Colorado · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Deep Creek ACEC
BLM found a natural system, a scenic value and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 46 active mining claims and 3 rights of way inside the line today, and six grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 4,422 acres and was designated October 17, 2024, in the 2024 Colorado River Valley RMP (Supplemental EIS). In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan and EIS for environmental impact statement.
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 46 claims sit inside this line: 46 active, 46 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 46 as Active.
- LHOIST NORTH AMERICA46claims
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
3 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 3 under non-energy facilities.
- ROYAL ELK RANCH LLC2rights of way
- USFS (R2 ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION)1right of way
Grazing allotments
6 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10020.01031430,862acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10147.01031418,869acres
- Onion Ridge7,290acres
- Lower Coffeepot6,677acres
- Upper Coffeepot906acres
- Upper Jack Spring44acres
The nearest areas
- Lyons Gulch ACECColorado · 429 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it3miles
- Sheep Creek Uplands ACECColorado · 3,905 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it7miles
- Bull Gulch ACECColorado · 10,371 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it13miles
- Glenwood Springs Debris Flow Hazard Zones ACECColorado · 6,101 acres · at least 3 active mining claims, 18 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it15miles
- Hardscrabble - East Eagle ACECColorado · 4,152 acres · 3 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it18miles
More from BLM's Colorado office
Every area BLM's Colorado 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 Deep Creek ACEC. 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