44 



National Resources Committee 



obstacles and for the creation of conditions more favor- 

 able to the application of this form of management on 

 private lands. There are substantial advantages therein 

 for the private owner, as well as for the public. These 

 advantages, when the obstacles have been removed, 

 and when more favorable conditions have been created, 

 will strongly promote the application of sustained yield. 



Uses of Forests Other Than for 



the Production of Commercial Timber 



There are many other uses of forest lands besides 

 those connected with production of lumber and other 

 forms of wood. The lumber, pulp, and other allied 

 industries are of primary importance to the Region as 

 a whole, but there are manj^ localities within the Region 

 where they are imimportant and in which such other 

 benefits as grazing, recreation, etc., may be of far greater 

 consequence. In still other parts, two or more of the 

 various possible uses may be of more or less equal 

 imi)ortance. 



Grazing 



Beneath the more open forests of the pine region grow 

 many grasses and other species of forage plants. This 

 forage makes these forest lands of great importance to 

 the hvestock industry. 



This is one of the most important industries of the 

 Pacific Northwest. There are about 3,300,000 cattle 

 and 8,200,000 sheep in the four States. The aggregate 

 value of all the Hvestock is over $200,000,000. The 

 quality of this stock is generally excellent. The well- 

 bred herds of range cattle produce beef animals of liigh 

 grade and the Region's mutton lambs are recognized by 

 buyers as the best the coimtry jjroduces. 



The range livestock industry produced an annual 

 income in 1930 (the last year for wluch estimates are 

 available) of $84,000,000. In many counties it was the 

 primary source of income, and in certain comities it 

 amounted to as much as 55 percent of the total gross 

 agricultural income. 



The area devoted to grazing is 170 million acres for 

 the four States, or 68 percent of the total area of the 

 Region. It is concentrated in the pine region of eastern 

 Oregon and Washington, of southern Idaho, and of 

 eastern Montana. In eastern Oregon and Washington 

 87 percent of the entire area is grazed by livestock. 



The smnmer range of the livestock is within or imme- 

 diately adjacent to the forests. As these are at the 

 higher altitudes, the forage is buried in snow during the 

 winter, early spring, and late fall. Spring and fall 

 grazing must, therefore, be found at lower altitudes, 

 while winter feed must be provided on aftermath and 

 other pasture lands in the valleys. The aggregate area 

 of the summer range is 78 million acres, or about 47 

 percent of the grazing area, while the spring and fall 

 range is 44 percent and the winter range about 9 per- 



cent. The ability of any given locality to produce range 

 livestock efficiently is dependent in large measure upon 

 the availability of these different seasonal classes of 

 range. Quite often, especially in eastern Oregon, most 

 efficient production is limited by shortage of forest 

 summer range. 



The lease of grazing privileges provides, in nuiny 

 localities, a supplemental income to the timber-land 

 owner which is often sufficient to pay the current taxes 

 and a part of the other carrying charges. In a measure, 

 therefore, it relieves the pressure foi' early liquidation of 

 timber values. 



Wliile the growing of timber and the grazing of range 

 livestock can be carried on simultaiu^ously and har- 

 moniously on the same forest land, dense forests contain 

 less forage than do the more open stands. Where 

 foi'cst range controls the extent of the livestock industry, 

 carefid planning is necessary to harmonize the interests 

 of the two industries, and to secure the maximum com- 

 bined benefits to the public welfare. 



Watershed Protection 



Most of the streams of the Region have their sources 

 in forest land. The effects of forest cover on stream 

 flow are so complex that accurate predictions of the 

 results of a removal of forest cover are impossible. It 

 is clear, however, that radical changes in the amount 

 and kind of vegetation on the catchment basms of the 

 streams will disturb the run-off either in total quantity, 

 in height of flood water, in distribution of flow through 

 the year, in quantity of silt carried, or in some com- 

 binations of these. 



A substantial part of the Region has a semiarid 

 climate. In 1930, after some 50 years of development, 

 nearly 5 million acres had been put under iirigation 

 projects with over $200,000,000 invested in irrigation 

 works. Large additional developments are contem- 

 plated. Any disturbances in the flow of the streams 

 furnishing water to these lands may cause heavy econ- 

 omic losses. 



Other parts of the Region have a very heavy annual 

 precipitation. Steep stream gradients and the mag- 

 nificent possibilities of the Columbia River itself, which 

 are now being partially developed through the Bonne- 

 ville and Grand Coulee Dams, make the Region excep- 

 tionally rich in water-power possibilities. Well-regu- 

 lated streams, carrying a minimum quantity of the silt, 

 which eventually may destroj^ expensive water storage 

 facilities, are highly important. 



Most of the cities and towns of the Region derive 

 their water for domestic use from streams originating on 

 forest lands, and are justly proud of its quality. 



There is little conflict between the interests of the 

 water users and of the consumers of the wood products 

 of the forests, even in the parts of the Region where both 



