Arizona · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Harquahala Mountains
BLM found a cultural value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 40 active mining claims (and 30 more BLM lists as Filed) and 3 rights of way inside the line today, and five grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 77,246 acres and was designated April 22, 2010, in the Bradshaw-Harquahala 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 70 claims sit inside this line: 40 active and 30 filed and pending, 34 with a holder BLM names and 36 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 40 as Active and 30 as Filed.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)36claims
- US AMERICAN EXPLORATION INC19claims
- STREAM METALS LLC5claims
- DUNBAR STONE CO INC3claims
- WY ACQUISITIONS LLC2claims
- AMADOR MINING LLC2claims
- American Mining Claims LLC2claims
- TIMANI JEWELRY AND APPRAISALS LLC1claim
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
3 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 2 under non-energy facilities and 1 under other energy facilities.
- BR AZ PROJECT OFFICE1right of way
- MARICOPA CNTY FLOOD CONTROL1right of way
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
Grazing allotments
5 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Aguila222,226acres
- K Lazy B144,700acres
- Clem86,876acres
- Orosco20,332acres
- Eagle Eye5,795acres
The nearest areas
- Black ButteArizona · 9,552 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it18miles
- Vulture MountainsArizona · 6,496 acres · at least 8 active mining claims and 3 more BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it32miles
- Saddle MountainArizona · 55,504 acres · 13 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it33miles
- Three Rivers RiparianArizona · 10,158 acres · at least 10 active mining claims and 1 more BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it38miles
- 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 it38miles
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 Harquahala Mountains. 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