California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Whitewater Canyon
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 2 active mining claims and 13 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 16,415 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 2 claims sit inside this line: 2 active, 2 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 2 as Active.
- TEN STRIKE ENTERPRISES LLC2claims
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
13 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 6 under non-energy facilities, 4 under other energy facilities, 2 under wind energy facilities and 1 under none.
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO3rights of way
- Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
- USGS1right of way
- County of Riverside - Facilities1right of way
- ZOND SYSTEMS INC1right of way
- EUI AFFILIATE LLC1right of way
- AM WIND REPOWER LLC1right of way
- CALIFORNIA DESERT DISTRICT OFFICE1right of way
- VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC1right of way
- MESA WIND POWER CORP1right of way
The nearest areas
- Big Morongo CanyonCalifornia · 28,275 acres · 14 rights of way10miles
- Coachella Valley Fringe-toed LizardCalifornia · 11,634 acres · 5 rights of way17miles
- Pipes CanyonCalifornia · 59,830 acres · 17 rights of way18miles
- PotreroCalifornia · 12,972 acres · 1 right of way18miles
- Old Woman Springs Wildlife LinkageCalifornia · 61,171 acres · at least 5 active mining claims and 176 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review, 9 rights of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it24miles
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 Whitewater Canyon. 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