California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Bagby Serpentine
BLM found a natural system and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 12 active mining claims (and 6 more BLM lists as Filed) and 10 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 5,787 acres and was designated February 1, 2008, in the Sierra.
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 18 claims sit inside this line: 12 active and 6 filed and pending, 1 with a holder BLM names and 17 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 12 as Active and 6 as Filed.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)17claims
- Yosemite Crystals1claim
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
10 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 7 under non-energy facilities and 3 under other energy facilities.
- Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
- PG&E2rights of way
- CA DEPT TRANSPORTATION2rights of way
- MARIPOSAL WILDLIFE PRSV TRUST1right of way
- FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMIN1right of way
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY1right of way
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- Bagby3,348acres
The nearest areas
- Limestone SalamanderCalifornia · 2,179 acres · at least 7 active mining claims and 1 more BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it8miles
- Merced RiverCalifornia · 3,810 acres · at least 4 active mining claims and 2 more BLM lists as Filed, 6 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it9miles
- Red HillsCalifornia · 9,920 acres · at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed, 8 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it20miles
- Nissenan ManzanitaCalifornia · 130 acres · nothing placed inside26miles
- Ione Tertiary Oxisol SoilCalifornia · 92 acres · nothing placed inside59miles
More from BLM's California office
Every area BLM's California 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 Bagby Serpentine. 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