Last Post 25 Aug 2016 06:20 PM by  Tim Hibbs
Water wheel dredge
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Tim Hibbs
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03 Jul 2016 08:45 PM
    Has anyone with a Claim in California put in a Water driven wheel to run pumps and compressors for dredging? It cound be mounted on a mobile barge next to dredge or have supply hoses run from it to several dredges. No moter. We have been running Mills and generating electricity this way in the past. You do not need great elevation changes to turn a wheel. justy flowing water and the right gearing. 
    ARTHUR WAUGH
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    04 Jul 2016 08:43 AM
    A co-worker used to spend the summer dredging in southern Oregon and would go into town once a week for supplies and such. he had a water wheel setup on an automotive alternator to charge his batteries in his van/coach. Says it worked well. Sounds like an idea, but now you put it into a public forum, it will be added to the banned procedures.
    Joseph Loyd
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    07 Jul 2016 06:37 PM
    Posted By ARTHUR WAUGH on 04 Jul 2016 08:43 AM
    A co-worker used to spend the summer dredging in southern Oregon and would go into town once a week for supplies and such. he had a water wheel setup on an automotive alternator to charge his batteries in his van/coach. Says it worked well. Sounds like an idea, but now you put it into a public forum, it will be added to the banned procedures.


    It is considered as a mechanical device .And can not be use for gold recovery.Yes you could still use it as a power source.

    Tim Hibbs
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    06 Aug 2016 01:53 PM
    No Motorized parts to a Water Wheel. Should be legal. no Pollution, no noise. i may just build a Steam powered dredge.
    ROBERT BEAN
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    23 Aug 2016 11:33 AM
    In this case I belive that the problem in this case is the electrical generation to run any item. If you used the direct force of the water to move the parts without any secondary item you might be ok but then that would be a real bear to set up a dredge to operate that way.
    ARTHUR WAUGH
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    23 Aug 2016 12:59 PM

    I believe Tim was talking about using a geared or belt driven setup to run the pump/compressor shaft, rather than a gas or electric setup.  The bite is the pump.  The whole system would be regarded as a "mechanical device" .  Bicycles are a mechanical device and are banned from designated Wilderness Areas, the same as motorized devices, be it vehicles, chain saws, snowmobiles, etc.  Same theory at work here in some places.

    I just brought up the wheel/alternator as an example that it would be possible to make it work with the right gearing to drive the pump.

    Tim Hibbs
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    23 Aug 2016 05:35 PM

    Question

    I thought "Motorized" meant "Combustible engines" only. Water wheels are not in that category.

    JIM SHANNON
    Highbanker
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    23 Aug 2016 06:32 PM
    Motorized = motor
    Can not use battery power motor is some places
    WALTER EASON
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    24 Aug 2016 08:23 AM

    Just to help with clarifying the issue.

     SEC. 3. Section 13172.5 is added to the Water Code, to read:
    13172.5. (a) For purposes of this section, the use of any vacuum or suction dredge equipment, also known as
    suction dredging, is the use of a mechanized or motorized system for removing or assisting in the removal of,
    or the processing of, material from the bed, bank, or channel of a river, stream, or lake in order to recover
    minerals. This section does not apply to, prohibit, or otherwise restrict nonmotorized recreational mining
    activities, including panning for gold.

     Do not get this mixed up with other types of mining, this only pertains to dredging, not motorized sluicing known as high-banking.  Motorized Sluicing in California is controlled within other regulations when it is above casual use within a jurisdiction. In California this would be controlled mainly through a 1600 stream alteration permit within the CFW when it goes beyond casual disturbance. This statement with regard to California SB 637 and the regulation based on it can be defended as not relating to Motorized sluicing (high banking) without question in my opinion.

    Tim Hibbs
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    25 Aug 2016 06:20 PM
    Thanks to all for their input and shared knowledge. I guess I will vacation in another state that is more Dredge friendly. California's loss, some other states gain.
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