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Idaho · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Upper Salmon River

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, 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 3 more BLM lists as Filed) and 25 rights of way inside the line today, and 23 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 5,145 acres and was designated December 21, 2009, in the Cottonwood RMP 2009. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management plan.

Acres5,145
DesignatedDec 21, 2009Cottonwood RMP 2009
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value and a fish resource
Inside, at least49claims, rights of way and allotments, and 3 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Upper Salmon River
Claimant withheld by BLM, 1Filed, claimant withheld, 3Right of way, 25
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 27 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 2 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 23 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 4 claims sit inside this line: 1 active and 3 filed and pending, 4 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 3 as Filed and 1 as Active.

  • 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

25 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 23 under non-energy facilities and 2 under other energy facilities.

  • IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION9rights of way
  • Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
  • A private individual, name withheld by this site2rights of way
  • IDAHO COUNTY LIGHT & POWER2rights of way
  • IDAHO COUNTY (Idaho)2rights of way

Grazing allotments

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

  • Partridge Creek9,552acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10007.0102778,216acres
  • John Day2,826acres
  • Warm Springs2,562acres
  • Wildcat Creek1,784acres

The nearest areas

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 Upper Salmon 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