California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Independence Creek WSA
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a scenic value and a natural process 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 four grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 6,480 acres and was designated September 14, 2016, in the Bishop RMP, as amended by DRECP. In the plan's name, DRECP stands for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan and RMP 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 claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 1 as Filed.
- 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.
Grazing allotments
4 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10556.01031880,201acres
- Alabama Hills78,011acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10558.0103185,114acres
- George Creek3,190acres
The nearest areas
- ManzanarCalifornia · 573 acres · at least 2 mining claims BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it4miles
- Symmes Creek WSACalifornia · 8,372 acres · at least 3 mining claims BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it5miles
- Southern Inyo WSACalifornia · 2,808 acres · nothing placed inside9miles
- Keynot PeakCalifornia · 2,164 acres · nothing placed inside12miles
- Saline ValleyCalifornia · 1,390 acres · nothing placed inside19miles
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 Independence Creek WSA. 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