Prospectors hoping for recreational mining changes
RIGGINS–Two dozen men and women from as far away as Boise and Washington state gathered in Riggins at the bequest of Representative Paul Shepherd to discuss their mining claims regarding Idaho recreational mining and small scale mining prospectors on Monday, Dec 19 at the Best Western Salmon Rapids Lodge in Riggins.
On the agenda was authorization overview, the permitting requirements and dredge sizes, the seasons of use and the open and closed waters.
Idaho Department of Water Resources gathered concerns and ideas from local and regional prospectors regarding the above issues. Some things that will be considered to change in the rules, guidelines and through potential legislation are discharge permitting, extending the seasons on the front and back end of the seasons somewhere between 2 weeks to two months on the rivers and tributaries. The plan is to have Representative Shepherd “hold feet to the fire” of the representatives of the government agencies (Idaho Department of Water Resources and Idaho Department of Lands) and possibly have a follow-up meeting at the end of the legislative session.
