California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Coyote Mountains Fossil Site
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 3 active mining claims inside the line today. It covers 5,876 acres and was designated December 12, 1980, in the CDCA Plan, as amended, DRECP amendment. In the plan's name, CDCA stands for California Desert Conservation Area and DRECP for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation 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 3 claims sit inside this line: 3 active, 3 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 3 as Active.
- CALPORTLAND CO3claims
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 nearest areas
- OcotilloCalifornia · 14,908 acres · at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed, 16 rights of way7miles
- Table MountainCalifornia · 5,218 acres · 5 rights of way12miles
- In-Ko-Pah MountainsCalifornia · 9,764 acres · at least 8 active mining claims, 3 rights of way13miles
- Yuha BasinCalifornia · 81,579 acres · 33 rights of way16miles
- West MesaCalifornia · 100,863 acres · 8 rights of way17miles
Next to it
Ocotillo Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
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 Coyote Mountains Fossil Site. 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