Oregon · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Deer Creek
BLM found a natural system and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 2 active mining claims and 2 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 4,097 acres and was designated August 5, 2016, in the Southwestern Oregon 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.
Plan in motion
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon and Southwestern Oregon RMP revision names this area among the ACECs it covers. BLM's notice of February 19, 2026 says:
The BLM will reevaluate these designated ACECs for consideration in the Draft RMP/EIS.BLM, Notice of Intent To Revise Resource Management Plans for Northwestern and Coastal Oregon and Southwestern Oregon, 91 FR 8017, Feb. 19, 2026, FR Doc. 2026-03290, read Oct 18, 2026
Notice of intent February 19, 2026. Scoping comments closed March 23, 2026. We found no later notice for it in the Federal Register when we read it on October 18, 2026. The plan on BLM's ePlanning, project DOI-BLM-ORWA-0000-2026-0001-RMP-EIS.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 2 claims sit inside this line: 2 active, 2 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 2 as Active. None of the 2 claims was located before the area was designated.
- 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.
The rights of way
2 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 1 under nonexclusive and 1 under non-energy facilities.
- MEDFORD DISTRICT OFFICE1right of way
- OR-DEPT OF FORESTRY1right of way
The nearest areas
- Brewer SpruceOregon/Washington · 1,705 acres · nothing placed inside7miles
- Reeves CreekOregon/Washington · 119 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it10miles
- Eight Dollar MountainOregon/Washington · 1,251 acres · at least 4 active mining claims and 6 more BLM lists as Filed, 3 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it11miles
- Pickett CreekOregon/Washington · 78 acres · nothing placed inside13miles
- Grayback GladesOregon/Washington · 1,019 acres · nothing placed inside14miles
More from BLM's Oregon/Washington office
Every area BLM's Oregon/Washington 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 Deer Creek. 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