Prospecting in Oregon?

[LeeOregon]

Hello all,

I am looking to do some gold prospecting around Oregon. So far ive found many locations with potential, however Im finding very little information on rules and regulations.

It seems that rules and regulations vary from location to location, and that fine. But where can I find the rules and regulations for a specific spot that I would like to prospect? In order to avoid fines, criminal issues, etc, it would be a good idea to learn first before going to play :P

For example, I would like to prospect on the South Umpqua. Parts of it have recreational panning sites, dredging was allowed in the past but no longer. Parts of the river allow you to run some kinds of pump, other parts of the river only allow 'hands and pans', and the exit of the river to the Pacific doesn't allow any kind of motorized devices, even a battery powered water pump.


So where can I find current rules, regulations, whatnot, on where I would like to prospect in Oregon?

Lee

 

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[ratled]

Ask again next week after the US Supreme Court gets OR's opinion.....

 

[LeeOregon]

Is that sarcasm, as Oregon changes its mind so many times? Or is there an actual supreme court ruling/decision coming next week :P

 

[okbasspro]

It’s not sarcasm there is a case before the court that could have big change coming.

 

[LeeOregon]

It’s not sarcasm there is a case before the court that could have big change coming.

Hrm....


Im wondering if these are potential benefits for prospecting, or more restrictions?

 

[ratled]

Lee the OR miners have brought several cases to court. One of these has made its way to the SCOTUS. The court required the OR DEQ to respond after they said they were not. That brief was due last month. Days before it was due the DEQ asked the court for a 30 day extension due to Covid 19. That new deadline is this coming Friday May 8th. They have already received their one extension before this, and it is unheard of to get two but with C19 all bets are off. Nobody is sure what it will say or do for the case but at least we will be able to see what direction this case could take. I seriously doubt they will ask, let alone get granted, a third delay.

I am checking the court daily this week and someone will post it once it is public.

 

[LeeOregon]

So, have we any news so far? Im looking forward to getting out methinks.

 

[ratled]

not yet

Today it the day it is due. They have until the close of businesses to get it to the court. It may take the court a business day to get it posted to the Proceedings and Orders page.

 

[apdp]

SCOTUS Oregon

Please let us know any updates. My dredge has become a garage fixture with no hope to use here in Oregon.

 

[ratled]

Hadn't read it yet, I wanted to get it out for you guys first

 

[spaghettigold]

So now walking in a riverbed does take a permit?

 

[winners58]

in Oregon non-motorized is exempt from having a permit, (panning or sluicing) 5 cubic yards per stream, 1 cubic yard per spot. ORS 196.810(c)
they want a you to have 700pm handy just download a copy https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterPermitsDocs/700pm.pdf
as far as dredging, some areas of the South Umpqua are open to dredge but the permit costs $750 the first year(500 + 250)
then you have to pay $250 each year of the 5 year permit, they bill you, and have to pay in Oct. or they send you to collections.
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/wq/wqpermits/Pages/Mining.aspx

its all private property along the south umpqua, in Oregon the land owner owns at least to the middle of the river, get permission?
some areas like ODOT are day use (Lawson Bar) other day use like by myrtle creek (dole bar) they make you walk in or get a letter from the city.
only a few rivers are hands and pans like Hell gate on the Rogue, https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Documents/RiversClosedPlacerMining.pdf

almost all rivers are open to panning and sluicing, in Salmon habitat and you want to work over the 1CY exemption(prospecting) then you would get
the free DSL mining removal/fill authorization https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Pages/Mining.aspx
non-salmon habitat you don't need a removal/fill if it is below 50CY

you can pump water from the stream to work above the high water line. but it cant go back into the stream.
supposed to have the WPCF 600 but it has been administratively extended since 2016 for off-stream mining
but just prospecting on the weekends they wont hassle you. like on the Rogue, just do it, all they will do is ask you to stop.

 

[spaghettigold]

in Oregon non-motorized is exempt from having a permit, (panning or sluicing) 5 cubic yards per stream, 1 cubic yard per spot. ORS 196.810(c)
they want a you to have 700pm handy just download a copy https://www.oregon.gov/deq/FilterPermitsDocs/700pm.pdf
as far as dredging, some areas of the South Umpqua are open to dredge but the permit costs $750 the first year(500 + 250)
then you have to pay $250 each year of the 5 year permit, they bill you, and have to pay in Oct. or they send you to collections.
all private property along the south umpqua, in Oregon the land owner owns at least to the middle of the river, get permission?
some areas like ODOT are day use (Lawson Bar) other day use like by myrtle creek (dole bar) they make you walk in or get a letter from the city.
only a few rivers are hands and pans like Hell gate on the Rogue, https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Documents/RiversClosedPlacerMining.pdf
almost all rivers are open to panning and sluicing, in Salmon habitat and you want to work over the 1CY exemption(prospecting) then you would get
the free DSL mining removal/fill authorization https://www.oregon.gov/dsl/WW/Pages/Mining.aspx
non-salmon habitat you don't need a removal/fill if it is below 50CY
you can pump water from the stream to work above the high water line. but it cant go back into the stream.
supposed to have the WPCF 600 but it has been administratively extended since 2016 for off-stream mining
but just prospecting on the weekends they wont hassle you. like on the Rogue, just do it, all they will do is ask you to stop.

leaves some room.could one gravity dredge from the streambed and discharge above high water line in to a settling pond ?(maybe far fetched)

 

[winners58]

they now have a 700pm permit for siphon dredging its $25
4 inch in salmon habitat, 6 inch in Non-ESH, still have to follow in-water timings
you can only dam 3/4 of the waterway but you can make the rest a stair step no greater than 1 foot high between pools.

 

[spaghettigold]

they now have a 700pm permit for siphon dredging its $25
4 inch in salmon habitat, 6 inch in Non-ESH, still have to follow in-water timings
you can only dam 3/4 of the waterway but you can make the rest a stair step no greater than 1 foot high between pools.

Great.
In mountain creeks you don't even need dams sometimes .
In flatter terrain you could use L-shaped dam. ..or U -shaped maybe.

 

[russau]

Wishin I could be there also ! Darn this getting old !

 

[OwenT]

So was this the Supreme Court just upholding the view that suction dredging discharge is a point source adding pollutants to the river per the clean water act? 🤦*♂️