Colorado Dredging and highbanking Options

[WildernessAU]

Hello guys n gals,
I have afew questions about motorized prospecting in CO.
I know that in the Royal Gorge district one needs a permit to operate a dredge on the Arkansas River up to 4in nozzle. Does the permit area include all streams and feeder creeks that lie within the Royal Gorge area?
The permit states that highbanking can only be done at I think Woodys bar....is this true? Can we not highbank anywhere else.........or does it have to be listed on the permit as a valid claim area? hmm
What are the regulations and season for the rest of the state. I believe no permit is required for most of CO. Does this mean that I can dredge and highbank in any open area as long as I don't create a significant surface disturbance?
Thanks for any help. D

[EMac]

Below is some fodder to spin folks up.

BLM CO FAQs - Question 5 points to Royal Gorge or Grand Junction pages

Grand Junction's Form indicates a time restriction:

Suction dredging and any other type of mechanized placer operation which pumps material and/or water from the river are not allowed during the period from April 1 through August 31, for the following river segments: Colorado River from Rifle to the Utah state line, and Gunnison River from its confluence with the Uncompahgre River (Delta) to its lower terminus at the Colorado River (Grand Junction).

Royal Gorge says to call them which also sounds dicey depending on who's on the other end of the line. Here's the quote from the page under their "Plan of Operations" level wanting a detailed plan and up to a 30-day review period:

* * * NOTE – If your proposed operations involve the use of a suction dredge, prior coordination with the Royal Gorge Field Office is needed before beginning such use to determine whether you need to submit a notice or a plan to BLM, or whether your activities constitute casual use. Proposed operations involving the use of a suction dredge along the Arkansas River are typically classified as greater then casual use. Please contact the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) with the necessary information required for either notice- or plan-level operations (see above). * * *

The page is an interesting read, but leaves a lot open to interpretation between what constitutes casual use vs Notice of Intent level operations. I'm curious what the experience has been from folks who dredge on the Arkansas? Copying successfully vetted plans is usually a good move, but I'd be careful telling them where you got it. Could end up throwing the other dredger under the bus if they don't like something and your defense is "well Eric submitted the same plan and you approved his."