Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

As defined and authorized in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is an area within the public lands where special management attention is required to protect and prevent irreparable damage to important historic, cultural, or scenic values, fish and wildlife resources, or other natural systems or processes, or to protect life and safety from natural hazards.

ACECs are designated during regular resource mananagement processes. Currently, the Moab Field Office manages 5 ACECs:

Name Acres Values Behind the Rocks 5,201 scenery natural systems (threatened, sensitive and endangered plants) cultural resources Cottonwood - Diamond Watershed 34,024 natural systems mitigate natural hazards due to fire Highway 279/Shafer Basin/Long Canyon 13,500 scenery wildlife natural systems (threatened, sensitive and endangered plants) cultural resources Mill Creek Canyon 3,721 scenery natural systems (cold water/fishery/ riparian/watershed and wildlife) cultural resources Ten Mile Wash 4,980 natural systems (riparian/wetlands) wildlife cultural resources natural hazards