Update: Tallapoosa river

As of 10-13-2015 this river is off limits to dredging, as "precious metals" was added to the law.   Because it is a navigable waterway, the bottom of the river is owned by the State of Alabama.                                                                                                                            This is the law: 220-4-.15    Regulation of Certain Conduct On Lands Under State Lands Division Jurisdiction

(1) Except as otherwise authorized in writing by the Director of the State Lands Division, it shall be unlawful on any state-owned lands under the jurisdiction of the State Lands Division:                                                                                                            (l)    To damage or remove any trees, crops, plants or other vegetation, minerals, precious metals, dirt, gravel, stones, artifacts, fossils, firewood, mulch, leaf litter, sod or pine straw.       

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  • http://www.outdooralabama.com/proposed-dcnr-rules
    Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources has several new proposed rules coming up. Im sure you or someone you know will be adversely affected by some of these new "rules" You should contact your Senator and/or Representative addressing your concerns.
    Document 220-4.-15 is the one most of you should be concerned with as it will affect you in some shape, form or fashion, so please share this. Paragraph (L) in particular needs to be omitted or changed.
  • That is a nice relic Leon, very nice. I am always a little leary to show and tell my findings. The most useless profession is that of an archeologist on my opinion. The majority of amateur archeologists or hobbyist know much more than so called professionals . I have some nice Civil War relics, tons of megalodon fossil teeth. My best find is a fossil Ivory Mastodon Tusk so far.
    As for the basis of this post, I have read the "regulation" and do not see mention of anything submerged underwater. I gather that this pertains to state owned lands and the state of Alabama has never and will never own the navigable waterways.
  • Hmmmm... looks to me this COULD get amended.... all you need is the historical aspect, and the fact that only 5 or 6 cntys are gold bearing, I'd say all you need is a state senator and state representative along with your tourism department, this could EASILY be amended simply by ruke change or on the next funding bill for the state. It'll put $ in other state pockets to but, least you'll get dredging in tallapoosa again... least that's my take... If it wouldn't for the gold rush Al. Had in the 1830'sn it wouldn't have made it, it would still be part of Florida!
  • Jammie E, Relics are fun. Last month I found my first shovel head from the 1800's, as well as a hand forged nail. The oldest thing I've found was a stone Mortis and Pestle  looking thing that's about 10,000 years old. I sent pictures to the Burke Museum in Seattle, they wanted to see it in person, and my Geology Professor warned me I'd never get it back. There's picture of it on my Facebook page.   

  • Well I guess I need to do some homework on this. We dive in the rivers quite often relic hunting metal detecting.
  • Thats where I used to dredge about five miles south of the dam near the Alabama Gold Camp. My two mining buddies must be pissed...

  • Jimmie E, I've got a 20 acre claim here in WA State, and another 10 claims in three different counties over in Idaho. The water belongs to the states on all those claims, the states use it as a way to regulate things because the land is under BLM control. WA and Idaho are two states fighting BLM for control of our public lands, it's a money grab is all, and one more agency we have to fight with for our rights to public land. The Forest Service is by far the worst agency to deal with in any state. In WA they announced they were not going to maintain 800 miles of dirt roads any more because they couldn't afford it, yet they want control from BLM. In Idaho City Idaho they got sued twice, lost and appealed, and lost again. They spent three years of their operating money on law suits, and now their sniveling. Your tax dollars hard at work.   

  • I was under the impression that the navigable waterways belonged to the people. Read my friends experiences with this in Alabama. You may or may not know of this already. I will follow up with him on what you have posted, but in the meantime you can read (alot) about somilar issues here:

    http://www.ssdsupply.com/aucra.htm
  • Lu I am very sad and disturbed to hear this news. How can a river with a dam be declared navigable? Really?

    All I can say is our tax dollars pay these degenerates salaries. Vote wisely in November.  It seems under this administration every agency has been corrupted and lost the plot completely. DC needs an enema!!!

  • can I still come down and visit?

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