ADMINISTRATION 65 



such an immense area is capable of growing at least 

 three-quarters of a billion feet of timber annually. 

 It was recently estimated that the timberlands on 

 the National Forests are producing between five 

 and -six billion feet of lumber annually by growth. 

 The complete restocking of the areas now denuded 

 or sparsely timbered will increase the annual pro- 

 duction of wood at least 25 per cent., an item 

 certainly worth considering. 



Reforestation and Water Supply. Even more 

 important than the value of the timber which is lost 

 annually is the part which these large areas play in 

 the conservation of water supply. Most of this 

 area is on the watersheds of western streams and 

 rivers and the fact that it is denuded is a dangerous 

 menace to the equable flow of the rivers which drain 

 those areas. The National Forests contain over 

 1,175 watersheds which supply many municipalities, 

 324 water-power projects, and 1,266 irrigation 

 projects, aside from many other outside power and 

 irrigation projects which are fed by watersheds 

 within the Forests. The cities of Salt Lake City, 

 Utah; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; 

 Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, all de- 

 rive their municipal water supply from streams aris- 



