Idaho · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Owyhee River Bighorn Sheep Habitat Area
One of 2 areas BLM's Idaho office names Owyhee River Bighorn Sheep Habitat Area; this one is 57,138 acres. All of them. BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource and a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 21 active mining claims inside the line today, and four grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 57,138 acres and was designated March 30, 1983, in the Bruneau MFP 1983. In the plan's name, MFP stands for management framework 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 21 claims sit inside this line: 21 active, 21 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 21 as Active.
- BCH MINES INC12claims
- RRP JUDAICA ASSET HOLDINGS LLC9claims
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.
Grazing allotments
4 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Northwest254,467acres
- Riddle245,774acres
- Garat211,908acres
- Big Springs208,591acres
The nearest areas
- The Tules RNAIdaho · 114 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it4miles
- Owyhee River Bighorn Sheep Habitat AreaIdaho · 143,911 acres · at least 1 active mining claim, 3 rights of way, 10 grazing allotments covering part of it7miles
- The Badlands RNAIdaho · 1,835 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it13miles
- Pleasant Valley Table RNAIdaho · 1,469 acres · 2 grazing allotments covering part of it26miles
- North Fork Juniper Woodland ONAIdaho · 4,412 acres · 3 grazing allotments covering part of it28miles
Next to it
Owyhee River Bighorn Sheep Habitat Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
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 Owyhee River Bighorn Sheep Habitat Area. 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