California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Middle Knob
BLM found a natural system 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 and 5 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 20,533 acres and was designated September 14, 2016, in the CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP. 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 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.
The rights of way
5 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 3 under non-energy facilities and 2 under other energy facilities.
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
- BAKERSFIELD OFFICE1right of way
- A private individual, name withheld by this site1right of way
- SKY RIVER LLC1right of way
- LOS ANGELES, CITY OF (California) - DEPARTMENT WATER & POWER1right of way
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- Hansen Common72,147acres
The nearest areas
- Horse CanyonCalifornia · 6,892 acres · at least 2 active mining claims, 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 it17miles
- Desert Tortoise Research Natural AreaCalifornia · 25,346 acres · 1 right of way18miles
- Last Chance CanyonCalifornia · 5,934 acres · at least 7 active mining claims and 7 more BLM lists as Filed, a grazing allotment covering part of it26miles
- Western Rand MountainsCalifornia · 31,898 acres · at least 17 active mining claims and 4 more BLM lists as Filed, 9 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it27miles
Next to it
Horse Canyon 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 Middle Knob. 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