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| San Clemente Island |
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The cornerstone of realistic tactical training on the West Coast!
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San Clemente Island (SCI) is the sourthernmost of eight channel islands in the Pacific Ocean
off the southern California coast. Located about 75 miles northwest of San Diego, the island
is about 21 miles long and 56 square miles in size. The Navy has owned and trained at San
Clemente Island since 1934. The island's physical characteristics, topography, and land
variations make it ideal for tactical training. Its surrounding waters and auxiliary landing
field support both research and operational training for ships & aircraft of the Pacific Fleet.
The closeness of SCI to the San Diego homeport means less time at sea, more effective use of
steaming time, thus saving taxpayers dollars.
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| THE NAVY'S CHALLENGE... |
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Conduct Vital Naval Training Operations and Provide for Natural Resources Conservation!
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SCIRC Hosts Land, Sea, and Air Training Operations
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The San Clemente Island Range Complex (SCIRC) is the center of the Pacific Fleet's primary training area.
The land, air, and sea ranges provide the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and other military services space
and facilities which are used to conduct readiness training, research, development, test and evaluation
activities. Allied forces and non-DOD agencies like the Immigration and Naturalization Service also train
at SCIRC.
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| SCI is considered the most environmentally distinct
coastal island owned by the United States. |
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The endangered San Clemente loggerhead shrike
Lanius ludovicianus meamsi
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The San Clemente loggerhead shrike is one of the rarest birds in North America. A sub-species of the more
widespread loggerhead shrike, it lives only on San Clemente Island. The Navy initiated a recovery effort
in 1991 in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Fish and Game, and
the San Diego Zoo. This year additional partnerships have been formed with the Institute for Wildlife
Studies and the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Currently there are 49+ people working on the shrike recovery
program. At Stone Field Station, shrikes are incubated and reared for release back into the wild.
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| San Clemente Island Range Complex is
a safe place to conduct live fire training on the West Coast! |
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Realistic training in a martime environment is essential to ensure survival of American
Forces in combat. The San Clemente Island Range Complex is ideal for such training due
to it's remote location from populated areas.
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The southern end of SCI is designated as the Shore Bombardment Area (SHOBA) shown in red
on this map. This is the target area for both aircraft and ship board armaments. SCI is
the safest place to conduct such training.
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| Over 7600 archaeological sites exist on SCI. |
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Archaeological data indicate the presence of a maritime-oriented hunter-gatherer population on SCI as
far back as 9000 years ago. Occupation continued through the early historic period (ca. 1820). Only a
relatively small percentage of the known sites have been excavated uncovering many ancient artifacts.
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| San Clemente Island |
| Endandered and Threatened
species call it home. |
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The San Clemente Sage Sparrow, a federally listed threatened species found on SCI inhabits the maritime succulent
shrub habitat along the island's west shore area between Whale Point and Lost Point.
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NALF San Clemente Island harbors more endangered species than most states, with six plants, three
birds, as well as the Island Night Lizard shown above.
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The Island Fox, certainly the favorite of the animals occurring on San Clemente Island, is the
smaller cousin of the mainland gray fox, and is a state listed rare species. There are approximately
800 foxes currently residing on SCI.
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This western snowy plover chick is another of the threatened species found on the island. Plovers
make their nest on SCI's sandy beaches.
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