Mining for gold a recreational activity on Washington beaches

Add mining for gold to the list of activities you can do on Washington’s ocean beaches.

The Washington State Parks Department says small scale mining is now allowed.

“It’s primary digging, they’re looking at the surface level, maybe at the most the top 18 inches of sand and they have various types of small scale types of equipment so there aren’t people out there with heavy equipment, front loaders, removing vast quantities of sand,” said Lis Lantz with State Parks.

We’re not looking at something that’s lucrative, it’s just something to do out there with the family,” said Lantz.

A pilot program between 2008 and 2010 found no serious impacts on the environment or other beach activities.

“The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, there take on it was it had less impact to the beach than a recreational razor clam dig,” said Lantz. “There are a lot fewer people involved, certainly.”

You do need a permit from Fish and Wildlife if you’re planning on finding gold and taking it home.

Lantz said it’s not something anyone should plan on making big bucks from. “My understanding from most people is, they might, after several trips, get enough to pay for a cup of coffee.”