California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Johnson Canyon
BLM found a natural system and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 1 active mining claim and 2 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 3,985 acres and was designated May 26, 1994, in the South Coast.
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: 1 active, 1 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 1 as Active.
- 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
2 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 1 under other energy facilities and 1 under non-energy facilities.
- SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC CO1right of way
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY1right of way
The nearest areas
- Million Dollar SpringCalifornia · 6,353 acres · 1 right of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it6miles
- Santa Margarita Ecological ReserveCalifornia · 5,549 acres · 3 rights of way30miles
- Coachella Valley Fringe-toed LizardCalifornia · 11,634 acres · 5 rights of way36miles
- PotreroCalifornia · 12,972 acres · 1 right of way39miles
- Whitewater CanyonCalifornia · 16,415 acres · at least 2 active mining claims, 13 rights of way42miles
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 Johnson 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