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New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Ojito

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, 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 20 active mining claims and 5 rights of way inside the line today, and three grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 3,887 acres and was designated December 23, 2024, in the Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan.

Acres3,887
DesignatedDec 23, 2024Rio Puerco Resource Management Plan
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic valueand found it important
Inside, at least28claims, rights of way and allotments

The line

Ojito
Mining claim, 20Right of way, 5
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 5 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 20 claims are placed at the middle of the section or quarter section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The lease and 3 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 20 claims sit inside this line: 20 active, 20 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 20 as Active.

  • AMERICAN GYPSUM CO20claims

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

5 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 3 under non-energy facilities, 1 under fiber optic facilities and 1 under other energy facilities.

  • NEW MEXICO GAS CO2rights of way
  • WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS INC1right of way
  • QWEST CORP1right of way
  • MID-AMERICA PIPELINE CO1right of way

The geothermal leases

No active geothermal lease sits inside the line.

Not counted: 1 more lease BLM lists as Closed.

Grazing allotments

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

  • Rock House Community15,256acres
  • Long Ridge4,302acres
  • Mighty Mite1,123acres

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 Ojito. 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