24 MISC. PUBLICATIOIT 11, U. S. DEPT. OF AGEICULTUEE 



OWNEESHIP OF TIMBEE 



With the exception of a small amount of timber on homestead patents, and 

 some on mining patents, the entire volume is owned by the United States. The 

 patented timber is so scattered that it will not influence the management of 

 the national forest timber. 



PEEYIOUS CUTTING 



Most of the timber cat within the Harney forest in past years has come 

 from the Custer circle. The earliest cutting, done when Custer was first 

 settled after the discovery of gold in 1874. was in the immediate vicinity of 

 the town. Since that day cutting has been almost continuous, although the 

 cut was small between about 1890 and 1920. The earlier operators removed 

 only the very best of the timber and it has been possible to make second and 

 even third cuts on the same areas. Some of the stands are still good producing 

 forests. 



PUEPOSES OF THIS PLAN 



The purposes of this plan are: 



1. To bring together all available forest data necessary to construct and 

 make workable a program that will insure a sustained yield of timber for 

 the circle. 



2. To deteiTnine what area and volume can be cut, and the time and place 

 of cutting, to put the area on a sustained yield basis, insure the best use of 

 the forest, and best serve the interests of the Government. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKING CIRCLE 



TOPOGEAPHIC FEATTJEES 



Location. — The Custer working circle includes those areas within the Harney 

 National Forest drained by French Creek, Hell Canyon, Pass Creek, Hawk- 

 wright Creek, Pleasant Valley Creek. Carrol Creek, Cold Brook Creek. Willow 

 Creek, Flynn Creek, and Beaver Creek. The circle boundaries are defined by 

 topographic features and surveyed forest boundary lines. All or parts of the 

 following townships are included : 



T. 2 S., R. 2, 3, 4, 5 E., B. H. M. 



T. 3 S., R. 2, 3, 4, 5 E., B. H. M. 



T. 4 S., R. 2, 3, 4, 5 E., B. H. M. 



T. 5 S., R. 2, 3, 4, 5 E., B. H. M. 



The map accompanying this plan shows the location of the circle more 

 definitely. 



Acreage. — The total area of national forest land within the circle is 194,381 

 acres. Of this area, 167.258 acres are classified as accessible forest-producing 

 land; 394 acres are classified as forest-producing land inaccessible for logging; 

 and 26,729 acres are nontimbered. 



Topography. — Six of the 10 creeks listed under "Location" fiow to the 

 south, joining other streams outside the forest boundary. Willow Creek fiows 

 south, but into French Creek which, together with Flynn and Beaver Creeks, 

 fiows east and southeast. The circle is, therefore, in general a slope to the 

 south and east. 



East of Pleasant Valley the country is characterized by high ridges with 

 steep slopes, and narrow relatively fiat valleys in between. From Pleansant Val- 

 ley west, the limestone formation gives a country with relatively broad, fiat- 

 topped ridges, and narrow canyons with steep sides and usually with some 

 rimrock. This is referred to locally as the "limestone." In all of the circle 

 many side draws branch from each main draw. Pleasant Valley is a wide fiat 

 valley, but the side draws are of the canyon type common to the limestone 

 region. The country in the immediate vicinity of Custer is rolling, with rock 

 outcrop on the highest points. 



The elevation ranges from slightly over 4.000 feet on the south side of the 

 circle to over 6,000 feet in several places on the north side. The elevation at 

 Custer is slightly over 5,300 feet. Pringle is about 4,800 feet. 



I 



