A New California Gold Rush

[Clay Diggins]

The hands and pans thing in the Auburn State Rec area is a bit of a joke.

The Auburn State Rec area is not a State Park or even State land. Almost all the land involved is either private or Federal public lands. The State has less than 40 acres there as I recall.

The Auburn State Rec area is a management contract between the Federal government and the State Parks department. The reason the hands and pans thing is funny is because that management contract specifically states that the State has no control or management duties for the minerals found in the public lands within the Rec area.

Sometimes it's all about perception and voluntary compliance - not law or a duty to control. The Auburn Rec area minerals are still, for the most part, open to prospecting. There are a few areas that have been withdrawn from mineral entry and the private lands are off limits but the "hands and pans" regs are not really legally enforceable. Of course neither is the Adventure Pass but people still keep paying to park on public lands.

[TampaBayBrad]

2 hours ago, GB_Amateur said:

He was in a state park??

Oh....I didn't catch the part about state parks. I don't know if he was or not. If I ever make it to California, now I'd be scared to try panning for fear I'm not in a legal spot or using legal means to recover the gold.

[TampaBayBrad]

3 minutes ago, Clay Diggins said:

The hands and pans thing in the Auburn State Rec area is a bit of a joke.

The Auburn State Rec area is not a State Park or even State land. Almost all the land involved is either private or Federal public lands. The State has less than 40 acres there as I recall.

The Auburn State Rec area is a management contract between the Federal government and the State Parks department. The reason the hands and pans thing is funny is because that management contract specifically states that the State has no control or management duties for the minerals found in the public lands within the Rec area.

Sometimes it's all about perception and voluntary compliance - not law or a duty to control. The Auburn Rec area minerals are still, for the most part, open to prospecting. There are a few areas that have been withdrawn from mineral entry and the private lands are off limits but the "hands and pans" regs are not really legally enforceable. Of course neither is the Adventure Pass but people still keep paying to park on public lands.

Thanks Clay for some clarity...