Idaho · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Birch Creek
BLM found a natural system here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 4 mining claims BLM lists as Filed and 6 rights of way inside the line today, and two grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 8,648 acres and was designated July 29, 1999, in the Challis RMP 1999. 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 4 claims sit inside this line: 0 active and 4 filed and pending, 4 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 4 as Filed. None of the 4 claims was located before the area was designated.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)4claims
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
6 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 6 under non-energy facilities.
- IDAHO DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
- A private individual, name withheld by this site1right of way
- IDAHO STATE OFFICE1right of way
- IDAHO DEPT OF FISH & GAME1right of way
- PETERSEN RANCH TRUST1right of way
Grazing allotments
2 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Garden Creek14,192acres
- Bayhorse10,702acres
The nearest areas
- Malm Gulch/Germer Basin RNAIdaho · 2,409 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it3miles
- Malm Gulch/Germer BasinIdaho · 5,415 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it6miles
- Lone BirdIdaho · 9,970 acres · at least 3 active mining claims, 1 right of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it9miles
- Pennal GulchIdaho · 5,832 acres · 2 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it10miles
- East Fork Salmon River Bench RNAIdaho · 78 acres · at least 2 mining claims BLM lists as Filed, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it12miles
More from BLM's Idaho office
Every area BLM's Idaho 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 Birch Creek. 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