Nevada · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Lower Meadow Valley Wash
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a natural process and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 11 active mining claims and 15 rights of way inside the line today, and 16 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 24,916 acres and was designated August 20, 2008, in the Ely 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 11 claims sit inside this line: 11 active, 11 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 11 as Active.
- CHAPARRAL LIMESTONE & CEMENT11claims
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
15 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 13 under non-energy facilities, 1 under other energy facilities and 1 under fiber optic facilities.
- UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO5rights of way
- UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD2rights of way
- JENSENS PALISADE INC1right of way
- BRADSHAW INC1right of way
- LINCOLN COUNTY WATER DISTRICT1right of way
- LINCOLN COUNTY (Nevada)1right of way
- LINCOLN COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT1right of way
- NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- SP LA & SL RR CO1right of way
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
Grazing allotments
16 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- OAK SPRINGS198,044acres
- HENRIE COMPLEX169,145acres
- BREEDLOVE121,066acres
- SHEEP FLAT74,166acres
- COTTONWOOD62,222acres
- APPLEWHITE30,700acres
- PENNSYLVANIA30,373acres
- ROX - TULE25,591acres
- CLOVER CREEK22,786acres
- LITTLE MOUNTAIN18,622acres
- SAND HILLS12,431acres
- RAINBOW7,968acres
- MUSTANG FLAT6,804acres
- SCHLARMAN5,422acres
- MEADOW VALLEY4,147acres
- ASH FLAT3,613acres
The nearest areas
- Mormon MesaNevada · 109,865 acres · at least 9 mining claims BLM lists as Under Review, 7 rights of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it23miles
- Kane SpringsNevada · 57,185 acres · 7 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it24miles
- Beaver Dam SlopeNevada · 36,802 acres · 7 rights of way, 7 grazing allotments covering part of it29miles
- Mormon MesaNevada · 150,488 acres · 20 rights of way, 2 grazing allotments covering part of it31miles
- Upper Beaver Dam WashUtah · 33,108 acres · at least 16 active mining claims and 18 more BLM lists as Filed, 2 rights of way, 9 grazing allotments covering part of it33miles
Next to it
Mormon Mesa Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
More from BLM's Nevada office
Every area BLM's Nevada 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 Lower Meadow Valley Wash. 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