Colorado · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Dolores River Riparian ACEC
BLM found a natural system, a cultural value, a scenic value and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 2 active mining claims (and 3 more BLM lists as Filed) and 3 rights of way inside the line today, and 11 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 7,428 acres and was designated August 24, 2015, in the 2015 Grand Junction RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management 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 5 claims sit inside this line: 2 active and 3 filed and pending, 5 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 3 as Filed and 2 as Active. None of the 5 claims was located before the area was designated.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)5claims
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.
- CO DEPT OF TRANS2rights of way
- NUCLA NATURITA TEL CO1right of way
Grazing allotments
11 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Mesa Creek100,628acres
- Blue Mesa42,040acres
- Hubbard31,560acres
- Sinbad Valley Common10,109acres
- Dolores River3,526acres
- Cottonwood2,652acres
- Casto-Lines Common1,693acres
- Salt Wash1,358acres
- Hamilton653acres
- Lower Roc Creek279acres
- Tom Casto79acres
The nearest areas
- Juanita Arch ACECColorado · 1,624 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it2miles
- Sinbad Valley ACECColorado · 6,388 acres · 1 right of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it5miles
- The Palisade ACECColorado · 32,197 acres · 5 rights of way, 17 grazing allotments covering part of it13miles
- Unaweep Seep ACECColorado · 84 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it15miles
- Biological Soil Crust ACECColorado · 385 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it18miles
Next to it
Juanita Arch Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
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 Dolores River Riparian 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