California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Horse Canyon
BLM found a natural system, a cultural value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 2 active mining claims inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 6,892 acres and was designated December 22, 2014, in the Bakersfield 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 2 claims sit inside this line: 2 active, 2 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 2 as Active.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)2claims
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.
- Hansen Common72,147acres
The nearest areas
- Middle KnobCalifornia · 20,533 acres · at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed, 5 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it6miles
- Jawbone/ButterbredtCalifornia · 190,513 acres · at least 10 active mining claims and 15 more BLM lists as Under Review or Filed, 26 rights of way, 9 grazing allotments covering part of it19miles
- Desert Tortoise Research Natural AreaCalifornia · 25,346 acres · 1 right of way24miles
- Piute CypressCalifornia · 2,510 acres · at least 2 active mining claims and 3 more BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it28miles
- Erskine CreekCalifornia · 4,146 acres · at least 2 active mining claims, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it29miles
Next to it
Middle Knob 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 Horse Canyon. 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