Placer Mining in the Royal Gorge Field Office Area
Casual Use
Casual use activities include: panning, dry washers, battery operated equipment, and shoreline sluicing. It also includes the use of gasoline powered pumps if recycling buckets are utilized.
Notification to the BLM is not required for casual use activities on public lands. The standard guidance for all activities applies though to help prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of the public lands.
Click here for more pictures of Casual Use and Notice Level Activities!
Notice Level Work
Over the Counter Authorization: In many situations, authorization can be obtained at the time of application for public land areas on the Arkansas River. The following thresholds apply to over the counter authorizations.
- In stream (suction dredging) equipment is limited to 4 inch intake nozzle and 8 hp motors.
- On shore (high banking) equipment is limited to a 3 inch intake hose or nozzle and 8 hp in total motor size.
- On shore activities are restricted to either the Woody’s Claim/Point Bar/GPOC area or the west side of the Arkansas River in the Railroad Bridge Area under claim by the Gold Prospectors Association of America.
Click here for a form that can be used for most notice level placer work in the Royal Gorge Field Office
Click here for a map showing approximate locations of mining claims along the Arkansas River. Maps are based on March 2008 information.
Review Level authorization. Notices that exceed the thresholds for over the counter authorization will require a 15 day review period that begins when a complete notice has been submitted. Bonding for review level notices will be determined on a case by case basis.
Standard Guidance for Placer Operations This is a shortened version to quickly explain the types of stipulations that apply to casual use and notice level work. The application forms have more complete guidance.
Plan level Authorization. Any application that is determined to fall under the definition of mining or submitted within an Area of Critical Environmental Concern will be defined as a plan of operations under the 43 CFR 3809 regulations and subject to those parts of the regulations pertaining to a plan of operations as opposed to a notice.
Cache Creek Placer Area. The Cache Creek Placer area is a location where a historic placer mining area was acquired and set aside primarily for its wildlife values. A small part of the area with some remaining potential for the discovery for gold has been analyzed and established as a recreational gold placer location in a manner that should not impact the intent of the area. Click here to learn more!
