Arizona · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Empire-Cienega

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a natural process, a fish resource and a natural hazard here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 7 active mining claims and 18 rights of way inside the line today, and 11 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 48,239 acres and was designated July 25, 2003, in the Las Cienegas RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.

The line

Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 18 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 7 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 11 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 7 claims sit inside this line: 7 active, 7 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 7 as Active.

• Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)7claims

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.

The rights of way

18 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 9 under non-energy facilities, 4 under other energy facilities, 3 under fiber optic facilities and 2 under distribution line.

• Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
• TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER CO2rights of way
• SULPHUR SPRGS ELEC2rights of way
• QWEST CORP DBA CENTURYLINK QC2rights of way
• TUCSON ELECTRIC POWER2rights of way

Grazing allotments

11 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

• Empire Cienega75,087acres
• Empirita28,151acres
• Rain Valley Ranch12,911acres
• Rose Tree9,727acres
• Allotment USFS-GRZ-10090.0105197,260acres

The nearest areas

• Appleton-Whittell ResearchArizona · 3,124 acres · 3 rights of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it16miles
• Swamp Springs-Hot Springs WatershedArizona · 17,875 acres · 2 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it43miles
• Willcox Playa NNLArizona · 3,270 acres · at least 7 active mining claims, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it46miles
• Baboquivari PeakArizona · 3,049 acres · 5 grazing allotments covering part of it59miles
• Desert Grasslands RNA - Sombrero ButteArizona · 361 acres · at least 7 active mining claims, a grazing allotment covering part of it62miles

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