Once again I would strongly suggest that only the laws be a guide to your actions.
There are only four laws in California that use the term mechanized. Three of those laws relate only to the mechanized display of signs advertising alcohol. Here is the fourth law that mentions mechanized.
13172.5. (a) For purposes of this section, the use of any vacuum or suction dredge equipment, also known as suction dredging, is the use of a mechanized or motorized system for removing or assisting in the removal of, or the processing of, material from the bed, bank, or channel of a river, stream, or lake in order to recover minerals. This section does not apply to, prohibit, or otherwise restrict nonmotorized recreational mining activities, including panning for gold.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=31808029769+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
If you aren't using a suction dredge to remove or process material from the bed, bank, or channel of a river, stream, or lake for the purpose of recovering minerals this permit law has no applicability. The original poster seems to have ruled out that use or the use of stream or surface water and this law doesn't apply to water use anyway. It is specific to dredge permitting.
It should also be noted that owners of properties in California with riparian rights are not subject to water permitting schemes for their personal beneficial use of their riparian water rights. Mining is one of the listed beneficial uses of water in California.
There is no 300 foot law regarding water pumps. That's probably coming from a misunderstanding of this portion of the dredge permit regulations:
2. (e) It is unlawful to possess a vacuum or suction dredge in areas, or in or within 100 yards of waters, that are closed to the use of vacuum or suction dredges.
Same source as above. Clearly this only applies to dredges in areas closed to dredging. Not a thing in there about water pumps.
Once again I would strongly suggest that only the laws be a guide to your actions. There are only four laws in California that use the term mechanized. Three of those laws relate only to the mechanized display of signs advertising alcohol. Here is the fourth law that mentions mechanized. 13172.5. (a) For purposes of this section, the use of any vacuum or suction dredge equipment, also known as suction dredging, is the use of a mechanized or motorized system for removing or assisting in the removal of, or the processing of, material from the bed, bank, or channel of a river, stream, or lake in order to recover minerals. This section does not apply to, prohibit, or otherwise restrict nonmotorized recreational mining activities, including panning for gold. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=31808029769+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve If you aren't using a suction dredge to remove or process material from the bed, bank, or channel of a river, stream, or lake for the purpose of recovering minerals this permit law has no applicability. The original poster seems to have ruled out that use or the use of stream or surface water and this law doesn't apply to water use anyway. It is specific to dredge permitting. It should also be noted that owners of properties in California with riparian rights are not subject to water permitting schemes for their personal beneficial use of their riparian water rights. Mining is one of the listed beneficial uses of water in California. There is no 300 foot law regarding water pumps. That's probably coming from a misunderstanding of this portion of the dredge permit regulations: 2. (e) It is unlawful to possess a vacuum or suction dredge in areas, or in or within 100 yards of waters, that are closed to the use of vacuum or suction dredges. Same source as above. Clearly this only applies to dredges in areas closed to dredging. Not a thing in there about water pumps.