Arizona · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Tule Creek
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 643 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 1 claim sits inside this line: 0 active and 1 filed and pending, 1 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 1 as Filed. The claim wasn't located before the area was designated.
- NEDEEL 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.
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- Boulder Creek49,747acres
The nearest areas
- 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 it31miles
- Black ButteArizona · 9,552 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it45miles
- Saddle MountainArizona · 55,504 acres · 13 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it59miles
- Harquahala MountainsArizona · 77,246 acres · at least 40 active mining claims and 30 more BLM lists as Filed, 3 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it63miles
- Lower Gila Terraces And Historic TrailsArizona · 139,110 acres · 45 rights of way, 21 grazing allotments covering part of it66miles
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 Tule Creek. 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