Historic California Posts, Camps,
Stations and Airfields
Wiley Wells Training Area
(California-Arizona Maneuver Area/Desert
Training Center)
On 11 September 1943, the War Department
acquired 480.43 acres through permits from three private parties.
On 13 December 1943, 26,403.81 acres were acquired by Use Permit
from the Department of the Interior. An additional 1,120.00 acres
were acquired by lease from the state of California (exact date
unknown), bringing the total to 28,004.24 acres.
The U.S. Army used the property for training as part of the California-Arizona
Maneuver Area. No permanent structures or facilities are known
to have been constructed on the site for this purpose.
On 5 June 1944, leases for 1,120.00 acres
with the State of California and permits for 320.43 acres with
private parties were terminated. On June 15, 1944, a permit for
160.00 acres was terminated with a private party. On February
7, 1945, 26,403.81 acres were relinquished to the Department
of the Interior, bringing the total disposition to 28,004.24
acres.
Currently the land is owned by the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM), the State of California and several
private parties. The BLM maintains two campgrounds. The State
of California constructed Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in
1987. Of the 1735 acres associated with the prison, approximately
960 acres are part of the subject site.
Location: Wiley Wells Water Point is located
in southeast Riverside County, California. It is approximately
12 miles west of Ripley, California, south of Interstate 10 and
immediately north of the Imperial County line. The site includes
parts of sections 1, 5, 9, 16, 17, 18, 22, 24, 27, 31, 36 and
all of sections 33, 34 and 35 of T.7S., R.20E. and all of T.8S.
R.20E.
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