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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Old Woman Springs Wildlife Linkage

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 5 active mining claims (and 176 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review) and 9 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 61,171 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.

Acres61,171
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource and a natural processand found it important
Inside, at least17claims, rights of way and allotments, and 176 more claims BLM lists as Filed or Under Review

The line

Old Woman Springs Wildlife Linkage
Mining claim, 2Claimant withheld by BLM, 3Filed, 148Filed, claimant withheld, 27Under Review, claimant withheld, 1Right of way, 9
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 15 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 175 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 3 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 181 claims sit inside this line: 5 active and 176 filed and pending, 150 with a holder BLM names and 31 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 175 as Filed, 5 as Active and 1 as Under Review.

  • PUMA GOLD LLC133claims
  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)31claims
  • KAPA GOLD LIMITED USA INC.12claims
  • KAPA GOLD LIMITED USA INC3claims
  • FIRST CLASS MINERS INC2claims

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

9 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 4 under non-energy facilities, 3 under other energy facilities, 1 under other and 1 under 44 ld 513.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO3rights of way
  • Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
  • FRONTIER CALIFORNIA INC1right of way
  • PROTOMOTION LLC1right of way
  • MOJAVE WATER AGENCY1right of way

Grazing allotments

3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

  • Rattlesnake Canyon29,360acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10043.0103381,392acres
  • Rattlesnake Unit926acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

Pipes Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Carbonate Endemic Plants Research Natural Area of Critical Environmental Concern touch the line.

More from BLM's California office

Every area BLM's California office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Old Woman Springs Wildlife Linkage. 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

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands