37 2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



ture and the Geological Survey of North Carolina. It 

 is a region of about 8,000 square miles in the Southern 

 Appalachian Mountains. A report on this region will 

 soon appear, and it will be particularly interesting 

 because it is the first study of its kind ever made of 

 the southern forests, which are characterized by a 

 great variety and mixture of species. 



A branch of the Geological Survey which has been 

 much concerned with the forests and their preservation 

 is the hydrographic. It is now understood by every- 

 body that the occurrence and control of waters above 

 and below the earth's surface are largely dependent 

 on woodland conditions. The protection of the forests 

 and woodlands is one of the first matters to be consid- 

 ered in any water-supply problem, and the study of 

 the quantity and quality of water available for irriga- 

 tion, power, and domestic and municipal purposes 

 touches the domain of the forester. 



In 1888 the director of the Survey was authorized 

 to investigate the extent to which the arid lands might 

 be reclaimed. Surveys of reservoir sites and of the 

 catchment basins of streams were begun, and it was 

 seen that it would be necessary to withdraw and hold 

 permanently many of the forested areas above the 

 reservoirs at the sources of the rivers. At all times 

 there has been close cooperation between the engineers 

 engaged in studies of water supply and the men inves- 

 tigating the forest reserves. 



Upon the passage of the Reclamation Act of June 

 17, 1902, and the organization of the Reclamation 

 Service as a part of the Geological Survey, the 

 question of the extent and preservation of forest 

 reserves assumed increased importance. The scientific 

 investigations of water supply were supplemented by 

 authority to build great works, and there followed the 



