Historic, Archive Document
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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LIBRARY
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OUAC H I TA
NATIONAL FOREST
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Southern Region December 195
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OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST, One of about 150 national forests administered by the Forest Service of the United States Department of Agri- culture, is located in the highlands of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Within its boundaries are nearly 1,500,000 acres of publicly owned lands in the Ouachita and Kiamichi Mountains.
The Ouachita Mountains are classed by some geologists as a western exten- sion of the ancient Appalachians. A unique and striking feature of the Ouachita is the regular development of ridges and valleys running in an easterly and westerly direction. Also of interest geologically are the many novaculite formations that occur in beds several hundred feet in thick- ness. This is the only place in the United States where novaculite is found. From it is made the famous Arkansas oilstone.
Before the coming of the white man, the Ouachita Mountains were the home of the fearless, happy Quapaw Indians. Hernando De Soto was the first white man
Rugged and picturesque beauty of the Ouachita’s, where tree-covered slopes meet sky and water.
to visit the land of the Quapaws. French names are found here, such as Fourche La Fave River, Ouachita River, and Petit Jean Mountain. “Ouachita” is the French way of spelling the sound of the Indian word “Washita” that means “good hunting grounds.”
In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt established what is now the Ouachita National Forest from public domain lands and dedicated it to conservative public use. This was the first national forest established east of the Great Plains. It is now the eighth largest forest in the United States. Within its boundaries are found the largest remaining stands of virgin shortleaf pine. The forest is managed under the multiple-use plan for the greatest good to the greatest number of people. This means
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Lake Winona - — municipal water supply for Little Rock.
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that all forest resources — water, timber, wildlife, grazing, and recreation — are pro- tected, developed, and used at the same time with due regard to the relative impor- tance of each.
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Early thinning of managed pine forests stimulates growth and provides needed forest products and a cash income for local communities and the Nation.
Water
Watershed protection is a primary objective in the management of a national forest, since water is a major resource. The forest cover and soil on the slopes of the watershed must be maintained and protected so that it can absorb and hold back potential flood water and supply a clean, steady flow of water for the many streams it feeds.
Rivers rising in the mountains of the Ouachitas are the Ouachita, Fourche La Fave, Saline, Little Missouri, Poteau, Cassatot, and the Kiamichi. The cities of Little Rock and Mena depend upon the Ouachita National Forest for their water for domestic and industrial use. As populations and industries expand, water from forest lands increases in importance.
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Timber production on this forest is planned to yield about 60 million board feet annually.
Timber
By far the most important tree in the Ouachita National Forest is shortleaf pine. Of the original 600,000 acres of untouched wilderness incorporated into the national forest in 1907, about one-sixth remains in a virgin condition. Of the hardwood timber trees found on the Ouachita, white and red oaks are the most important.
The present cut on the forest is about 60 million board feet annually in sawlogs, fence posts, and pulpwood. Forest income to the United States Treasury is about $2,000,000 a year. Twenty-five percent of this amount is paid to the State to be
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used for schools and roads in counties in which the forest is located. An additional io percent is made available to the Forest Service for improvement of the roads in the forest.
Wildlife
As already mentioned, “Ouachita” means good hunting grounds, and so it was, back in the days of the Quapaw Indians. Deer, turkey, and squirrel were plentiful. However, indiscriminate hunting and forest fires seriously depleted the game. In an effort to restore wildlife to its original abundance, protective measures were worked out cooperatively by the Forest Service and the State of Arkansas. Hunting and fishing, in season and in compliance with State laws, are permitted on all except certain areas set aside a number of years ago for special protection and development of wildlife. Eventually, the Ouachita should afford good hunting and fishing.
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Fishing is an ever-popular pastime. Here the angler casts his line in one of the clear forest streams.
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Good forest practices and control of forest fires have regulated streamflow and improved the fishing. Construction of flood control and power dams by the Army Engineers in and around the forest have also greatly improved the fishing.
Forest recreation areas are a part of the American heritage.
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Recreation
The recreational opportunities of the Ouachitas are many and varied. Moun- tain scenery, with several peaks almost 3,000 feet high, is outstanding. For those who enjoy camping and outings in natural surroundings, there are many inspiring places. Picnicking, camping, and swimming facilities have been provided at several attractive spots. Privately owned resort developments can be found near such lakes as Blue Mountain, Nimrod, Catherine, Hamilton, and VVister.
A network of Federal, State, and Forest Service roads makes the forest accessible to the traveler the year around.
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Fire Control
Fire is the enemy of all forest resources, particularly young trees, the timber crop of the future. To grow successive crops of timber, fires must be controlled.
For the past 7 years the Ouachita National Forest has averaged more than 160 fires a year. About 75 percent of these are man-caused with 25 percent set by light- ning. These fires are costly both in damage to forest resources and in time and money spent to control them.
The foresters of the Ouachita Forest ask your help in preventing fires and in protecting your forest heritage. They will be glad to help you use and enjoy this forest, and you are welcome to stop at any of the Forest Service offices for informa- tion. The Supervisor’s Office is located in the Post Office Building in Hot Springs, and District Rangers’ offices are located in or near the towns of Hot Springs, Mt. Ida, Glenwood, Oden, Mena, Waldron, Booneville, and Danville, Ark., and at Heavener. Okla.
Public Recreation Areas
Lake Sylvia. — 10 miles south of Perryville, Ark. Swimming, picnicking, and camping facilities.
Charlton. — 18 miles west of Hot Springs, Ark. Swimming, picnicking, and camping.
Collier Springs. — 6 miles northeast of Norman, Ark. A small, attractive picnic
spot.
Crystal. — 3 miles northeast of Norman, Ark. Swimming, picnicking, and camp- ing facilities.
Jack Creek. — 28 miles northeast of Waldron, Ark. Swimming, picnicking, camping, and fishing.
Knoppers Ford. — 25 miles northeast of Waldron, Ark. Camping, swimming, and picnicking; overnight shelters available.
Clear Fork. — 19 miles west of Hot Springs, Ark. Organization camp for group camping.
Albert Pike. — 39 miles southeast of Mena, Ark. Overnight shelters for camp- ing; swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
Shady Lake. — 33 miles southeast of Mena, Ark. Overnight shelters and cabin, fishing, camping, and picnicking.
Bard Springs. — 29 miles southeast of Mena, Ark. Camping and picnicking. Overnight shelters available. Noted for its mineral spring water.
Cedar Lake. — 16 miles south and west of Heavener, Okla. Camping, swim- ming, picnicking, and fishing.
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Many of the forest areas have excellent swimming and picnicking facilities.
Scenic Roads
State Highway 9 west to Lake Winona over Alum Fork Road to Angling Pin- nacle Road, south and west over Angling Pinnacle Road to State Highway 7.
From Norman, Ark., northeast to High Peak Lookout Tower and on to U. S. Highway 270.
From Oden Ranger Station northwest and west over Fourche Mountain and continuing west to U. S. Highway 7 1 .
From Mena, Ark., south to Shady Lake and to Camp Albert Pike.
From Mena northwest over Rich Mountain to Arkansas-Oklahoma line and south to State Highway 88.
From Waldron, Ark., east over Petit Jean Mountain to Stonehouse Jean Lookout, then either north to Sugar Grove, Ark., or east and south to State Highway 80.
From Talihina, Okla., to Sycamore Tower, east over Winding Stair Mountain Road to U. S. Highway 270.
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Aside from their use for protection and commerce , forest roads often furnish vistas of great beauty.
Points of Interest
Blue Mountain Dam on Petit Jean Greek near Booneville, Ark.
Nimrod Dam on Fourche La Fave River near Plainview, Ark.
Blakely Mountain Dam (under construction) on Ouachita River near Mountain Pine, Ark.
Wister Dam on Poteau River, near Heavener, Okla.
Pine Ridge, Ark., made famous by Lum and Abner.
Stonehouse Jean Dwelling at east end of Petit Jean Mountain. Built by a gam- bler for his wife. Later used for a sanatorium. Building has burned twice but rock building still in use as dwelling for the lookout.
Rich Mountain, northwest of Mena. Location of an old townsite with ruins of the Wilhelmina Hotel built in gay nineties as a summer resort. Named after one of first distinguished guests, Queen Wilhelmina of Holland.
Monument to De Soto at Caddo Gap, Ark.
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Help Prevent Forest Fires
1. Matches. — Be sure your match is out. Break it in two before you throw it away.
2. Smoking. — Be sure your pipe ashes and cigar and cigarette stubs are dead out before you throw them away. When driving, use the ashtray in your car.
3. Campfires. — Before building a fire, scrape away all flammable material. Keep your fire small. Never build it against trees or logs, or near brush. Put out your campfire by stirring the coals while soaking them with water.
4. Brush burning. — Plow a firebreak around the area to be burned. Start burning around 4 p. m. when the wind is still. Have fire-fighting tools and help handy. Notify your neighbors and the Forest Service that you plan to burn. You must observe the State brush-burning law.
5. If you find a forest fire. — Put it out if you can. If you can’t, report it to the forest supervisor or rangers. Their headquarters are shown on the map.
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On a high point in the Ouachita Mountains stands a fire lookout. You can help the man in the
tower by being careful with fire in the woods.
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U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1953—0-275448
SPRINGS
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TRACED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE BASE MAP IN REGIONAL OFFICE ATLANTA , GA. OCT., 1952 , BY HELEN D. O’NEILL.
93°00'
50'
OUACHITA NATIONAL FOREST
ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA
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