FOREST RESERVES IX IDAHO. 45 



Practically all of the heacbvaters of the Middle and South Payette 

 rivers and their tributaries, and the Xorth and ^Middle Boise rivers, 

 Tvith a small portion of the headwaters of the South Boise and AVood 

 rivers, is included. 



The proposed area for reservation is rough, and ranges in altitude 

 from 4,000 feet in the lower valleys on the west to over 10,500 feet in 

 the main range of the Sawtooth. There are two main watersheds 

 within the proposed boundaries. On the east side of the mountains 

 a narrow strip makes up a portion of the headwaters of the Middle 

 and South Forks of the Salmon River, which flows northward and 

 eastward to the Snake River. AVithin this area lie the several lakes 

 known as the " Redfish Lakes." From the standpoint of irrigation 

 the waters from this watershed are of no value, as they are not used 

 at any point for irrigation purposes. 



On the western slope of the mountains several streams have their 

 rise, which are very important because of the large areas along their 

 lower courses irrigated by their waters. To the nortliAvard several 

 important tributaries of the Xorth Payette River have their source. 

 In the southern portion almost the entire basins of the Middle and 

 South Payette rivers are included, while in the central and extreme 

 southern parts all of the basins of the Middle and Xorth Boise 

 rivers above their juncture and a large part of the headwaters of 

 the South Boise River. Of the entire area approximately 36 per 

 cent is drained by the several forks of the Payette River, and 58 , 

 per cent by the Boise and its tributaries. These streams are used 

 within the proposed reserve only for placer mining. 



There is a great variety of the pine tree, and the forests of the 

 Sawtooth region can be classified under more than twenty heads, 

 besides such trees and shrubs as cottonwood. alder, willow, birch, 

 hawthorne, and plum. The really important commercial tree of this 

 region, however, is the bull pine, and immense quantities of it have 

 been cut for tim1)er. fuel, and for the development of the mining 

 industry. The trees are often from 4 to 6 feet in diameter and from 

 TO to 90 feet in heio:ht. Thev stow at an altitude from 4.000 to 

 7,000 feet. ^ - ' ^ 



Because of the value of bull pine for lumber, ties, and mining tim- 

 bers, much of the best growth accessible to Boise, Idaho City, and 

 smaller towns has been removed. From 3 to -i per cent of the entire 

 area of the proposed reserve has been removed of its timber to supply 

 the towns and mining camj^s. Rej^roduction of the bull pine is 

 entirely feasible in regions protected from fire and sheep. Such 

 protection will be given under the management of a reserve. There 

 can be no assurance of a reproduction and future supply of timber 

 so much needed for the proper develoj^ment of the mining and agri- 

 cultural industries if this section is left in its present condition. 



The lands in this reserve can be classified as follows: 



Acres. 



Couimei-cial forest 1.315,380 



Woodland (second-growth worthless or stunted species) 3o4. GGO 



Cut-over forests 85,280 



Burned over -. 90,160 



Brush land 1,080 



Open parks 20,500 



Barren rock or snow 48,440 



Cultivated land —_-.„..— ^_^^_^__._. ,_,,,,_^____ 2,320 



