at Division of State Lands (DSL), and he has verified that the waters above Green Peter Dam are NOT qualified to be in the 5 year moratorium, and the map will be corrected to show those water will still be open with the usual restrictions on timing and size.  Our three claims and the public corridor in the Quartzville area will remain open for dredging.  At least we get a small win out of it and keep at least one area open.

If you know of areas on the map that do not qualify, get with ODF&W (state fish and wildlife) in the area and verify that the waters don't qualify, and forward the info to DSL along with the contact info at ODF&W of who you talked to and their phone number, so DSL can verify.

This is the information that I have found on the Oregon Moratorium as of 1/4/16. On the second page of the attachment you will find under MORATORIUM MAP a link to the web site. Go to that website and  scroll down to "GENERAL AUTHORIZATIONS" and find the "(2015) Interactive Draft ESH Map​" .  This map as you zoom in shows streams and rivers that are classified and also shows where the classification stops on each. After going over the PDF and going to the links you believe you need to and looking at the interactive map be sure to contact the agency to see if all is up to date.

Moratorium FAQ 11-17-15 (5).pdf 

Map is still "draft"  Final still to come.  DEQ is working on revising the 700 permit, and it will probably be a couple of months yet before it will be available. At least the $150.00 surcharge is gone for now, depending on what the legislative session has in store.  There will be a bill of some sort coming, and some fear the fees associated will be pretty steep.

Most waters will open around mid June with a few in mid May for dredging, so there is still time for the permits to be revised.  Hopefully can put in more than 3 locations in the new ones......and streamline the changing of locations during the year.

Have not dredged any (just bought a 2 1/2 and am rebuilding it to what I want)  The eastern and western claims in Quartzville are older claims and have been used.  I do OK on the western one with sluice and pan (fines and some wire) the eastern one has never produced for me.  The middle one is fairly new.  Have to work getting a dredge into them.  "Cat" is fairly easy to get to, but have never been on the water, "Paradise" is about 3 1/2 miles further up the road (can get rough) and about the only way to get a dredge into it is by helo........One step down and full day climb back out for me..

Lot of the public area (Quartzville) is accessable.  Used to be the USFS public areas on Brice were 2 1/2 limit, but not sure right now.  DEQ permit is $25.00 for a year, and right now limited to 3 locations, listed by TRS.  Have to have permit # on dredge in 3 inch contrasting numbers, visable from bank and keep a turbidity log.  Search Oregin DEQ for the 700PM permit rules and regs and application.  Still showing the 2015 stuff right now.

Water is usually not and issue except on Riverside in the summer, then it can get low, but you can usually make a spot.

Well, the good news is the bill (SB 1530) that was introduced that would have virtually ended dredging in Oregon got hung in committee, and the Senator that introduced it, pulled it from consideration.  There was just not enough timeleft to get it through.  So the waters that were still open due to the moratorium still are, and no fee changes that I know of. 

Waiting on the new permit application to show up and getting back to the build.

The bad news is that he plans on bringing that bill or something worse back next year in the 6 month session and promises to ram it through even without bi-partisan support.  And right now the majority party has the votes to do it in both houses....................