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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkage

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process 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 and 32 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 372,965 acres and was designated September 14, 2016, in the CDCA Plan, as amended, later amended by DRECP. In the plan's name, CDCA stands for California Desert Conservation Area and DRECP for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

Acres372,965
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended, later amended by DRECP
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic valueand found it important
Inside, at least33rights of way and allotments, and 1 claim BLM lists as Filed

The line

Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkage
Filed, claimant withheld, 1Right of way, 32
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 33 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them. Hover or tap one for its holder. The grazing allotment below isn't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 1 claim sits inside this line: 0 active and 1 filed and pending, 1 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 1 as Filed. The claim wasn't located before the area was designated.

  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)1claim

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

32 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 24 under non-energy facilities, 6 under other energy facilities, 1 under interstate energy facilities and 1 under none.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO5rights of way
  • ARIZONA & CALIFORNIA RR CO4rights of way
  • FRONTIER COMMUNCATIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST INC3rights of way
  • USGS2rights of way
  • METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT2rights of way

Grazing allotments

A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.

  • Rice Valley78,418acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

Patton Military Camps Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Cadiz Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Mccoy Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Palen Ford Area of Critical Environmental Concern and 1 more touch the line.

More from BLM's California office

Every area BLM's California office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkage. 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

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands