Done,   and faded you guys a few frogskins as well.   ($).    Don't spend it all inone place.   Ha.

 

 

I live just a few miles away in Ga we have a lot of Restrictions in Georgia Private land has a little more freedom Wish you all the Best I'm planning to visit this summer I drove by about 4 months ago but didn't see any activity at the camp.

To answer the comment about private property,,,,, in Tennessee the state controls all the water in the rivers, lakes, streams, creeks on all public and private land. You might own the land under the creek that flows through your own private property, but the state controls the water if it flows through your land. Private ponds or lakes normally do not count is they are completely on your land and do not flow onto public or private land.

It does suck that you can be stopped and possible fined for gold panning or even digging in any waters that flow through your own land.

it is what it is,,,,,, we don't have to like it.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has signed the online petition. if the number does not change after you sign it, just re-fresh the page and you will see the next number.

If you have not signed it yet, please GET TO IT!

Chuck Pharis

Cecil, the camp is busy with GPAA members now. The weather is great and there is new gold in the local creeks. I found some today! We hope to see you soon.

Chuck

Jerry Barnes

Mr. Pharis, I have been wanting to go to one of your meetings. I am in the process of moving from Texas to Nashville. I recently purchased a Dredge hoping to go to Coker Creek. This news is troubling to Me. I've signed the petition and hope that our right/privilege to Dredge is not taken away. Please keep us updated and thank you for your efforts.

Hi James, it is really tough for all of us who live in the gold bearing areas of Tennessee. If the Final Draft Prospecting Permit goes into affect on June 30 (like they said), most waters will be closed to dredging and many of the best areas to find gold will be closed to panning. We would have the toughest recreational prospecting laws in the 50 states.

There is no reason for this. We all agree that we need some simple rules to follow so that nature is protected. But to almost shut us down is insane.

After some recent meetings with the state it looks like they are taking a step backward and maybe because of the pressure they have received from thousands of prospectors in the USA they will re-write their current draft. They did say they would change it in our favor. We should get something back for review in June.

We will post everything here and on other sites when we get it.

The gold is still here and I found some nice pieces yesterday in a local waterway just panning.

Wish us luck and thanks for your thoughts.

Chuck Pharis

Tennessee GPAA Coker Creek Chapter president

Prospecting Task Force member.   

Theodore Bouchette, Wisconsin,

Done, We have to fight for everything these days.

Done.

Done getting closer to 700 ... definitely need more people to sign... Be sure to send the petition to all your non-prospecting friends as well... as I understand the situation, two men were dredging in a river in S.E. Tn. above a swimming hole where a woman's children were swimming... the water muddied up where the children were swimming and the woman confronted the two men... The men became rude and she complained to the Forest Service... That's all it takes folks to ruin a good thing... Always be on your best behavior when dealing with the public or you will lose...

A situation arose here in Dahlonega... County property has been closed to panning and sluicing because some fool put his dredge into the Yahoola that runs through the park and pulled it upstream onto a mans private property... The owner caught him and  complained to the park and rec and the county, once the lawyer became involved the word liability was all it took for the county to stop recreational prospecting on county land...  One bad apple can ruin the whole lot so be responsible out their friends, we are closely watched...

Posted By <a href='http://www.goldprospectors.org/Profile/userid/2865288' class='af-profile-link'>MICHAEL BIBLER</a> on 29 May 2014 04:02 PM
<p>Done.  I'm not sure how they would legally enforce this on PRIVATE PROPERTY.  Anyone who digs a hole on there property could be guilty.  If you dig a hole then heaven forbid you find something.</p>

Close Too 700 Now, In The State Of TN, The State Owns All Water Ways, There For If You Work In The Waterways And Create Any Type Of Plume They Consider It There Business. Property Under Water Belongs To Land Owner, But If You Do Anything With It With This New Regs Need Permit.If Your Doing Any Big Digging On Property For Gold Then There's MiNing Permit To Get, That A Down N dirty Run Down

I just signed it. This is so crazy I just planned my first trip to Coker Creek TN, and I am going June 25th - June 30th I planned that perfectly. This is very sad we are losing our rights left and right.

Don't know if they count every time you sign it or not but have done it on several different sites .

Signed number 714. Looks like I may be getting orders to Millington, I really dont want to give up my hoby...

Never been to your state but sure why not ill sign it!

DONE ,.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPIONION ,.. DREDGING SCOURES THE STREAM BED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN A STRONG RAIN STORM FLOOD SCOURES THE BOTTOM ,.. SO TELL ME WHAT DOES THE AUTHORITIES DO WHEN A RAIN FLOOD COMES?

I am happy to sign this petition for Tennessee, as well as for all the lands of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. This is a country where the land belongs to its people, not its goverment. The goverment is to keep watch over the land and to make sure that the land is avalible for those who wish to use it ia a proper manner within the given rights of all.

I just signed it

Done. Great.....another attempt at reducing personal freedom through arbitrary and capricious laws/rules and regulations, thus infringing on our rights as citizens, LOL😅