RECREATIONAL PROSPECTING

IN THE COMMONWEALTH’S WATERWAYS

BACKGROUND

Recreational prospecting is the search for precious metals, gemstones and semi-precious minerals. In Pennsylvania, hunting for gold is the most common form of recreational prospecting. Prospecting enthusiasts often hunt for gold at public rights of way where bridges cross gold-bearing streams using a shovel and gold pan. Prospecting equipment can be found at hobby stores, rock shops, metal detector retailers and hardware stores in areas where gold hunting is popular.

METHODS AND EQUIPMENT NOT REQUIRING PERMITS

  1. Non-motorized pans, shovels, pan or dish-type hand classifiers and picks.
  2. Non-motorized sluice boxes, sieves, concentrators and mini-rocker boxes.

METHODS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRING PERMITS

  1. Suction dredges with a nozzle no larger than four inches in diameter.
  2. High-bankers or suction dredge/high-banker combinations with a water intake no larger than two and one-half inches (inside) diameter, which are operated entirely below the ordinary high water line.

PERMITTING

If you are planning to use a suction dredge or high-banker, you must first apply for a permit from the appropriate Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regional office. Applicants are encouraged to have a pre-application meeting with DEP to discuss the nature and scope of their proposed activities before applying for this permit. To ensure that the pre-application meeting is as productive as possible for both parties, applicants must be prepared to discuss the following issues:

  1. • The location of the proposed dredging.
  2. • The type of dredging equipment.
  3. • An estimate of the amount of material that will be dredged.
  4. • A plan for disposing of any excess material.
  5. • The proximity of any public drinking water sources.

When applying for a permit, applicants should also consider:

  1. • Stocked or wild trout streams with the following seasonal restrictions:

Stocked trout streams March 1 – June 15

Wild trout streams Oct. 1 – Dec. 31

Lake Erie tributaries Sept. 1 – April 30

  1. • The use of chemicals or other contaminants, which is prohibited.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

The removal of precious metals, gemstones or minerals from submerged lands of this commonwealth in quantities, which are commercially usable or marketable, in conjunction with any permitted dredging activity is subject to the royalty and agreement provisions of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act. DEP’s regional offices can help determine if you are prospecting on submerged lands.

If you plan to prospect on state game land, state forestland or in a state park, please contact the appropriate agencies before prospecting to ensure that you are familiar with their rules and regulations.

PROPERTY RIGHTS

DEP permits do not convey any property rights. You must obtain permission from the property owner before prospecting on private property or public lands.

 

MORE INFORMATION

For more information, please contact your local DEP Permitting and Technical Services Section at one of the following regional offices:

Northcentral Region

208 W. Third St., Suite 101

Williamsport, PA 17701

570-327-3574

Counties: Bradford, Cameron, Clearfield, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union

Northeast Region

2 Public Square

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711-0790

570-826-2511

Counties: Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming

Northwest Region

230 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335-3481

814-332-6984

Counties: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren

Southcentral Region

909 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110-8200

717-705-4707

Counties: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry and York

Southeast Region

2 East Main Street

Norristown, PA 19401

484-250-5970

Counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia

Southwest Region

400 Waterfront Drive

Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4745

412-442-4000

Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington and Westmoreland

DEP Central Office

Bureau of Watershed Management

Division of Waterways, Wetlands and Stormwater Management

P.O. Box 8775

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8775

717-787-6827

OTHER RESOURCE AGENCIES

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Rachel Carson State Office Building

400 Market Street

P.O. Box 8767

Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767

717-787-2869

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Pennsylvania Game Commission

Bureau of Fisheries Bureau of Wildlife Protection

450 Robinson Lane 2001 Elmerton Avenue

Bellefonte, PA 16823-9620 Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797

814-359-5110 717-787-5740

For more information, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: "Prospecting."

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Edward G. Rendell, Governor  -    Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary

An Equal Opportunity Employer 3930-FS-DEP4099 4/2007