Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located in southwestern Arizona between the city of Yuma and the town of Quartzsite in La Paz and Yuma counties. The Corps of Engineers is investigating and monitoring this area through the Formerly Used Defense Sites, or FUDS Program, for munitions and explosive hazards that may remain from previous military activity. This page provides information on Castle Dome Mountain Ordnance Area, which is part of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge FUDS.
The Castle Dome Mountain Ordnance Area project comprises 8,699 acres. It is located in the western section of Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and was identified as an ordnance dud area. Munitions including small arms ammunition, mortars, general purpose bombs and antitank practice mines are historically known to have been used in this area. Munitions debris consisting of projectile fragmentation, small arms ammunition, a base fuze from a general purpose bomb, a mortar and an anti-tank practice mine fuze have been found during previous inspections. Tank tracks have also been discovered in this area.
Today, the property is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website, more than 80 percent of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is designated as wilderness. It offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy wildlife watching, photography, hiking, camping and limited hunting.
The Corps of Engineers continues to investigate the Castle Dome Mountain Ordnance Area and is planning a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study to determine if additional clearance activities are required.