California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Red Hills
BLM found a natural system and a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed and 8 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 9,920 acres and was designated February 1, 2008, in the Sierra.
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
8 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 5 under non-energy facilities and 3 under other energy facilities.
- SBC2rights of way
- PACIFIC ULTRAPOWER1right of way
- A private individual, name withheld by this site1right of way
- PG&E1right of way
- DIESTEL FARMS1right of way
- SIERRA RAILROAD CO1right of way
- SIERRA PACIFIC INDUSTRIES1right of way
Grazing allotments
3 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Poor Mans Gulch1,199acres
- Don Pedro East Serpentine909acres
- Turnback Creek Pasture304acres
The nearest areas
- Nissenan ManzanitaCalifornia · 130 acres · nothing placed inside10miles
- Bagby SerpentineCalifornia · 5,787 acres · at least 12 active mining claims and 6 more BLM lists as Filed, 10 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it20miles
- Limestone SalamanderCalifornia · 2,179 acres · at least 7 active mining claims and 1 more BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it27miles
- Merced RiverCalifornia · 3,810 acres · at least 4 active mining claims and 2 more BLM lists as Filed, 6 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it28miles
- Ione Tertiary Oxisol SoilCalifornia · 92 acres · nothing placed inside40miles
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 Red Hills. 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