Historic, archived document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. '3 ¥ DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 240 The National Forests otf New Mexico UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Washington, D. C. Issued October, 1922 WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1922 . aa Co “ hae — ™ 4 ona b> % *; 7, ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM | THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE _ WASHINGTON, D. C. AT 5 CENTS PER COPY 4 tes Serie THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF NEW MEXICO. CONTENTS. Page. |! Page. PAPO CUCTION 51 = 5s Fe Te RE - 3 | The Lincoln National Forest_____~" 15 The Carson National Forest______£ 10 | The Manzano National Forest____<= 17 The Datil National Forest_______S_ 12 ceeThesSanta’ He National: Horesizj 26 19 @he-Gila National Forest___ = 14 | The Coronado National Forest ____= 21 INTRODUCTION. Y MANY who are not acquainted with the State, New Mexico, the land of sunshine, is thought to be a large desert. As a matter of fact, nearly one-fifth of its area is covered with forest. To be sure, more than half the forested part is pifon and juniper, and these, because they grow on arid soil, are composed of short, Fic. 1.—Western yellow pine, the most important saw-timber tree of New Mexico. limby trees of no value as saw timber. The stands are, however, located near the-more densely settled sections of the State and for _ that reason are extensively used for fuel, fence posts, and mine _ props. The forests that yield saw timber cover about 54 million acres and are restricted to the mountains where rainfall is more _ abundant than at the lower elevations. (Fig. 1.) 3 4 Department Circular 240, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. Even before New Mexico became a part of the United States, large areas of its forests had passed into private hands through grants by the Spanish Crown and the Mexican Government. Most of these grants were later confirmed by our own Congress. Except where © homesteaders settled or where claims were taken up under the timber and stone act or other acts of Congress, the remainder of these forest areas continued in the public domain. From those pri- — vate lands that were accessible the timber was stripped with no ~ thought of a future supply (Fig. 2); and because grazing was un- — regulated on the public domain, competition there resulted in the ~ overgrazing of the most desirable areas. Fic. 2.—Heavy slash left after clear cutting en private land, with no provision for growing more timber. The cut-over area is a real fire trap. Contrast with regulated cutting on National Forest (Fig, 3). i‘. These conditions were not peculiar to New ‘Mexico; they were | : found throughout the West. In California and the Nor thwest great ° bodies of timber were being destroyed by fire and by destructive log-_ 4 ging. Congress finally recognized the need for protecting from de-_ struction the remaining timber on the public domain and for insur-— ing a regular flow of water in the streams that rise in those regions. Therefore, in 1891, Congress authorized the President to set aside — forest reserves and the first one was created by President Harrison, Later these reserves came to be known as National Forests, and they are now administered by the Forest Service, a bureau of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. The National Forests of New Mexico. 5 There are now six National Forests in New Mexico. They com- prise a gross area of approximately 95 million acres, not counting the Coronado National Forest, a small part, of which is in New Mex- ico and the remainder in Arizona. These six Forests bear a timber stand of 15,000,000,000 board feet of saw timber and other forest products. They provide a permanent lumber industry for that region; they supply material needed in the development of ranches, farms, and cities; they add stability to the live-stock industry. They also promote the development of facilities for transportation and communication on the forest areas. Furthermore, by means of the Fic..3.—Under Forest Service regulations the Jumberman leaves the young thrifty trees for future growth and some older trees to furnish seed. Brush is lopped and scattered or piled and burned. Brush piles shown are to be burned. receipts derived from their administration, they contribute to the road and school funds of the counties in which they are situated. Mining, agriculture, grazing, and all other uses of the forest areas not incompatible with their primary purpose are encouraged. The New Mexico National Forests, under forest management, are estimated to have a present annual productive capacity of about 80,000,000 board feet of lumber, sufficient to build each year 8,000 homes for the people of New Mexico. With the development of better methods of forest management, a considerable increase in the annual production may be confidently expected. (Fig. 3.) The - production of a continuous timber supply through the practice of 6 Department Circular 240, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. forestry on the national forests will add stability to the lumber industry and this in turn will aid the prosperity of the State. The location of the New Mexico National Forests on the water- sheds of the most important streams of the State has a marked effect upon the prosperity of its irrigated valleys. Much of the water for the important Elephant Butte, Carlsbad, Rio Hondo, and Eagles Nest projects comes from the National Forests and most irrigated farms on smaller streams are entirely dependent upon waters from these watersheds. Denuding these Forests of their timber and grass would be followed by a rapid run-off of the fallen water, and this would result in floods and the silting of the reservoirs used for irrigation. (Fig. 4.) It is the plan of the Government, Fic. 4.—Deforestation and over-grazing cause erosion with resultant floods and silting of irrigation reservoirs. National Forest control prevents this. therefore, not only to keep the Forests continuously productive and to handle their timber and other resources for the benefit of the people, but also to care for the irrigation interests of the State. Because fire is the greatest enemy of the forests of New Mexico it is also the greatest enemy of the timber and water supply. Be- fore the National Forests were created, forest fires annually de- stroyed millions of feet of timber in the State. Now, however, with a system of lookout towers, telephone lines, and trails, the forest rangers are enabled to detect and reach fires very quickly. Con- sequently over 80 per cent of these fires are extinguished before they Ra Leet te F The National Forests of New Mevxico. yi have covered 10 acres. In spite of the fire protection organization of the Forest Service, however, there is an average of nearly 200 fires each year on the National Forests of New Mexico. These fires burn over about 12,500 acres annually and damage the timber and grazing Fic. 5.—About 428,000 sheep ard goats graze on New Mexico’s National Forests. resources to the amount of $8,000. One-third of these fires are _ started by lightning and are unavoidable; but, as two-thirds of them are the result of the carelessness of man, there is an excellent op- portunity for reducing the annual loss, provided extreme care with _ fires is exercised by all users of the Forests. _ The Forest ranges of New Mexico are a large factor in the live- stock industry of the State. About 178,000 head of cattle and horses BPic. 6.—High mountain summer range. The National Forests of New Mexico provide range for about 178,000 cattle and horses. “and 428,000 head of sheep and goats,are grazed annually on the Na- tional Pores within its borders. (Figs.5and6.) The purpose of the erazing regulations of the Forest Service is to produce an equitable distribution of grazing privileges and a permanent grazing industry. In the application of these regulations the interests of the small 8 Department Circular 240, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. stockmen are amply protected. Sound principles of range manage- — ment, the result of many years of intensive study, are being put into © effect on the National Forests. The carrying capacity of the differ- ent ranges is being closely approximated; although the ranges are fully utilized, they are not overgrazed. A better distribution of - stock is being secured through improved methods of salting, the development of watering places, and the construction of drift fences. — Hitherto inaccessible country is being opened up to grazing by the construction of stock trails and other improvements, and ranges are being used by the kind of stock best suited to them. The forest ranges are improving under this system, and their regulated use will — not interfere with the production of future crops of timber. Prospecting for minerals on the National Forests may be carried on under the Federal mining laws with no more restrictions than on | the public domain. The same thing is true about the establishing — of mining claims after the discovery of ore. A number of New — Mexico’s largest mines are located on or near the National Forests and are dependent upon them for timbers, lumber, and fuel. The — use of forest resources for the development of local industries is especially encouraged and applications for the sale of timber for — local consumption are given a preference over those for the general — market. | It has been the policy of the Department of Agriculture to en- courage the homesteading of any agricultural lands within the for- ests, and consequently many persons live upon and cultivate home- steads therein. In order to segregate these lands from the strictly forest lands, the Government several years ago completed a classifica- tion of all the National Forests. The lands that were designated — as agricultural as a result of this examination may pass into pri-— vate hands under the forest homestead laws. Most of these lands, — however, have already been taken up, and there is now little oppor- tunity for homesteading. Homesteaders on the Forests may graze a restricted number of work and milk stock free. They may also obtain without charge certain classes of timber for fuel and for the development of their homesteads. In addition they are allowed grazing privileges commensurable with the number of stock the homestead will support for the time of the year the stock are not on the National Forest. The Forest Service is rapidly improving transportation and com- munication facilities on the New Mexico National Forests. It has built 1,347 miles of telephone lines, 200 miles of roads, an¢ 1,450 miles of trails to promote the administration and protection of the forest areas. The annual receipts from the New Mexico National Forests are about $300,000, and of this amount 25 per cent, or $75,000, The National Forests of New Mexico. Bits) is turned into the county funds for the roads and schools. Ten per cent of the total receipts have been by law made available to the Forest Service for use in constructing additional roads and trails, and this fund now amounts to about $30,000 per year. As the re- ceipts steadily increase, these funds which accrue directly to the benefit of the State, will correspondingly increase from year to year. The National Forests of New Mexico offer great business oppor- tunities to lumbermen and stockmen who are seeking locations for their business. As the general development of the State takes place, new bodies of timber are becoming marketable, and about these the Forest Service furnishes information to prospective pur- chasers. On some of the New Mexico National Forests there are still areas of excellent summer range for the use of which the Forest Service can issue grazing permits to settlers who meet the require- ments of the regulations governing the allotment of grazing privi- leges. In addition to their economic resources, the New Mexico National Forests have a large and increasing value in the attractions they offer to travelers, sportsmen, and health seekers and in their in- creasing popularity with the people of New Mexico and adjacent | States for purposes of recreation. The value of the Forests for travel, sport, and other recreation is largely dependent on a proper preserva- tion of their scenic beauty, on the development of roads and trails to make them accessible to the public, on the protection of their historical and archeological monuments and ruins, and on the con- servation of their fish and game. It is the definite policy of the Forest Service to accomplish these ends and to encourage the full use of the Forests for purposes of recreation and public health. _ Because the railroads pass along the lower levels of the country, many people are unaware of the delightful climate, the extraordi- nary scenery, the wealth of historical and archelogical interest, and the facilities for sport, rest, and recreation which are offered to them in the mountains of New Mexico. (Fig. 7.) Persons wno may wish to construct summer homes may receive long-term permits to build upon small but attractive locations in _ the National Forests. These permits are issued at reasonable annual charges. Those, however, who desire merely to camp in the Forests “may do so without charge or restriction. They are required only to be careful with fires and to leave clean camp grounds upon their departure. In some localities public camp grounds with fireplaces’ and other facilities have been set aside for their convenience. There will doubtless be a growing appreciation of the possibilities of the ~ New Mexico National Forests as a summer playground. With the _ steady development of their economic resources, they will contribute an increasing share to the well-being and prosperity of the State. feng 22-2 10 Department Circular 240, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. The National Forests of New Mexico are under the supervision of the district forester, whose headquarters is at Albuquerque. (Fig. 8.) The administration of each Forest is in the hands of a forest supervisor under whom a number of forest rangers are em- Fic. 7.—Among the pines and the spruces of New Mexico’s National Forests, thousands . of campers each summer find relief from the heat of the surrounding valleys. Permits may be obtained to erect summer homes on the Forests. ployed. To persons who may desire it, supervisors will be glad to give detailed information about their respective Forests. THE CARSON NATIONAL FOREST. (In Rio Arriba and Taos Counties.) Situated in the extreme north-central part of New Mexico and -embracing a gross area of 925,301 acres, the Carson National Forest more closely resembles the mountainous regions of Colorado than the topography of New Mexico and Arizona. The Forest area lies in four divisions, known as the Amarilla, Taos, Picuris, and Jica- rilla divisions, and the administrative headquarters is at the his- torical town of Taos, once the home of the famous scout and pioneer, Kit Carson, after whom the Forest is named. The Carson National Forest is an area of large economic im- portance and of intense and varied interest. Its comparatively ample rainfall and heavy winter snows give rise to many streams, which form a part of the headwaters of the Rio Grande and San Juan Rivers, and its watersheds accordingly bear an important rela- \ . _ a 4 “_ VN ; i ae fe : cle ees | Aa beim \ WK KK NEW at jae 7 \ a SAW ra) oc ) ee ; ea UG. z SG i!) fad = yO A®} W) 2 ee x2 © Ze Or O60 Br {uJ lu @ oe OR er =) re) © ul) OD wO w) a temo 08) x rere Oo ~wtaZzu =7 < ae Wet a4 =p es OO © Onsale QneEkOL ' g } \ ~— eo es SIE Zz ee? Cae 4 Se ee ee re ce SS CEE eee ene apo See SJA Soe N~T“NWATER-SHED BOUNDARIES Fic. 8.—National Forests of New Mexico. Face p. 10.) ( 1853°—22. 4 4 ar el me ee ye a os os ' ae ; y TT od = ie, : ee re re ia ¥ # 7 - F j < p - f =3 : i ; i * F ~ . 4 ’ ; soe oer eS a es ia = 2 a ee ne ee ort we dee 13" iM toeiesiol [nacltsX z i The National Forests of New Mexico. 11 tion to the agricultural communities whose water supply is de- pendent upon those two streams. The timber resources of this Forest are also of considerable magni- tude, the total stand being estimated at 1,017,000,000 board faak of saw eimatior and 968,000 ead of wood. Of this amount 11,063,000 board feet of lumber, railroad ties, and other forest products were cut in the fiscal year 1921. These timber resources now supply 14 active sawmills with the material for their operation. Among these is one of the largest sawmills of the Southwest, which is operated in connection with 35 miles of especially constructed railway lines. The extensive grazing resources of the Carson Forest are becom- ing fully utilized by the large population of the numerous small towns included within and adjacent to the forest boundary. There were 687 grazing permittees who used range on this forest during the calendar year 1921. Permits were issued for that year for a total of 10,889 cattle and horses and 155,935 sheep and goats. In addition several thousand milk and work animals were grazed free of charge on the forest ranges by loca] settlers. The country in and near the Carson National Forest is one of the oldest settled regions in the United States; and although it has been used for grazing for hundreds of years there is every indication that under the admin- istration of the Forest Service the forest area will continue to sup- port as many head of stock as are now permitted, or even more. There are a few small unused areas consisting of rough mountain range suitable for the summer grazing of cattle, which offer oppor- tunities for settlers desiring to enter the stock business. _