Oregon · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Owyhee Below Dam
BLM found a natural system and a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 1 active mining claim and 8 rights of way inside the line today, and five grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 11,225 acres and was designated September 1, 2002, in the Southeastern 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.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 1 claim sits inside this line: 1 active, 1 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 1 as Active. The claim wasn't located before the area was designated.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)1claim
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
8 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 6 under non-energy facilities, 1 under other energy facilities and 1 under none.
- USBR (BOISE)2rights of way
- VALE DISTRICT OFFICE2rights of way
- OWYHEE IRRIGATION DISTRICT1right of way
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
- OR-DEPT OF FORESTRY1right of way
- OREGON DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION WIRELESS SECTION1right of way
Grazing allotments
5 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- NYSSA76,026acres
- BLACKJACK17,933acres
- TUNNEL CANYON13,133acres
- MITCHELL BUTTE3,195acres
- LOWER OWYHEE RIVER2,411acres
The nearest areas
- Owyhee ViewsOregon/Washington · 52,589 acres · at least 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed, 1 right of way, 9 grazing allotments covering part of it17miles
- Oregon Trail, Keeney PassOregon/Washington · 3,165 acres · 3 oil and gas leases, 1 geothermal lease, 5 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it17miles
- HoneycombsOregon/Washington · 15,868 acres · at least 1 active mining claim, a grazing allotment covering part of it17miles
- Dry Creek GorgeOregon/Washington · 16,106 acres · 4 grazing allotments covering part of it18miles
- Hammond Hill Sand HillsOregon/Washington · 3,716 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it19miles
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 Owyhee Below Dam. 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