HETCH HETCHY TIMBER AFFECTED 



SPECIAL investigations by the the Cathedral Basin around Toulumne 



experts of the Department of Peak to the Toulumne Meadows were 



Agriculture have shown that as carefully cruised for the location and 



much as 95 per cent of the marking of the particular trees, in the 



timber in some of the canyons and val- bark of which the broods of the destruc- 



leys of the Toulumne River, which is to tive beetle had passed the winter. Two 



supply the water for the Hetch Hetchy areas representing centers of infesta- 



project, has been killed by bark-boring tion were thus located and designated 



insects. one as the Tenaya Project, the other 



The areas in which practically all of as the Cathedral Project, 

 the timber has been killed, some of it Control work was started on the 

 many years ago, are Jack Main Canyon Tenaya Project on July 1, and finished 

 and Matterhorn Cznyon. It was found when the beetles began to emerge from 

 that the forest growth of the entire the bark on July 24th. Work on the 

 watershed was more or less affected, Cathedral Project was started on Sep- 

 and that the dustructive insects were tember 8th, after the beetles coming 

 killing a great amount of timber from from the overwinter broods had en- 

 near Tenaya Lake through the forests tered the bark of the living trees, and 

 surrounding Toulumne Meadows to and was completed on October 7th. 

 through Virginia Canyon. The method recommended and fol- 



This alarming condition, affecting as lowed was to fell the infested trees, lop 

 it did the scenic beauty of the area off the limbs, pile them on the prostrate 

 north of the Yosemite Valley and its trunk, and set fire to it; thus the in- 

 consequent effect on the water supply fested bark was scorched or burned to 

 and general economy of the Hetch a sufficient extent to kill the broods of 

 Hetchy project, presented a problem of the insects. The trees thus treated 

 great importance. ranged in diameter from 6 inches to 54 



As soon as the matter was called to inches, with the average of about 22 Yi 



the attention of the Secretary of the inches. 



Interior in the fall of 1912, he appealed One thousand, six hundred and sev- 



to the Secretary of Agriculture for such enty-one trees were treated in the two 



advice and assistance as his Department projects, at a cost of $1,158, including 



could render through the expert who all expenses except the salaries of two 



has charge of the forest insect branch of representatives of the Bureau of Ento- 



the Bureau of Entamology. mology who directed and assisted in 



The matter received the required the work. 



prompt attention and arrangements It is claimed that this work, with an 



were soon made for active warfare additional expenditure of about $500 



against the depredating beetle. A plan next season, will be sufficient to bring 



of procedure was outlined by the the beetle under such control that very 



expert and recommended by the Secre- little attention will be required to pro- 



tary of Agriculture to the Secretary of tect the remaining living timber from 



the Interior. According to the plan, further serious injury. Both, this and 



the Interior Department was to allot an infestation in the timber around the 



the required funds, the control work to rim of the Yosemite Valley will receive 



be carried on under the immediate the required attention next season, 



supervision of an entomological assist- The Interior Department has expressed 



ant of the Bureau of Entomology. This a determination to prosecute a warfare 



plan was adopted and the work was against the depredations of insects in 



started just as soon as the weather con- the Yosemite and Glacier National 



ditions permitted in June, 1913. Parks to the limit of the funds available 



The areas near Tenaya Lake and in for the purpose. 



150 



