Oregon State Lands

Recreational & Small-scale Placer Mining
General Authorization for Recreational & Small-scale Placer Mining within ESH Areas NOTE: The following waterways are subject to restrictions.    Oregon Scenic Waterways   Federal Closures 2011 Recreational Placer Mining Report Recreational Placer Mining The Department of State Lands regulates recreational placer mining in Oregon through two types of removal-fill permits: General Authorizations A General Authorization (GA) is required for activities involving less than 25 cubic yards of removal and fill annually in Essential Salmon Habitat (ESH) streams. Activities under this general authorization are not allowed in Oregon Scenic Waterways. DSL has revised and simplified the GA application process for disturbing less than 25 cubic yards per year within ESH streams. You may apply for and receive a placer mining authorization online: www.statelandsonline.com. A simplified paper authorization also is available online. The one-page form serves as both the application and approval document. Fill out the top half, send it to DSL to review and we will return it with an approval signature. Keep this authorization with you when you are conducting mining activities. Individual Permits An Individual Permit (IP) is required for placer mining activities when: Activities will disturb 25 cubic yards or more in ESH streams. Activities will disturb 50 cubic yards or more in non-ESH streams. Applicants plan to operate a large suction dredge with a hose intake greater than four inches in diameter. Applicants plan to recreationally placer mine in a SSW. Be aware that suction dredging is not allowed in scenic waterways, even under an individual permit. IP applications are available online - use the Joint Permit Application form. Placer Mining Fact Sheet Prospecting is not regulated Prospecting means to search or explore for samples of gold, silver or other precious minerals, using non-motorized methods, from less than one cubic yard of aggregate material at any one individual site and cumulatively, not more than five cubic yards of material from within the bed or wet perimeter of any single scenic waterway or ESH stream in a single year. Prospecting does not require a permit from DSL, and it must not occur at any site where fish eggs are present. For more information, read the Oregon Administrative Rules related to recreational placer mining (OAR 141-089-0820). You may also contact the DSL Resource Coordinator for your county. Mining Activities can be dangerous for the untrained person. We cannot be responsible for how items are used in the field. It is your responsibility to comply with all local, State and Federal laws. We recommend that you read up on safety in diving and gold dredging.