Colorado · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Grape Creek ACEC
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a scenic value and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 59 active mining claims (and 1 more BLM lists as Filed) and 2 rights of way inside the line today, and six grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 16,558 acres and was designated January 18, 2024, in the 2024 Eastern Colorado 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 60 claims sit inside this line: 59 active and 1 filed and pending, 59 with a holder BLM names and 1 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 59 as Active and 1 as Filed.
- WYOMING CRITICAL MINERALS, INC.42claims
- ZEPHYR GOLD USA LTD17claims
- 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.
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
- DEWEESE DYE DITCH & RSVR CO1right of way
Grazing allotments
6 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- COPPER GULCH COMMON30,338acres
- GRAPE CREEK17,827acres
- TEMPLE CANYON7,127acres
- BULL DOMINGO408acres
- DEADMULE GULCH334acres
- BROWN PARK224acres
The nearest areas
- Arkansas Canyonlands ACECColorado · 23,707 acres · at least 4 active mining claims, 8 rights of way, 12 grazing allotments covering part of it11miles
- Garden Park ACECColorado · 3,122 acres · 6 rights of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it15miles
- South Pikes Peak ACECColorado · 40,449 acres · 6 rights of way, 17 grazing allotments covering part of it26miles
- Castle Gardens ACECColorado · 310 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it36miles
- Droney Gulch ACECColorado · 674 acres · 2 rights of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it43miles
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 Grape 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