EVERYONE WILL BE VERY INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recently, Grace Cartwright, Ben Warner and Tim Bradshaw did a dredging 
demonstration for several state angencies including the VMRC, VADIGF, 
VADMM as well as the USACE to show them how dredging is done for 
recreational prospecting (using an up to 4 inch dredge). The appropriate 
personnel among the agencies  are now drawing up areas where and when 
dredging will be allowed (depending on spawning, endangered species 
locations and National treasure sites). When this is all done, the current 
plan is to be "permitted" as a club to do recreational dredging using 
proper procedures with the persons that will be dredging listed as being 
educated in the state guidelines. PLEASE  remember that this is STILL a 
work in progress.  It is NOT a DONE DEAL!!! WHEN WE are permitted we will 
be responsible for policing ourselves. If anyone is caught using IMPROPER 
procedures, permission can and likely will be withdrawn. SO REMEMBER ONE 
PERSON DOING WRONG CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

To re-emphasize what Grace told us: THE CURRENT PLAN IS FOR THE CLUB TO BE 
PERMITTED AND THE CLUB MEMBERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING 
THEMSELVES. IF ONE PERSON IS CAUGHT BREAKING THE STATE GUIDELINES, THE 
WHOLE GROUP WILL PAY THE CONSEQUENCES BY LOSING THE RIGHT TO DREDGE IN 
VIRGINIA'S WATERS.

One of the requirements from state agencies will be for us as a 
prospecting club to be responsible for collecting and turning in for 
proper disposal any mercury we find. There will be more details 
forthcoming regarding this.

ALSO REMEMBER, DO NOT DO ANY DREDGING IN VIRGINIA UNTIL YOU ARE NOTIFIED 
THAT THE STATE AGENCIES HAVE FORMALLY APPROVED IT AND PROVIDED GRACE WITH 
THEIR GUIDELINES. NO HIGH BANKING IS ALLOWED IN VIRGINIA NOR WILL IT BE 
ALLOWED.

Anyone having a dredge needs to let either Grace Cartwright or Sandy Stowe 
know what kind it is. Also anyone wanting to dredge is going to need to 
have their name on the the list provided VMRC. PLEASE CONTACT ANYONE YOU 
KNOW WITH A DREDGE ... WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE CLUB OR NOT!!!  They will 
not have to join the club but will have to go through us for "education" 
and be put on our list before they can dredge.

You can contact Grace at

gracec@vims.edu

or Sandy at

bob&sandy@crosslink.net

or send it through the regular mail to

Bob & Sandy Stowe

1124 Tom Johnston Road

Aroda, VA 22709

BE SURE TO PUT THE WORD 'DREDGE' IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR EMAIL MESSAGE 
SO IT ISN'T INADVERTENTLY DELETED.

We all owe Grace, Ben and Tim a big THANK YOU for all their hard work in 
doing this on behalf of all of us!!!!!!! A Great Job Well Done.