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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Picacho

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 458 active mining claims (and 186 more BLM lists as Filed) and 34 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 197,148 acres and was designated December 12, 1980, in the CDCA Plan, as amendment [sic], DRECP amendment. In the plan's name, CDCA stands for California Desert Conservation Area and DRECP for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

Acres197,148
DesignatedDec 12, 1980CDCA Plan, as amendment [sic], DRECP amendment
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic valueand found it important
Inside, at least492claims and rights of way, and 186 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Picacho
Mining claim, 450Claimant withheld by BLM, 8Filed, 186Right of way, 34
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 55 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 623 claims are placed at the middle of the section or quarter section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder.

Who holds the claims

At least 644 claims sit inside this line: 458 active and 186 filed and pending, 636 with a holder BLM names and 8 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 458 as Active and 186 as Filed.

  • IMPERIAL USA CORP506claims
  • WESTERN MESQUITE MINES INC65claims
  • LINCOLN GOLD US CORP29claims
  • LAKE ENTERPRISES OF CALIF LLC16claims
  • SMP Gold Corp13claims

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

34 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 28 under non-energy facilities, 4 under other energy facilities, 1 under oil & gas facilities and 1 under none.

  • IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT3rights of way
  • Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
  • IMPERIAL COUNTY OF2rights of way
  • DEPT OF ENERGY WAPA1right of way
  • MARINE CORPS AIR STATION1right of way

The nearest areas

Next to it

Chuckwalla Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches 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 Picacho. 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