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New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Cooke's Range

BLM found a natural system, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 2 active mining claims inside the line today, with 15 more BLM lists as Filed, and five grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 17,547 acres and was designated December 1, 1993, in the Mimbres Resource Management Plan.

Acres17,547
DesignatedDec 1, 1993Mimbres Resource Management Plan
BLM founda natural system, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic valueand found it important
Inside, at least7claims and allotments, and 15 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Cooke's Range
Claimant withheld by BLM, 2Filed, 15
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 15 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 5 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 17 claims sit inside this line: 2 active and 15 filed and pending, 15 with a holder BLM names and 2 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 15 as Filed and 2 as Active.

  • BULL MOUNTAIN RESOURCES LLC15claims
  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)2claims

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

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

  • Butterfield Lease53,261acres
  • Flying U Ranch46,681acres
  • Mimbres Mountain17,143acres
  • Hidden Valley Ranch6,849acres
  • Clark Draw1,113acres

The nearest areas

More from BLM's New Mexico office

Every area BLM's New Mexico 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 Cooke's Range. 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