on the National Forests. Approximately 1.8 million acres of range- 

 lands and 9.1 million acres of timberlands would be treated in this 

 period. Control would be limited to those rodents for which economi- 

 cal means of control are known. 



Roads and Trails 



The transportation system which serves the National Forests is a 

 complex of highways and access roads and trails under various owner- 

 ships and jurisdictions. This system is divided into a forest highway 

 system, administered by the Secretary of Commerce, and a forest 

 development road and trail system, administered by the Secretary of 

 Agriculture. Both of these systems are essential for the production, 

 development, and use of the National Forests. 



In the forest highway system, there are now 24,400 miles of public 

 roads. These are mostly through highways that carry traffic going 

 from one destination to another. Because administration of the forest 

 highway system is a responsibility of the Secretary of Commerce with 

 maintenance provided by the States and counties, this Development 

 Program for the National Forests does not include estimates of the 

 funds needed to maintain the forest highway system nor to construct 

 the additions to its that are needed. It is estimated that about 70,000 

 miles of forest highways will eventually be needed to fully serve the 

 National Forests. 



In the forest development road and trail system, there are now 

 162,400 miles of roads and 106,500 miles of supplemental foot and 

 horse trails. These roads are largely of less than highway standards, 

 and usually carry traffic which is related to use of the National Forests. 

 Construction and maintenance of this system is a responsibility of the 

 Secretary of Agriculture. It is estimated that about 542,250 miles of 

 forest development roads, and 80,000 miles of trails, constitute the 

 system that will eventually be needed to obtain the maximum prac- 

 ticable yield and use of the wood, water, forage, and wildlife and rec- 

 reation resources of the National Forests on a continuing basis. 



The ultimate trail system will be of value primarily for recreation 

 and wildlife utilization and fire protection. It will be carefully 

 planned to maintain optimum service to these important resources and 

 watersheds. 



The presence or lack of access by road or trail has a direct and con- 

 trolling influence on all phases of forest management and utilization 

 such as: 



(a) the protection of forage, timber, and wildlife resources from 

 fire, insects, and disease ; 



(b) the balanced use of recreation, hunting, and fishing areas; 



(c) the volume of timber that can be marketed, especially for 

 small sales and the support of dependent communities and 

 small business enterprises; 



(d) the level of salvage ending in dead and dying timber stands 

 and the opportunity to promptly salvage losses resulting 

 from fire, windstorm, insects, and disease; 



(e) the protection of watershed lands from erosion and oxer- 

 grazing by animals. 



The existence of road systems permits an intensity of management 

 and use for all National Forest purposes that is not otherwise pos- 



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