New Mexico · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Ojo Caliente
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a natural process, a historic value and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place 31 rights of way inside the line today, and 21 grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 101,226 acres and was designated May 24, 2012, in the Taos 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
The rights of way
31 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 20 under non-energy facilities, 6 under other energy facilities and 5 under fiber optic facilities.
- KIT CARSON ELEC COOP6rights of way
- NM ST HWY DEPT5rights of way
- VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF TX4rights of way
- TRI-STATE G&T ASSOC2rights of way
- Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
- FEDERAL HWY ADMINISTRATION1right of way
- FHWA1right of way
- USFS (CARSON NATIONAL FOREST)1right of way
- A private individual, name withheld by this site1right of way
- PNM ELECTRIC & GAS1right of way
- ACEQUIA DE LA MESA PRIETA1right of way
- OJO CALIENTE HOLDING INC1right of way
- COE1right of way
- TAOS COUNTY OF1right of way
- VALOR1right of way
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF TX LP1right of way
- ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSERVANCY1right of way
The geothermal leases
No active geothermal lease sits inside the line.
Not counted: 2 more leases BLM lists as Closed.
Grazing allotments
21 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-2681072.01060295,271acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10113.01042457,116acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10071.01042440,473acres
- Ojo Caliente24,739acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10068.01042420,048acres
- Allotment USFS-GRZ-10115.01042417,296acres
- Canada De La Cruz13,173acres
- Cerro Colorado10,825acres
- Mesa Prieta7,017acres
- Alamos6,951acres
- El Rito Cr6,305acres
- Chili3,193acres
- La Madera1,836acres
- Desague1,494acres
- Arroyo Las Lagunitas1,122acres
- Canon Seco Allotment610acres
- Lemitas - Closed (LUP)126acres
- Rio Del Oso - Closed (LUP)112acres
- River Allotment52acres
- Vallito Peak36acres
- Canelejas21acres
The nearest areas
- Copper HillNew Mexico · 21,925 acres · at least 25 active mining claims, 6 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it14miles
- Lower GorgeNew Mexico · 24,675 acres · at least 1 active mining claim, 31 rights of way, 14 grazing allotments covering part of it15miles
- SombrilloNew Mexico · 18,089 acres · 13 rights of way, 6 grazing allotments covering part of it17miles
- Santa Fe Canyon RanchNew Mexico · 22,990 acres · 32 rights of way, 4 grazing allotments covering part of it29miles
- Taos PlateauNew Mexico · 288,234 acres · at least 6 active mining claims, 26 rights of way, 74 grazing allotments covering part of it40miles
Next to it
Lower Gorge Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.
More from BLM's New Mexico office
Every area BLM's New Mexico 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 Ojo Caliente. 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