Oregon · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
West Fork Illinois River
BLM found a natural system here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 6 mining claims BLM lists as Filed and 4 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 1,285 acres and was designated August 5, 2016, in the Northwestern and Coastal 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 6 claims sit inside this line: 0 active and 6 filed and pending, 6 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 6 as Filed. None of the 6 claims was located before the area was designated.
- GOLD COAST MINING INC6claims
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
4 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 4 under non-energy facilities.
- Holder not listed by BLM2rights of way
- CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS1right of way
- GENERAL MOLY INC1right of way
The nearest areas
- Rough and ReadyOregon/Washington · 62 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it5miles
- Waldo-TakilmaOregon/Washington · 1,546 acres · at least 5 active mining claims, 2 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it6miles
- Rough and ReadyOregon/Washington · 1,128 acres · at least 3 active mining claims, 3 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it6miles
- Waldo-TakilmaOregon/Washington · 213 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it7miles
- French FlatOregon/Washington · 654 acres · at least 3 active mining claims and 1 more BLM lists as Filed, 6 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it8miles
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 West Fork Illinois River. 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