Removal Of Sand And Gravel Deposits (Rule 60)

01. Removal of Sand and Gravel. This work consists of removal of sand and gravel deposits from within a stream channel. The following conditions shall be adhered to unless other methods have been specified in detail on the application and approved by the Director. (3-18-22) 02. Removal Below Water Surface. Sand and gravel must not be removed below the water surface existing at the time of the work. Where work involves clearing a new channel for flow, removal of material below water level will be permitted to allow this flow to occur; however, this must not be done until all other work in the new channel has been completed. (3-18-22) 03. Buffer Zone. A buffer zone of undisturbed streambed material at least five (5) feet in width or as otherwise specified by the Director shall be maintained between the work area and the existing stream. The applicant shall exercise reasonable precautions to ensure that turbidity is kept to a minimum and does not exceed state water quality standards. (3-18-22) 04. Movement of Equipment. Equipment may cross the existing stream in one (1) location only, but shall not push or pull material along the streambed while crossing the existing stream. (3-18-22) 05. Disturbing Natural Appearance of Area. Work must be done in a manner that will least disturb the natural appearance of the area. Sand and gravel shall be removed in a manner that will not leave unsightly pits or other completely unnatural features at the conclusion of the project. (3-18-22) 061. SMALL SCALE MINING WITH SUCTION DREDGES, POWERED SLUICES, OR NON- POWERED EQUIPMENT (RULE 61). 01. Small Scale Mining Permit. The Director may issue a permit for the operation of a powered suction dredge or power sluice, or certain qualified non-powered mining activities that follow minimum standards (Rule 61), within stream channels designated as open by the Department or Board. A powered suction dredge or power sluice shall only be operated in accordance with the conditions of the Small Scale Mining Permit. A power sluice and a high-banker are synonymous for the purposes of these rules. (3-18-22) 02. Standards for Small Scale Mining Permits. The following standards shall apply only to uses of suction dredges and power sluices below the mean high water mark with nozzle diameters of five (5) inches or less and powered equipment rated at fifteen (15) HP or less, or the use of non-powered sluice equipment moving more than one-quarter (1/4) cubic yard per hour. (3-18-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 37.03.07 Department of Water Resources Stream Channel Alteration Rules Section 062 Page 14 03. Powered Equipment Prohibited Below High Water Mark. There shall be no use of powered equipment below the mean high water mark except for the suction dredge, or power sluice and any human life support system necessary to operate the suction dredge or power sluice. (3-18-22) 04. Protection of Streambanks. The operation of a suction dredge or power sluice, or the use of non- powered equipment shall be carried out in a manner that prevents the undercutting of streambanks. (3-18-22) 05. Permit Required for Certain Non-Powered Operations. A Small Scale Mining Permit is required for non-powered mining activities when those activities include: (1) the use of non-powered equipment by more than five (5) people mining the same area; or (2) the use of non-powered equipment where the disturbed area at the mining location exceeds thirty three (33) percent of the width of the wetted stream channel. (3-18-22) 06. Limitation of Mining Sites. Only one (1) mining site per one hundred (100) linear feet of stream channel shall be worked at one (1) time unless waived by the Director. (3-18-22)