Ive been looking for regulations for clear creek in Jefferson county .Ive tried the BLM and the DOI .can anybody tell me if it legal to high bank in Clear Creek canyon above tunnel three ?Ive done some prospecting in that area and found good color . every body in the area says it is ok to high bank, but according to BLM no dredging is allowed in the area and the prospecting area rules say nothing about motorized equipment

Hello Rob,

The area you are referring to is Jefferson county open space and BLM wouldn't have any say there.
You can find details about that area from our "free panning and sluicing areas" thread here in the forum.

You can contact the county to ask for exceptions to their rules but I believe they said no motors, but panning and sluicing is just fine.

Happy prospecting and stay safe out there. Remember everyone, reclaim/refill all holes dug before leaving too.

CP

I've panned on Clear Creek with limited success - no sluice or highbanker, just classifying and panning. A Jeffco Parks officer came by one day last fall and said I was OK panning or sluicing, but nothing motorized. Watch the private claim area right out of tunnel 3 at Elk Creek for 1 mile. I drove past a little turnoff 2 weeks ago - there's a wooden historical sign or marker or something (I never have stopped to look at it) and a guy and lady were walking from the creek to their vehicle carrying 2 5 gallon buckets with material - looked like they had a classifier screen and a couple shovels.