Get out your pans: Oroville Dam erosion may yield a tiny gold rush

Looking for gold? Click ahead to read about some of the best spots to pan for gold in Northern California. Looking for gold? Click ahead to read about some of the best spots to pan for gold in Northern California. Photo: Ca. Dept. Of Water Resources / Ca. Dept. Of Water Resources Photo: Ca. Dept. Of Water Resources / Ca. Dept. Of Water Resources Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Get out your pans: Oroville Dam erosion may yield a tiny gold rush 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Your dream of becoming a part-time prospector might have gotten a boon thanks to recent storm erosion.

CBS San Francisco reports that months of rain have exposed gold flakes all over Northern California, creating a tiny gold rush. One miner who lives near Jamestown in Tuolumne County says he's seen more gold on his property than usual, and he expects the area around the Oroville Dam to be particularly fruitful.

Water roared from the Oroville Dam's spillway and emergency spillway for weeks, pounding the surrounding area. The Bureau of Land Management told CBS that the erosion removes rock and soil, concentrating the gold in the area.

MORE: Crews at Oroville Dam begin aggressive debris cleanup

Weather of the opposite sort made gold country a renewed spot of interest in previous years. During the drought, long-waterlogged areas became exposed and allowed gold seekers to access new sources. It's been almost 170 years since gold was discovered in California, so any new spots — uncovered by water or a lack thereof — can yield long-hidden gold.

Don't quit your day job yet, though. The most you're likely to scoop up is a few specs of gold via panning. But with gold currently at about $1,200 per ounce, you can at least get yourself a nice weekend getaway somewhere if you're willing to work for it — and get very, very lucky.