ROCK CREEK RICHES

Important Information Regarding Motorizied prospecting and Dredging In California

A number of legislative actions coupled with numerous active lawsuits since 2009 has continued to keep suction dredging from being allowed in the state of California.

California Water Resources and Department of Fish & Game
Dredging Permits and other information regarding water use in California.

https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/npdes/suction_dredge_mining.html

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife Dredging webpage - https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Suction-Dredge-Permits
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Dredging webpage - http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/Missions/DredgingWorkPermits/Application.aspx
   
• http://www.dfg.ca.gov/suctiondredge/

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT:
§ 3809.5 How does BLM define certain terms used in this subpart?

As used in this subpart, the term:

Casual use means activities ordinarily resulting in no or negligible disturbance of the public lands or resources. For example -

(1) Casual use generally includes the collection of geochemical, rock, soil, or mineral specimens using hand tools; hand panning; or non-motorized sluicing. It may include use of small portable suction dredges. (When allowed by state laws) It also generally includes use of metal detectors, gold spears and other battery-operated devices for sensing the presence of minerals, and hand and battery-operated drywashers. Operators may use motorized vehicles for casual use activities provided the use is consistent with the regulations governing such use (part 8340 of this title), off-road vehicle use designations contained in BLM land-use plans, and the terms of temporary closures ordered by BLM.

(2) Casual use does not include use of mechanized earth-moving equipment, truck-mounted drilling equipment, motorized vehicles in areas when designated as closed to “off-road vehicles” as defined in § 8340.0-5 of this title, chemicals, or explosives. It also does not include “occupancy” as defined in § 3715.0-5 of this title or operations in areas where the cumulative effects of the activities result in more than negligible disturbance.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/mining-and-minerals/about/california

BLM Casual Use - Can include equipment motor size regulated to LESS THAN 10 Horsepower. This is regulated and defined by each BLM Divisional office and in accordance with state regulations. You must contact the BLM regional or district office for current information regarding Motorized, Mechanical or compounded equipment.

United State Forest Service Lands:
Gold Prospecting & Sluicing on the Forest 
Most of the National Forests in the western states are open to prospecting and mining, including panning and sluicing for gold.

Please follow this link for specific National Regulations https://www.fs.usda.gov/gsearch/gold%2Bprospecting%2B

Understand that regulations change, and it is your responsibility to contact local National Forest administration for current regs in areas you are prospecting.

State offices
including water regulatory, Fish & Game and other state agencies that oversee lands must be contacted to assure that you are prospecting within additional guidelines for public land use.

California State Office 
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623
Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone: (916) 978-4400 Fax: (916) 978-4416