California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Upper McCoy
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 24 active mining claims and 2 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 40,628 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.
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 24 claims sit inside this line: 24 active, 23 with a holder BLM names and 1 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 24 as Active.
- HARRISON GYPSUM CO12claims
- LHOIST NORTH AMERICA INC11claims
- 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
2 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 2 under non-energy facilities.
- RIVERSIDE COUNTY (California)2rights of way
The nearest areas
- McCoy ValleyCalifornia · 30,554 acres · at least 13 active mining claims, 4 rights of way12miles
- Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkageCalifornia · 372,965 acres · at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed, 32 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it15miles
- Palen FordCalifornia · 54,936 acres · 5 rights of way16miles
- McCoy WashCalifornia · 7,834 acres · 1 right of way17miles
- Palen Dry LakeCalifornia · 3,636 acres · nothing placed inside18miles
Next to it
Mccoy Valley 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 Upper McCoy. 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