Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas and Oklahoma

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

jipserve

A99.61

F762

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
LIBRARY

867987

OUAC H I TA

NATIONAL FOREST

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Southern Region December 195

O J

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.

[4]

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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

[5]

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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.

[6]

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.

[7]

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.

[8]

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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.

[10]

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.

["I

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1953—0-275448

SPRINGS

20'

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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