NATIONAL FOKEST MANUAL GRAZING. 31 



will take the action. Except in emergency cases, closures should be 

 made to take effect at the beginning of the grazing season and out- 

 standing permits allowed to stand through the period granted. 



Forest Protection. 



It is within the authority of the supervisor to close an area to all 

 grazing, to reduce the number of stock allowed upon it, or to prohibit 

 its use by certain classes of stock when the silvicultural needs of the 

 Forest demand it. For instance, sheep may be excluded from a 

 timber-sale area for a certain number of years after cutting ; or, in a 

 year of scarcity of mast, hogs (otherwise permitted) may be excluded 

 from the oak type. Where planting operations are being carried on, 

 it will usually be necessary to exclude all classes of stock. 



If silvical investigations show that grazing is responsible for the 

 scantiness or lack of reproduction over a considerable area, a portion of 

 it may be withdrawn from range use until young growth has become 

 established, several years later another portion, and so on until the 

 whole area has been treated. It is desirable, of course, to secure the 

 welfare of the Forest with the least possible friction or interference 

 with the stock interests. 

 Watershed Protection. 



The watersheds of streams supplying water for irrigation, municipal, 

 or domestic purposes may be closed to the grazing of any or all kinds 

 of domestic stock when necessary to prevent erosion and floods or 

 diminution in water supply. The supervisor should state definitely 

 the character and extent of the benefit to be accomplished and the 

 number of permittees and number of stock to be affected. 



Public Camping Grounds. 



The needs of the traveling public should receive careful considera- 

 tion, and in the division of the range adequate provision should be 

 made for the pasturage of draft, saddle, and pack animals used by 

 persons traveling through the National Forests on business or for re- 

 creation. Camping grounds required for the accommodation of the 

 public may be closed to the grazing of permitted stock if such action 

 is necessary. The supervisor, in submitting recommendations, should 

 state the approximate number of travelers that will use the camp 

 grounds and the number of permittees and permitted stock to be 

 affected by the closure of the area. 

 Game Refuges. 



Upon approval by the district forester, limited areas which are the 

 natural breeding or feeding grounds of game animals or birds may be 

 closed to the grazing of domestic live stock when necessary to protect 

 the game from molestation or extinction. The boundaries of such 

 areas should be plainly marked, and permittees using adjoining ranges 

 should be warned against trespassing on the closed area. 

 Poisonous Plant Warning. 



When any area within a National Forest contains a growth of ;poi- 

 sonous plants in such quantity as to make dangerous its use for grazing 

 and the danger period has been determined, the exterior limits of the 

 area will be posted w r ith warning notices (Form 766) cautioning stock- 

 men against allowing their stock to graze within the area during the 

 time when the poisonous plant is dangerous 



