I found this information in the California Mining Journal as a free article. It is written by Scott Harn and called Revised Dredge Regulations Published for California – Pure Garbage. I am passing the Key Points, as he calls them, to you.

Key Points
• Limit of 1,500 permits issued per year.

• Maintain and submit an annual report card to include the location of each dredging site, dates and times of operation for each day, nozzle size, horsepower.

• Present license and report card when demanded by a DFG representative at any time.

• Permit suspension or revocation for failure to carry or present permit or report card upon demand for inspection.

• No suction dredge having an intake nozzle with an inside diameter larger than four inches may be used without an on-site inspection and written permission.

• Solid, one-piece, restrictor ring required and no quick release mechanism is allowed for the ring.

• The inside diameter of the intake hose may not be more than two inches larger than the permitted intake nozzle size.

• Intake pumps are required to be covered with a mesh screen with openings of 3/32” or less.

• A containment system must be added under motor and fuel tanks capable of handling the full contents of the fuel tank and lubricants.

• Motorized winching is only allowed after an on-site inspection.

• Winched materials must be left within the current water level.

• No operating within three feet of the lateral edge of the current water level, including the edge of instream gravel bars.

• No moving, cutting or destabilizing woody debris such as root wads, stumps or logs.

• Piling material to concentrate water flow can only be done after an on-site inspection and approval.

• No fuel, lubricants or chemicals may be stored within 100 feet of the current water level. If this is not feasible, a containment system must be in place beneath the containers and be capable of handling the full contents.

• Stream material may only be moved within the current water level.

• No displacing any material embedded on banks.

• No disturbing any mussel bed where at least 10 mussels are found within a square yard, and dredges and tailings must be at least 30 yards upstream or 10 yards laterally or downstream.

• Tailing piles shall be leveled before moving to another site or finishing for the season.

• Dredges must be cleaned of mud, oil, grease, debris, and plant and animal material before use.

• Dredges must be pressure washed with > 120-degree water or left to dry for two weeks before use in another location.

• No person shall operate a dredge within 500 feet of another dredge.

• Dredging is restricted to 10am to 4pm.