14 Department Circular 318, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



places, yet even some of the " lakes " along this road become mere 

 pools of warm, unpleasant water in midsummer. Experienced 

 campers may, however, take interesting pack trips into this forest 

 in spring and fall, when Avater is available. 



THE PRESCOTT NATIONAL FOREST 



(In Yavapai County) 



Lying in two divisions east and west of the town of Prescott 

 (named in honor of tiie great historian), from which it takes its 

 name, is the Prescott National Forest. It contains a total gross area 

 of 1,365,169 acres and its headquarters is in Prescott. 



The Prescott National Forest is primarily a watershed-protection 

 forest which contains very little saw timber. There is, however, an 

 immense area of pinon, juniper, and oak woodland which is of con- 

 sedirable importance as a local fuel supply. At one time there was 



^^ 'feb^ '^-io^' 



Fig. 8. — Cliff dwellings as well as other wonders abound on the Arizona forests 



more timber, but much of it was cut for mining purposes before the 

 creation of the forest. The cut-over areas now contain excellent 

 stands of young timber which will later produce lumber. The 

 present stand of merchantable timber is estimated at 180,000,000 feet 

 of saw timber and over 2,000,000 cords of fuel wood. Its timber- 

 sale business provides timber entirely for local consumption and 

 during 1923 amounted to 1,523,000 feet. 



Most of the forest is upon the watershed of the Verde River, the 

 waters of which are used to irrigate large areas of farm land. It is 

 important, therefore, that this watershed be protected, in order that 

 floods may be minimized and the streamflow regulated. Under 

 Forest Service administration protection is assured. 



The Prescott National Forest supports a well-developed livestock 

 industry. Upon its ranges graze annually about 52,000 cattle and 

 49,000 sheep, which are owned by 199 permittees. Many of the 

 sheep which graze on the northern forests of the State during the 



