FLPMA Section 103(a) defined an ACEC as an area within public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important and relevant historical, cultural, and scenic values, fish and wildlife and other natural systems or processes, and to protect life and safety from natural hazards. BLM regulations for implementing FLPMA ACEC provisions are at 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b).
The CYFO and WFO manage nine ACECs in the Planning Area - Carter Mountain, Five Springs Falls, Little Mountain, Sheep Mountain Anticline, Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area, Upper Owl Creek Area, Spanish Point Karst, Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, and Big Cedar Ridge. Map 67 shows the locations of these ACECs in the Planning Area.
Through the public and internal scoping processes, the BLM received a number of nominations for new or expanded ACECs. The BLM reviewed all such nominations to determine if they met the importance and relevance criteria required for consideration as an ACEC. Of the nominations received, eight new proposed ACECs met the criteria, as did areas adjacent to four existing ACECs (referred to as expansion areas). Table 3–50 lists existing and proposed ACECs, their acreages, the resource value(s) of concern that justify their consideration as ACECs, and identified threats to the areas. Appendix F contains further discussion of the ACEC nomination process, and the ACEC Evaluation Report (BLM 2010b), available on the project website, contains the ACEC evaluation forms completed by the BLM for all existing and proposed ACECs. The ACEC evaluations provide more information about the ACECs identified in this section.
Table 3.50. Existing and Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern in the Planning Area
| Area | Acreage | Value(s) of Concern | Threats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing | Proposed | |||
| Existing ACECs (No Expansion Proposed) | ||||
| Big Cedar Ridge | 264 | N/A | Paleontological | Threats to this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, and theft and vandalism. |
| Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite | 1,798 | N/A | Paleontological | Threats to this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, and theft and vandalism. |
| Sheep Mountain Anticline | 11,528 | N/A | Geologic; Caves; Cultural; Scenic | Threats to this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Spanish Point Karst | 6,627 | N/A | Caves; Recreational; Sinking Stream Segments; Water Quality | Threats to this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, and aerial spraying of pesticides onto karst aquifer recharge areas. |
| Existing ACECs (and Proposed Expansion) | ||||
| Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area | 5,517 | 15,246 | Paleontological | Existing: Threats to this existing ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, and theft and vandalism. Expansion: Threats to the proposed expansion area of this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Carter Mountain | 10,867 | 5,706 | Vegetation; Wildlife Expansion: Cultural; Recreational; Special Status Species; Vegetation; Watershed; Wildlife; Soils | Existing: Threats to this existing ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, and renewable energy development. Expansion: Threats to the proposed expansion area of this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral (including gravel pit) and ROW development, renewable energy development, timber extraction, heavy recreational and motorized vehicle use, and invasive weed infestations. These activities threaten habitat for special status species and have the potential to create disturbances for wintering wildlife. |
| Five Springs Falls | 163 | 1,646 | Recreational; Scenic; Special Status Species Expansion: Geologic; Scenic; Public Safety | Existing: Rare and endemic plants that occur as a result of the “spray” from Five Springs Falls, are in danger when hikers/climbers attempt to climb the wall of the water fall. Expansion: Threats to the proposed expansion area of this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Little Mountain | 21,475 | 47,569 | Caves; Cultural; Paleontological; Scenic Expansion: Recreational; Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife; Scenic | Existing: Threats to this existing ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral (including gravel pits, uranium, and limestone) and ROW development, timber extraction, heavy recreational and motorized vehicle use, and invasive weed infestations. These activities threaten habitat for special status species and have the potential to create disturbances for wintering wildlife. Expansion: Threats to the proposed expansion area of this ACEC are the same as for the existing ACEC. |
| Upper Owl Creek Area | 13,057 | 19,720 | Cultural; Fish; Recreational; Scenic; Soils; Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife | Existing: Threats to this existing ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. Expansion: Threats to the proposed expansion area of this ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development, timber extraction, and land disposals. |
| Proposed ACECs | ||||
| Chapman Bench | N/A | 23,326 | Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife | Threats to this proposed ACEC include the resulting probable mining interests when this reserved land is opened to all public land laws. This area was formerly BOR reserved land, and thus had protection from the public land laws and the 1872 mining law. Issuing an opening order, will allow all exploration of resources. Surface disturbance for exploration and claims will have an impact to the resources that are in need of protection: long-billed curlew, mountain plover, and greater sage-grouse. |
| Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench West Paleontological Area | N/A | 23,895 | Paleontological; Scenic | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral (including gravel pit, and limestone quarries) and ROW development, timber extraction, heavy recreational and motorized vehicle use, and invasive and nonnative species infestations. These activities threaten habitat for special status species and create disturbances in crucial winter range during critical periods. Heavy public recreational use and existing special recreation permits also threaten recreation experiences. Water quality and quantity issues, as a result of surface and groundwater withdrawals and untreated irrigation outflows, also threaten the area. |
| Clarks Fork Canyon | N/A | 12,259 | Geologic; Open Space; Recreational; Special Status Species; Wildlife | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Foster Gulch Paleontological Area | N/A | 27,302 | Paleontological; Scenic | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area | N/A | 6,994 | Paleontological; Scenic | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Rainbow Canyon | N/A | 1,433 | Paleontological; Geologic; Scenic | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral and ROW development. |
| Rattlesnake Mountain | N/A | 19,119 | Special Status Species; Vegetation; Wildlife | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral (including gravel pits) and ROW development, renewable energy developments, timber extraction, heavy recreational and motorized vehicle use, and invasive and nonnative species infestations. These activities threaten rare plants and habitat for special status species, and have the potential to create disturbances for wintering wildlife. |
| Sheep Mountain | N/A | 25,153 | Vegetation; Wildlife | Threats to this proposed ACEC include surface disturbance from mineral (including gravel pit) and ROW development, renewable energy developments, timber extraction, heavy recreational and motorized vehicle use, and invasive and nonnative species infestations. These activities threaten rare plants and habitat for special status species, and have the potential to create disturbances for wintering wildlife. |
| Source: BLM 2009a; Appendix F Note: Portions of the Proposed Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench West Paleontological Area, Proposed Foster Gulch Paleontological Area, and Proposed McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area ACECs make up the Proposed Paleocene, Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) ACEC (14,906 acres) under Alternative D. The values of concern listed for those three proposed ACECs are the same for the Proposed PETM ACEC. ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern BOR Bureau of ReclamationN/ANot applicable ROW rights-of-way | ||||