Oregon · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
French Flat
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource and a cultural value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 3 active mining claims (and 1 more BLM lists as Filed) and 6 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 654 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 4 claims sit inside this line: 3 active and 1 filed and pending, 4 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 3 as Active and 1 as Filed.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)4claims
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
6 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 6 under non-energy facilities.
- Holder not listed by BLM5rights of way
- MEDFORD DISTRICT OFFICE1right of way
Grazing allotments
A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.
- ESTERLY CREEK7,100acres
The nearest areas
- Waldo-TakilmaOregon/Washington · 213 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it1miles
- Waldo-TakilmaOregon/Washington · 1,546 acres · at least 5 active mining claims, 2 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it2miles
- Rough and ReadyOregon/Washington · 1,128 acres · at least 3 active mining claims, 3 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it2miles
- Rough and ReadyOregon/Washington · 62 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it3miles
- Woodcock BogOregon/Washington · 264 acres · at least 1 active mining claim, 1 right of way5miles
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 French Flat. 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