Forest Resources 0/ the Pacific Northwest 



45 



uses are highly important. Those city watersheds, from 

 which it may seem advisable to bar all commercial cut- 

 ting, occupy in the aggregate an infinitesimal part of the 

 forest area. From the standpoint of irrigation and water 

 power, logging operations ma}' have a transiently detri- 

 mental effect, but imder sustauied-yield forest manage- 

 ment, the area logged in any 1 year is but a very small 

 percentage of the whole unit which is imder manage- 

 ment, and care is taken that the vegetative cover be 

 promptly restored. Under a policy of rapid li(jiiidation, 

 the disturbance of the forest cover may be more highly 

 concentrated and prolonged. However, the most serious 

 effects are imdoubtetllj^ caused by fire. In general, then, 

 adequate protection of watershed values is a byproduct 

 of forest manngement. 



Recreation 



The forest lands of the Region are also of high impor- 

 tance as recreational areas. In their very nature, forests 

 are favorite resorts not only of the Inmter and tlie fisher- 

 man, but of the nature lover who is mcrelj' seeking a 

 beautiful spot for camping or picnicking. The regional 

 forests are exceptionally attractive in their diversity. 

 The open, parklike stands of ponderosa pine contrast 

 sharply with the dense, dark forests of Douglas fir and 

 with the broken and diversified timber of the higher 

 mountains. The rugged mountaui peaks of the Region 

 characteristically have their lower slopes covered with 

 forests, within which are innumerable swift streams and 

 quiet lakes. 



The value of the forests for recreational use cannot be 

 expressed in commercial terms, although there is, un- 

 doubtedly, a large economic return to the Region. They 

 are the playground of the Region, although their beau- 

 ties are enjoj'ed by large niunbers who come each year 

 from every State of the Union. 



Certain areas of outstanding scenic beauty have been 

 set aside as national parks. These are Glacier National 

 Park in Montana; Ramier, in Washington; and Crater 

 Lake, in Oregon. These parks have been intensively 

 develoiied for tourist use, with excellent hotels and other 

 facilities. They are visited annually by some 700,000 

 people, and this number is rapidly hicreasing from year 

 to year. 



Other areas of unusual beauty or interest have been 

 set aside as national monuments and many of these are 

 foresteil. The only large national monument within the 

 four States is that which includes the central nniss of the 

 Olympic Mountains, in Washington. Commercial de- 

 velopment is carefully regulated on such an area in order 

 that its scenic beauty may be unharmed. 



Still other areas, within the national forests, have been 

 set aside as primitive areas. The aggregate area so set 

 aside is about 7,000,000 acres. 



By no means all of the beautiful portions of the 



Region's forests, however, have been thus set aside as 

 parks, monuments, or primitive areas. Throughout 

 the four States the forest land contains countless spots 

 which, through their charm, attract milhons of recrea- 

 tionists. The Forest Service has developed a great 

 many of these areas along lines which correlate enjoy- 

 ment of hunting, fishing, and the scenery itself, along 

 with the commercial uses. Sites for summer homes or 

 resorts can be leased at reasonable rates, and camp 

 grounds and picnic grounds have been prepared for the 

 convenience of the visitor. Estimates by the Forest 

 Service indicate that there are over 3 million visitors 

 to the Region's national forests each year, classified as 

 follows : 



Summer home permittees and their guests 100, 000 



Hotel and resort guests 375, 000 



Campers 710, 000 



Picnickers 1, 100, 000 



Other 1, 100,000 



Total 3, 385, 000 



This is on the national forests alone, which, it will be 

 remembered, include only about half of the forest area 

 of the Region. If statistics were available for the 

 private land, their inclusion would greatly increase the 

 foregoing figures. 



The segregation of exceptional areas for exclusively 

 recreational use suggests that there is some conflict 

 between this and commercial lumbering, and grazing. 

 It is easy to exaggerate this conflict. The immediate 

 effect of the logging operation is to make the land 

 unsightly, but under proper forestry practices, the 

 unsightly condition lasts but a few years. Particularly 

 if sustained-yield management is put into effect, the 

 proportion of the area cut in any year is exceedingly 

 small and the proportion which is unsightly at any 

 given tune will be unimportant. 



Fish and Game 



Much of the recreational use of the Region's forest 

 land is in connection with the opportunities for hunting 

 and fishing which these lands afford. Judging by the 

 number of game licenses issued, about 1 out of every 

 10 of the inhabitants of the 4 States participates in 

 these sports, many vsirietics of which are to be found 

 at their best on forest land. 



While accurate figures on the wildlife ijopulation of 

 all the area are obviously unobtainable, rough estimates 

 have been compiled for the national forests. For the 

 Region, these estimates arc as follows: 



Deer - -- 275,000 



Elk -- 58,000 



Moose - 2, 000 



Goats.-.- 13, 000 



Sheep i. 000 



Kear - 24. OOP 



Total--- - 37C>, 000 



