California State Military
DepartmentCalifornia State Military
DepartmentThe 291,165-acre site is located approximately
20 miles north of Alturas in Modoc County, California. The site
consists of three areas, the Modoc Aerial Gunnery Range, strafing
and bombing areas known as Goose Lake-Northern and Goose Lake-Southern,
and Clear Lake Reservoir. The Goose Lake-Northern site is located
in Oregon and is not associated with this project number. The
majority of the Modoc Aerial Gunnery Range property is currently
part of the Modoc National Forest and is used by ranchers for
grazing cattle. Clear Lake is now a National Wildlife Refuge.
Condemnation proceedings for the Modoc Aerial Gunnery Range were
initiated on 17 November 1943. Through a Complaint in Condemnation,
the Department of Navy requested exclusive use and occupancy of
the Modoc County lands for a term beginning 1 November 1943 and
terminating 31 March 1945. Pursuant to the second War Powers Act,
possession of the lands was taken upon filing of the petition
in condemnation. The area was used as an aerial gunnery range.
In May of 1945 the Navy requested authority to renegotiate all
leases that did not contain clauses for renewal for the period
from 1 November 1945 to 31 March 1946. On 11 January 1946, the
Navy notified the Secretary of the Interior that the property
for Aerial Gunnery Range No. 1 was no longer required for the
purposes requested and the Navy wished to withdraw the request
for a permit. In April 1946, the Navy returned the Clear Lake
land to the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation
and released and abandoned all rights granted to it under the
Agreement. The deactivation date for the Goose Lake Bombing Range
is unknown. This property is known or suspected to contain military
munitions and explosives of concern (e.g., unexploded ordnance)
and therefore may present an explosive hazard.
Source: US Army Corps of Engineers Public FUDS GIS System