Download the Gold and Fish: Rules and Regulations for Mineral Prospecting and Placer Mining PDF Format (1.22MB) June 2005 Addendum to Gold and Fish Pamphlet PDF Format (604KB) Gold and Fish: Rules and Regulations 2005 Pamphlet Errata PDF Format (27 KB) Freshwater Mussels of the Similkameen River PDF Format (1,250 KB)

Public Comment Period on New Proposed Mineral Prospecting Rules Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is proposing new rules regulating mineral prospecting activities. WDFW developed the proposed rules in cooperation with representatives from the mineral prospecting community, other state and federal agencies, tribes, and environmental interests during a series of meetings in 2007and 2008. Click here for details. In December, 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted new rules governing mineral prospecting. The new rules were published in the 1999 edition of the Gold and Fish pamphlet. You may request a copy of the pamphlet from WDFW at: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Program 600 Capitol Way N Olympia WA 98501-1091 (360) 902-2534 Or, contact our regional offices The online version of the Gold and Fish pamphlet is for informational purposes only and copies of it do not satisfy the requirement to have a copy of the Gold and Fish pamphlet on the job site when conducting mineral prospecting or placer mining operations. Please obtain an official copy from the WDFW. Gold and Washington The shape of Washington's history was greatly affected by the quest for gold. Many miners bound for Alaska's gold fields in the late 1800's passed through Seattle and influenced the city's development. Interest in Washington's gold-bearing streams remains strong today. Improvements in mineral prospecting equipment make it easier for the casual or part-time prospector to engage in this activity. Do I need a permit to prospect in Washington? Since 1980, a permit (the Hydraulic Project Approval, or HPA) has been required from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to mineral prospect or placer mine. Mineral prospecting and placer mining activities can have a detrimental effect on fish and their habitat if not conducted properly. Limitations in the HPA are designed to ensure the protection of fish and fish habitat while still allowing as much activity as possible. Most mineral prospecting and placer mining activities are permitted through the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet. Prospecting activities not covered in the pamphlet may be permitted through a separate, written HPA. A number of other state and federal agencies also have an interest in mineral prospecting and placer mining, and may require a permit: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Bureau of Land Management U.S. Forest Service National Park Service National Marine Fisheries Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington Department of Ecology Washington Department of Natural Resources Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Local jurisdictions and Tribal governments may also require permits. Please contact the specific agency directly (see the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet for contact information) or the The Office of Regulatory Assistance at (360) 407-7037. What do fish need? Fish have the same basic survival needs as all living things: Good water quality: Variations in water quality determine what kinds of fish and how many will live in a particular waterway. Cover to hide from predators: Undercut streambanks, large rocks, large woody debris, and low overhanging vegetation all provide protected spaces for fish to hide in. Spawning (reproducing) and rearing areas: Sediment-free, graveled riffles and pool "tails" are primary spawning areas for salmon and trout. Unimpeded access to and from spawning and rearing areas. Food: Large woody debris, overhanging vegetation and rocky areas in faster water provide ideal habitat for insects, a prime food source of young fish. Temperature, sediment, stream flow and changes to the streambed and bank all influence the basic habitat needs of fish and their ability to survive. High water temperatures impact a fish's ability to withstand diseases and stress, and to feed, spawn, and migrate. Removal of bank vegetation removes shade, which keeps water temperatures cool. Sediment can negatively impact sources of food and cover, damage delicate gill tissue reducing the amount of oxygen intake into the body, reduce the fish's ability to see and catch food, and smother spawning gravels which kills eggs and fry in the gravel. Stream flow affects oxygen levels, sediment loads and deposition, and food production. Changes to the streambed and bank can destabilize soils leading to an increase in sediment and loss of vegetation. What's in the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet? (publication # GF-1-99) Mineral prospecting and placer mining with the following equipment is allowed in the pamphlet: Use of non-motorized pans (Class 0 mineral prospecting equipment) year-round above the wetted perimeter. Use of pans, non-motorized sluice boxes, concentrators and mini-rocker boxes (Class I mineral prospecting equipment) at specified locations and times of the year. Use of motorized suction dredges and highbankers (Class II mineral prospecting equipment) at specified locations and times of the year. Year-round use of highbankers (Class III mineral prospecting equipment) 200 feet above the ordinary high water line. To use the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet for small scale mining and mineral prospecting, or as the HPA for most other mining and mineral prospecting activities, first complete the following steps: Obtain the "Gold and Fish" pamphlet Determine where you wish to prospect or mine Determine the type of equipment you wish to use Check the location in the timing tables to determine when the stream is open for work and whether a separate, written HPA is required If necessary, obtain any other permits you may need before starting work Follow the recommended best management practices and equipment technical provisions by equipment type