Highbanking Demonstration, with settling area Options

[CP]

Highbanking can be done but needs a settling area so as not to let the muddy water directly re-enter the water system, but rather to let the top soils washed off "settle" out prior to water re-entry into the natural system.
We were able to have a very nice demonstration set up last year at the CP dig site and thought we would share a couple pics so everyone can get an idea of what they need to do in the field.

This set up was used for multiple (4 at a time) units and kept all water run off away from the water source used. In addition, we also could use the run off area as sluice spots which worked wonderfully with a constant soap seep in the intakes of the pumps.
For just one unit you would not probably need to go to this length but it gives folks an idea.

The settling area and ditch were dug in one day by myself and Denise but also needed "mucked out" as tailings will fill the settling areas.
Take a little time to do this and you won't have problems in the field with run off while you highbank.

CP

[Denise]

That setup worked great! Lots of highbanking tips and techniques were also learned from this setup.

We also had the honor of having Representive (Michigan) Elsenhiemer and his family visit that year. They all wished to learn a bit about gold prospecting and were actually the first to use the sluice stations. Coolest thing to, their teenage daughter was on her cell phone while sluicing, probably talking about the mall back home or something. But that is something the old time prospectors probably never dreamt would be possible.

Actuatually Dan, his daughter called her friends from all the places they were having adventures in their travels.
She would give them details of what she was doing right then...hehe
They had a blast they told us at the end of the day.