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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Shadow Valley

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 34 active mining claims (and 161 more BLM lists as Filed) and 61 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 211,614 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.

Acres211,614
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
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 least95claims and rights of way, and 161 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Shadow Valley
Mining claim, 6Claimant withheld by BLM, 28Filed, 27Filed, claimant withheld, 134Right of way, 61
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 149 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 107 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.

Who holds the claims

At least 195 claims sit inside this line: 34 active and 161 filed and pending, 33 with a holder BLM names and 162 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 161 as Filed and 34 as Active.

  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)162claims
  • MOJAVE MINING COMPANY LLC13claims
  • American Cheetah Metals, Inc.13claims
  • MP MINE OPERATIONS LLC4claims
  • IRIDIUM LLC1claim

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

61 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 33 under non-energy facilities, 19 under other energy facilities, 4 under fiber optic facilities, 3 under interstate energy facilities, 1 under oil & gas facilities and 1 under none.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO16rights of way
  • CA DEPT PUBLIC WORKS16rights of way
  • LOS ANGELES, CITY OF (California) - DEPARTMENT WATER & POWER3rights of way
  • TONOPAH & TIDEWATER RR3rights of way
  • KINDER MORGAN ENERGY PARTNERS2rights of way

The nearest areas

Next to it

Soda Mountains Expansion Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Kingston Range Wilderness Study Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Ivanpah 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 Shadow Valley. 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