Dredging in North Carolina

[ywevis]

We had a quick outing, because the winter temps hit in the 70's so we all wanted to get into a creek. We had 4 floating dredges, 2 combo highbanker dredges and 1 highbanker.

Home | Uwharrie Prospectors

This is the forum we all share and joined the GPOC club. Was pretty fun, everyone left with some gold. Everyone is still doing cleanups, so the gold pics will be on the site.

 

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[davidb]

Have you tried dredging the pigeon river I was thinking about it

 

[ywevis]

I haven't heard anything about that river yet.. Worth to check it out..

 

[davidb]

Yea I was thinking since it cuts through the gorge it should have something

 

[davidb]

Do you need permit to dredge in nc and what are the regulations

 

[PYRATE]

Have you tried dredging the pigeon river I was thinking about it

Very bad idea.

The Pigeon is much cleaner than it once was and thus it you might be surprised that it wasn't too long ago that the river was a stinky brown toxic cesspool with "no water contact" signs posted along its banks.

The sediments still contain dioxin, mercury, aresenic and a whole bunch of other chemicals that were dumped into the river by the Champion Paper Mill for 70+ years and dredging would just be a good way to collect a bunch of the heavy metals and possibly a good case of the mud butt.

Sidenote: I was a raft guide when the river was finally declared clean enough for recreational use in '94, but while water contact was considered "safe", we were instructed not to take more than 2 raft trips per day (each lasted an hour or so) and only 3 trips in two days because of the pollution that remained. I soon discovered that if I took more than one trip in a day I'd be on a toilet for twice as long as I'd been on the boat so I told my boss I'd never run the Pigeon again. (I also made far bigger tips on the Nolichucky, Ocoee and Watauga)

I'm sure it is much cleaner now than it was 19 years ago, but the heavy metals and dioxins don't just disappear.

 

[davidb]

Thanks for the info so maybe I will try nolichucky I use to drive bus for the rafting trips in Erwin

 

[charlotte49er]

Y'all ought to think about joining the Matthews, NC Chapter of the GPAA. Home Page

We have access to 3 (and growing) private properties that are gold rich and they are perfect for Dredging and/or Highbanking!

 

[enamel7]

Y'all ought to think about joining the Matthews, NC Chapter of the GPAA. Home Page

We have access to 3 (and growing) private properties that are gold rich and they are perfect for Dredging and/or Highbanking!

You tell em Brian! Great club and growing like gangbusters.