Arizona · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Clay Hills Research Natural Area
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a scenic value and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 17 active mining claims inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 1,117 acres and was designated March 7, 1995, in the Kingman RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 17 claims sit inside this line: 17 active, 17 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 17 as Active.
- ZENOLITH USA LLC17claims
BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- Bagdad39,684acres
The nearest areas
- Poachie Desert Tortoise HabitatArizona · 33,444 acres · at least 220 active mining claims and 25 more BLM lists as Filed, 5 rights of way, 7 grazing allotments covering part of it9miles
- Burro Creek Riparian And CulturalArizona · 34,948 acres · at least 102 active mining claims and 6 more BLM lists as Filed, 7 rights of way, 8 grazing allotments covering part of it10miles
- Three Rivers RiparianArizona · 31,589 acres · at least 48 active mining claims and 5 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review, 3 rights of way, 9 grazing allotments covering part of it17miles
- Three Rivers RiparianArizona · 184 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it20miles
- Carrow-Stephens RanchesArizona · 499 acres · 2 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it21miles
More from BLM's Arizona office
Every area BLM's Arizona office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Clay Hills Research Natural Area. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.
The rule's abstract
The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026