California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Owens Lake
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 6 mining claims BLM lists as Filed and 21 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 22,257 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 6 claims sit inside this line: 0 active and 6 filed and pending, 6 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 6 as Filed.
- FWA HOLDINGS INC6claims
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
21 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 18 under non-energy facilities, 2 under other energy facilities and 1 under water.
- LOS ANGELES DEPT WATER & POWER7rights of way
- VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC2rights of way
- LOS ANGELES, CITY OF (California)2rights of way
- LOS ANGELES, CITY OF (California) - DEPARTMENT WATER & POWER2rights of way
- LA & OWENS VALLEY RR1right of way
- UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD PF0031right of way
- M & B JOINT VENTURES INC1right of way
- INYO COUNTY (California) - PUBLIC WORKS1right of way
- LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT WATER & POWER (California)1right of way
- CA DEPT TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- GREAT BASIN UAPCD1right of way
- DIRTY SOCKS DUCK CLUB LLC1right of way
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- Lacey-Cactus-McCloud169,055acres
The nearest areas
- Cerro Gordo WSACalifornia · 626 acres · nothing placed inside8miles
- Olancha GreasewoodCalifornia · 29,345 acres · 10 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it10miles
- Cerro GordoCalifornia · 10,464 acres · at least 15 active mining claims and 29 more BLM lists as Filed, 2 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it13miles
- Conglomerate MesaCalifornia · 1,725 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it13miles
- Southern Inyo WSACalifornia · 2,808 acres · nothing placed inside16miles
Next to it
Olancha Greasewood 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 Owens Lake. 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