White/Pink flowers at sunrise with pine trees in the background.

Mother Lode Field Office

The BLM Mother Lode Field Office manages over 230,000 acres of public land in Central California. These lands are scattered within Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa,  Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Yuba counties.

Areas of interest include the Cosumnes River Preserve; Pine Hill Preserve; Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern; the North Fork American and Merced Wild & Scenic Rivers; as well as highly visited recreation areas along the South Fork American River, the South Yuba River, and the Mokelumne River.

Major programs within the office include Recreation, Geology & Minerals, Lands & Realty, Botany & Wildlife, Fire & Fuels, and Forestry.

BLM Recreational Opportunities Interactive Map
Find recreation locations in the BLM  Motherlode Field Office.

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Public Room

Visit our public room to find maps, brochures and BLM California programs.
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Fire Restrictions

Find the latest fire restrictions for the Mother Lode Field Office.
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Frequently Requested Maps

Find our most popular interactive, georeferenced and traditional maps.
Cosumnes River Preserve
The Cosumnes River Preserve consists of over 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands owned by seven land-owning Partners. The Preserve is centered along the Cosumnes River, its floodplains and riparian habitat.
cranes dance in a river
Merced River Recreation Management Area
The Merced River Recreation Management Area is a very special place just downstream from Yosemite. It is well known for excellent whitewater boating, wildflower viewing, camping, swimming, and recreational gold panning/prospecting.
A river bend under a purple tree
South Fork American River
The South Fork of the American River is considered to be one of the finest recreational resources in California. In addition to whitewater rafting & kayaking, recreational opportunities include picnicking, trail hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, hunting, fishing, gold panning, and wildlife viewing.
Rafters in whitewater gear exit a river in the forest.
South Yuba Recreation Area
The South Yuba Recreation Area and National Trail is located approximately 10 miles northeast of Nevada City, California. The 15 mile trail is open to hiking, horseback riding, trail running and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motorized vehicles.
A river rinds through a steep forest gorge.

Leadership

Jeff Horn

Field Manager
Phone:
916-941-3101
Fax:
916-941-3199
Email:

Noah Triplett

Assistant Field Manager (Recreation)
Phone:
916-941-3101
Fax:
916-941-3199
Email:

Vacant

Assistant Field Manager (Resources)
Phone:
916-941-3101
Fax:
916-941-3199
Email:

Latest News

Contact

Mailing Address:
5152 Hillsdale Circle
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Email: BLM_CA_Web_ML@blm.gov
Phone: 916-941-3101
Fax: 916-941-3199
Hours:
8:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday - Friday. Please ring the doorbell to enter lobby. Appointments recommended to meet with Resource Staff.

TTY/Relay System

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Alerts & Notices

Mother Lode Field Office is issuing an emergency closure of vehicle access to Big Bar Day Use River Access Area on the Mokelumne River, effective April 23, 2025. Read full emergency closure order. 

Help bats everywhere. Clean your gear and outerwear.

Image of a small brown bat with a white fungal growth on its nose
  • White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a deadly fungal disease killing millions of bats, which are vital for controlling insect pests that damage crops. The fungus can spread through gear, clothing, and footwear. To prevent transmission, if visiting bat habitats like caves or tunnels, clean your gear and outerwear. Avoid carrying equipment from WNS-affected areas to unaffected ones, even if decontaminated. Scrape dirt from clothes and gear, and wash them with hot water and soap. Always protect bats by maintaining a safe distance and never disturbing or touching them. If accidental contact occurs, seek medical advice. For more information, check the WNS map at www.whitenosesyndrome.org.

Wild Pigs in the Red Hills ACEC

  • Wild pig damage observed at the Red Hills. Hunting allowed year round. No bag limit.

Emergency Closure - New Hogan Lake

  • All forms of target shooting are prohibited. View order & map

Quick Links

Get current river levels, flow info, and real-time maps.

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