Seems to me that these "federal lands" are always in an area with precious metals, valuable minerals, treasures with decent amount of evidence, etc. It seems that all these areas of potential value is always a "conservation area, WMA, wilderness area, archeological site, etc". It's all a sham. They are wanting these gold belts for themselves. Has nothing to do with protection and conservation. That's why you can't dredge, sluice, metal detect, etc. In the national forests. They know that nobody will get rich by panning. But wait, they recently did authorize metal detecting. Where? In the damn trash infested picnic/recreation area. This is for NF's only. In the areas where there is potential to make a decent amount, even with panning, they are those conservation and protected areas. Coincidence? I think not!!