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Utah · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Aquifer Recharge

BLM found a natural system, a cultural value and a scenic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 19 active mining claims (and 10 more BLM lists as Filed) and 13 rights of way inside the line today, and nine grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 85,856 acres and has no decision date on BLM's map. It was designated in the Bears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan.

Acres85,856
DesignatedNot datedBears Ears National Monument Resource Management Plan
BLM founda natural system, a cultural value and a scenic valueand found it important
Inside, at least41claims, rights of way and allotments, and 10 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

Aquifer Recharge
Mining claim, 13Claimant withheld by BLM, 6Filed, 5Filed, claimant withheld, 5Right of way, 13
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 23 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 19 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 9 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 29 claims sit inside this line: 19 active and 10 filed and pending, 18 with a holder BLM names and 11 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 19 as Active and 10 as Filed.

  • KIMMERLE MINING LLC13claims
  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)11claims
  • ANFIELD RESOURCES HOLDING CORP5claims

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

13 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 11 under non-energy facilities and 2 under other energy facilities.

  • FED HIGHWAY ADMIN3rights of way
  • MONTICELLO FIELD OFFICE3rights of way
  • SAN JUAN COUNTY (Utah ) ROAD DEPARTMENT2rights of way
  • NATL PARK SERVICE1right of way
  • PACIFICORP DBA UPL1right of way

Grazing allotments

9 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

  • Lake Canyon584,620acres
  • White Canyon264,953acres
  • Comb Wash75,304acres
  • Tank Bench Brushy Basin70,231acres
  • Texas-Muley68,890acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

San Juan River Benm Area of Critical Environmental Concern and San Juan River Area of Critical Environmental Concern touch the line.

More from BLM's Utah office

Every area BLM's Utah office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Aquifer Recharge. 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

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands