new paperwork for the Arkansa River

[russau]

John, is there any updates on the new paperwork?

[COArgonaut]

The new paperwork is all approved.
John is away from his computer for a couple of days. I'll let him decide to post what details he would like to share, but we will be dredging!

ed

[russau]

congrats to John and all that dug through all that paperwork!

[OKJohn]

This is the scoop from the BLM. This is what I was told by Amy and Stephanie at the Canon City office, and verified on the new over-the-counter dredging paperwork available from their web site...

#1. They will only accept the $25 fee to allow you to dredge at Point Bar. All other dredging along the Arkansas is no longer considered "over-the-counter", and requires an investigation by a BLM geologist.

#2. For us, it involved several pages of information. Who, what, when, where, and how. They wanted maps, legal descriptions, and specific reclamation methods we would use. They personally visited each site to verify it would be acceptable, and to determine what our reclamation bond should be. As usual, they were concerned with archaeological areas and so forth.

#3. In the end, its actually not all bad. The paperwork was a hassle, and paying more to dredge is never good. But it is now a bond which will be released at the end of the season assuming we do not leave a mess. Getting any of our money back was never an option in the past.

#4. I had to declare a "principal operator" for the POO - little ole' me. I am now personally and financially responsible for the actions of anyone on the POO (me, Leonard, and Ed). If the BLM decides that someone is making a mess, I have to write the check to cover it.

#5. Adding additional dredgers on the POO is not trivial, and just adds responsibility to me. For that reason, inviting friends to dredge with us on our claims has gotten much harder - and more expensive.

Panning, sluicing, or anything battery-operated is still considered casual use. So the Arkansas remains available to people (with permission) wanting to just play around. But dredging the Ark is not a friendly situation anymore.

OKJohn

[russau]

John #4 is/can be a real problem!if your not there 24/7 anyone can make a mess on public land and youll be held responsible. this is not right in my books,but what can you do??? i dont beleive they any dredger would be a problem with leaveing/makeing a mess,but theres always that potential with claim jummpers,wacoenviromentalists,jerks! what would be the additional cost for another dredger? it sounds like there isnt going tobe any "one stop shopping" for a dredge permit like it was last year! thanks for going through the gauntlet in dealing with the paperwork!

[Hoser John]

Seen better seen worse doable but WHAT NEXT????????? some questions ya don't really want answered-John

[nebraskadad]

Maybe when Salazar and Obozo are ousted things will improve, but I think the mental illness is systemic, the BLM and USFS needs a good house cleaning, or Congress needs to put hand cuffs on them.

these regulatory agencies have way too much power.

I doubt the rafting companies have to please anyone but their insurers. Bet they don't pay for a bond for the trash they leave on /in the river.

I saw this and for some reason thought it might be Hoser doing some stealth dredging:
http://news.yahoo.com/camouflaged-resid ... ories.html