Geology

Payette National Forest Contacts

Piper Goessel - Forest Geologist, Minerals & Geology Program Lead 
Phone: 208-634-0760
Email: kathryn.goessel@usda.gov

Brittany Zedalis - Geologist 
Phone: 208-634-0756
Email: brittany.zedalis@usda.gov

Forest Service Policies and Regulations

The U.S. Forest Service is the federal agency responsible for ensuring that environmental impacts that may result from operations conducted on National Forest System lands pursuant to the U.S. mining laws as amended are minimized to the extent practicable.

• Summary of Forest Service Mining Policy
• Forest Service Mineral Regulations
• Forest Service Locatable Mineral Notification Requirements
• Forest Service General Prohibitions

Payette National Forest Information

• Land and Resource Management Plan
• Motor Vehicle Use Maps
• Camping Stay Limit

Forest Service Mining Forms & Instructions

• Notice of Intent Instructions
• Plan of Operations Form - FS-2800-5

Staking and Recording Mining Claims on Federal Public Lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency responsible for managing the Federal mineral estate, regardless of surface management. Please contact the BLM Idaho State Office at 208-373-4000 if you have questions about recording a mining claim in Idaho. 

• BLM State Office
• BLM Mining Claims Information
• BLM Mining Claim Regulations
• BLM Idaho Mining and Minerals Page
• BLM Claim Marker Brochure
• BLM Mineral & Land Records System
• Requirements for Locating Mining Claims in Idaho 

Rock Collecting

• Rockhounding on National Forest System Lands
• Geologic Map of Idaho (USGS)
• Rockhounding in Idaho (State of Idaho Website)

State of Idaho Mining & Geological Information

• Idaho Department of Lands Mining Page
• The Idaho Stream Channel Protection Act requires that the stream channels of the state and their environment be protected against alteration for the protection of fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic life, recreation, aesthetic beauty, and water quality. This means IDWR must approve in advance any work to be conducted within the beds and banks of any continuously flowing stream.
• More information from IDWR, including links to applications for Small Scale Mining Permits, Temporary Water Rights, and Stream Alteration Permits