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Idaho · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Snake River

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a scenic value and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 1 active mining claim (and 4 more BLM lists as Filed) and 89 rights of way inside the line today, and 61 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 144,078 acres and was designated November 29, 1985, in the Medicine Lodge RMP 1985. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.

Acres144,078
DesignatedNov 29, 1985Medicine Lodge RMP 1985
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a scenic value and a fish resource
Inside, at least151claims, rights of way and allotments, and 4 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Snake River
Mining claim, 1Filed, claimant withheld, 4Right of way, 89
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 93 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 1 claim is placed at the middle of the section its land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 61 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 5 claims sit inside this line: 1 active and 4 filed and pending, 1 with a holder BLM names and 4 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 4 as Filed and 1 as Active.

  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)4claims
  • IDAHO TRAVERTINE CORP1claim

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

89 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 63 under non-energy facilities, 24 under other energy facilities and 2 under oil & gas facilities.

  • Holder not listed by BLM13rights of way
  • PACIFICORP10rights of way
  • IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION9rights of way
  • LOWER VALLEY ENERGY6rights of way
  • UPPER SNAKE FIELD OFFICE5rights of way

Grazing allotments

61 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10958.01049519,972acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-13442.01049518,369acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10976.01049515,137acres
  • Butte Canal12,278acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10928.0104959,075acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

North Menan Butte Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.

More from BLM's Idaho office

Every area BLM's Idaho office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Snake River. 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

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands