Figure 77. North Clear Creek Falls, Rio Grande National Forest, Colorado. The National Forests contain about one-third of all the potential water-power resources of the United States.

Figure 78. The power plant of the Colorado Power Company, on the Grand River, Holy Cross National Forest, Colorado. Every fiscal year there is a substantial increase in water power development on the National Forests.

The Government does not permit the monopolization of power in any region or allow sites to be held for speculative purposes. The objects of the regulations are to secure prompt and full development and to obtain a reasonable compensation for the use of the land occupied and the beneficial protection given the watershed.

Permits for power development on the National Forests usually run for a term of 50 years and may be renewed at their expiration upon compliance with the regulations then existing. Such permits, while granting liberal terms to applicants, contain ample provision for the protection of the public interests.

Applications for power permits are filed with the District Forester of the Forest Service District in which the desired site is located. Preliminary permits are issued to protect an applicant's priority against subsequent applicants until he has had an opportunity to study the proper location and design of the project and to obtain the data necessary for the final application. Operation is allowed under the final permit only. The permittee is required to pay an annual rental charge under the preliminary and final power permits and definite periods are specified for the filing of the final application, beginning of construction and of operation. The rental charges are nominal in amount, the maximum being about 1/16 of a cent per kilowatt hour. The amount of annual payment for transmission lines is $5.00 for each mile or fraction thereof if National Forest land is crossed by the line. No rental charges are made for small power projects (under 100 horsepower capacity), or for transmission lines used in connection therewith, or for transmission lines which are part of a power project under permit or for any power project in which power is to be used by a municipal corporation for municipal purposes.

The Secretary of Agriculture has authority to permit the use of rights-of-way through the National Forests for conduits, reservoirs, power plants, telephone and telegraph lines to be used for irrigation, mining, and domestic purposes and for the production and transmission of electric power. No rental charges are made for the telephone and telegraph rights-of-way, but the applicant must agree to furnish such facilities to Forest officers and to permit such reasonable use of its poles or lines as may be determined or agreed upon between the applicant and the District Forester.


Figure 79. This is only one of the thousands of streams in the National Forests of the West capable of generating electric power. It has been estimated that over 40 per cent. of the water power resources of the western states are included in the National Forests. Photo by the author.

Figure 80. View in the famous orange belt of San Bernardino County, California. These orchards depend absolutely upon irrigation. The watersheds from which the necessary water comes are in the National Forests and are protected by the Forest Service. Some of the smaller watersheds in these mountains are said to irrigate orchards valued at $10,000,000.

APPENDIX

TABLE OF LAND AREAS WITHIN THE NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARIES
June 30, 1917

State and Forest District
Number
Headquarters of Forest Supervisor National Forest Land (acres) Patented and other lands (acres) Total area (acres)
ALASKA          
  Chugach 6 Ketchikan 5,418,753 113,682 5,532,435
  Tongass 6 Ketchikan 15,451,716 29,284 15,481,000
ARIZONA          
  Apache 3 Springerville 1,182,782 93,618 1,276,400
  Chiricahua1 3 Tucson 348,157 10,691 358,848
  Coconino 3 Flagstaff 1,601,598 161,799 1,763,397
  Coronado 3 Tucson 959,304 39,676 998,980
  Crook 3 Safford 870,130 14,870 885,000
  Dixie1 4 St. George, Utah 17,680 ...... 17,680
  Kaibab 4 Kanab, Utah 1,072,375 525 1,072,900
  Manzano1 3 Albuquerque, N. M. 27,708 29,724 57,432
  Prescott 3 Prescott 1,433,366 186,589 1,619,955
  Sitgreaves 3 Snowflake 659,337 234,883 893,720
  Tonto 3 Roosevelt 1,994,239 39,521 2,033,760
  Tusayan 3 Williams 1,602,750 186,068 1,788,818
ARKANSAS          
  Arkansas 7 Hot Springs 626,746 331,544 958,290
  Ozark 7 Harrison 291,840 237,338 529,178
CALIFORNIA          
  Angeles 5 Los Angeles 820,980 240,723 1,061,703
  California 5 Oriental 807,444 255,178 1,062,622
  Cleveland 5 Escondido 547,981 265,635 813,616
  Crater1 6 Medford, Ore. 46,977 10,045 57,022
  Eldorado1 5 Placerville 549,392 286,408 835,800
  Inyo1 5 Bishop 1,269,980 67,800 1,337,780
  Klamath1 5 Yreka 1,470,841 263,824 1,734,665
  Lassen 5 Red Bluff 936,877 384,466 1,321,343
  Modoc 5 Alturas 1,182,986 399,873 1,532,859
  Mono1 5 Gardnerville, Nev. 784,620 90,241 874,861
  Monterey 5 King City 316,058 44,436 360,494
  Plumas 5 Quincy 1,144,835 288,025 1,432,860
  Santa Barbara 5 Santa Barbara 1,688,571 239,723 1,928,294
  Sequoia 5 Bakersfield 2,194,926 274,344 2,469,270
  Shasta 5 Sisson 803,448 783,432 1,586,880
  Sierra 5 Northfork 1,489,934 172,626 1,662,560
  Siskiyou1 6 Grants Pass, Ore. 349,069 52,726 401,795
  Stanislaus 5 Sonora 810,399 294,013 1,104,412
  Tahoe 5 Nevada City 542,226 666,851 1,209,077
  Trinity 5 Weaverville 1,430,547 315,600 1,746,147
COLORADO          
  Arapaho 2 Hot Sulphur Springs 634,903 46,371 681,274
  Battlement 2 Collbran 651,227 26,113 677,340
  Cochetopa 2 Saguache 905,723 24,497 930,220
  Colorado 2 Fort Collins 847,328 302,266 1,149,594
  Durango 2 Durango 614,129 89,871 704,000
  Gunnison 2 Gunnison 908,055 43,255 951,310
  Hayden1 2 Encampment, Wyo. 65,598 6,402 72,000
  Holy Cross 2 Glenwood Springs 576,905 28,795 605,700
  La Sal1 4 Moab, Utah 27,444 176 27,620
  Leadville 2 Leadville 934,017 122,503 1,056,520
  Montezuma 2 Mancos 700,082 112,018 812,100
  Pike 2 Denver 1,080,381 175,731 1,256,112
  Rio Grande 2 Monte Vista 1,136,884 84,256 1,221,140
  Routt 2 Steamboat Springs 833,459 86,487 919,946
  San Isabel 2 Westcliffe 598,912 52,288 651,200
  San Juan 2 Pagosa Spgs. 617,995 127,005 745,000
  Sopris 2 Aspen 596,986 59,014 656,000
  Uncampahgre 2 Delta 790,349 77,511 867,860
  White River 2 Meeker 848,018 23,012 871,030
FLORIDA          
  Florida 7 Pensacola 308,268 367,152 675,420
IDAHO          
  Boise 4 Boise 1,058,941 59,173 1,118,114
  Cache1 4 Logan, Utah 513,617 31,447 545,064
  Caribou1 4 Montpelier 681,540 30,090 711,630
  Challis 4 Challis 1,259,237 10,753 1,269,990
  Clearwater 1 Orofino 785,103 122,743 907,846
  Coeur d'Alene 1 Coeur d'Alene 662,611 127,623 790,234
  Idaho 4 McCall 1,193,439 15,841 1,209,280
  Kaniksu1 1 Newport, Wash. 198,757 260,220 458,977
  Lemhi 4 Mackay 1,095,924 4,638 1,100,562
  Minidoka1 4 Oakley 509,536 21,584 531,120
  Nezperce 1 Grangeville 1,624,582 41,497 1,666,079
  Palisade1 4 St. Anthony 283,495 9,820 293,315
  Payette 4 Emmett 831,926 31,748 863,674
  Pend Oreille 1 Sandpoint 676,014 198,724 874,738
  St. Joe 1 St. Maries 493,925 481,743 975,668
  Salmon 4 Salmon 1,621,707 21,653 1,643,360
  Sawtooth 4 Hailey 1,203,387 16,743 1,220,130
  Selway 1 Kooskia 1,693,711 108,289 1,802,000
  Targhee1 4 St. Anthony 283,495 9,820 293,315
  Weiser 4 Weiser 562,609 98,291 660,900
MICHIGAN          
  Michigan 2 East Tawas 89,466 74,412 163,878
MINNESOTA          
  Minnesota 2 Cass Lake 190,602 121,874 312,476
  Superior 2 Ely 857,255 411,283 1,268,538
MONTANA          
  Absaroka 1 Livingston 842,467 145,243 987,710
  Beartooth 1 Billings 662,537 19,393 681,930
  Beaverhead 1 Dillon 1,337,223 27,777 1,365,000
  Bitterroot 1 Missoula 1,047,012 108,856 1,155,868
  Blackfeet 1 Kalispell 865,077 202,013 1,067,090
  Cabinet 1 Thompson Falls 830,676 195,874 1,026,550
  Custer 1 Miles City 428,922 83,888 512,810
  Deerlodge 1 Anaconda 833,178 130,822 964,000
  Flathead 1 Kalispell 1,802,905 285,815 2,088,720
  Gallatin 1 Bozeman 564,855 344,575 909,430
  Helena 1 Helena 687,983 232,497 920,480
  Jefferson 1 Great Falls 1,039,766 135,919 1,175,685
  Kootenai 1 Libby 1,336,061 287,279 1,623,340
  Lewis and Clark 1 Chouteau 811,161 15,199 826,360
  Lolo 1 Missoula 850,677 330,341 1,181,018
  Madison 1 Sheridan 958,691 77,169 1,035,860
  Missoula 1 Missoula 1,031,529 336,662 1,368,191
  Sioux1 1 Camp Crook, S. D. 96,743 17,798 114,541
NEBRASKA          
  Nebraska 2 Halsey 206,074 11,744 217,818
NEVADA          
  Dixie1 4 St. George, Utah 282,543 7,807 290,350
  Eldorado1 5 Placerville, Cal. 400 ...... 400
  Humboldt 4 Elko 690,562 35,978 726,546
  Inyo1 5 Bishop, Cal. 72,817 2,513 75,330
  Mono1 5 Gardnerville 464,315 19,204 483,519
  Nevada 4 Ely 1,220,929 39,871 1,260,800
  Ruby 4 Elko 342,405 91,165 433,570
  Santa Rosa 4 Elko 269,658 30,302 299,960
  Tahoe1 5 Nevada City, Cal. 14,853 47,274 62,127
  Toiyabe 4 Austin 1,907,286 17,514 1,924,800
NEW MEXICO          
  Alamo 3 Alamogordo 603,779 269,877 866,656
  Carson 3 Taos 856,647 68,654 925,301
  Chiricahua1 3 Tucson, Ariz. 126,478 2,674 129,152
  Datil 3 Magdalena 2,670,412 270,790 2,941,202
  Gila 3 Silver City 1,463,708 136,292 1,600,000
  Lincoln 3 Alamogordo 551,427 81,540 632,967
  Manzano1 3 Albuquerque 754,772 488,007 1,242,779
  Santa Fé 3 Santa Fe 1,354,545 122,148 1,476,693
NORTH DAKOTA          
  Dakota 1 Camp Crook, S. D. 6,054 7,866 13,920
OKLAHOMA          
  Wichita 7 Cache 61,480 160 61,640
OREGON          
  Cascade 6 Eugene 1,021,461 73,024 1,094,485
  Crater1 6 Medford 793,044 286,281 1,079,325
  Deschutes 6 Bend 1,292,423 217,437 1,509,860
  Fremont 6 Lakeview 884,494 86,782 971,366
  Klamath1 5 Yreka, Cal. 4,401 4,492 8,893
  Malheur 6 John Day 1,057,682 205,158 1,262,840
  Minam 6 Baker 430,757 49,056 479,813
  Ochoco 6 Prineville 716,564 102,466 819,030
  Oregon 6 Portland 1,031,926 108,994 1,140,920
  Santiam 6 Albany 607,099 112,884 719,983
  Siskiyou1 6 Grants Pass 998,044 257,206 1,255,250
  Siuslaw 6 Eugene 544,178 289,263 833,441
  Umatilla 6 Pendleton 485,786 79,199 564,985
  Umpqua 6 Roseburg 1,011,097 210,294 1,221,391
  Wallowa 6 Wallowa 964,601 104,810 1,069,411
  Wenaha 6 Walla Walla, Wash. 425,504 36,540 461,954
  Whitman 6 Sumpter 884,485 115,008 999,493
PORTO RICO          
  Luquillo 7 None 12,443 53,507 65,950
SOUTH DAKOTA          
  Black Hills1 2 Deadwood 483,403 118,608 602,011
  Harney 2 Custer 548,854 79,093 627,947
  Sioux1 1 Camp Crook 75,524 7,744 83,268
UTAH          
  Ashley1 4 Vernal 982,493 9,607 992,100
  Cache1 4 Logan 265,594 53,987 319,581
  Dixie1 4 St. George 432,784 26,106 458,890
  Fillmore 4 Ritchfield 699,579 79,711 779,290
  Fishlake 4 Salina 661,245 62,145 723,390
  La Sal1 4 Moab 519,384 16,286 535,670
  Manti 4 Ephraim 781,800 65,070 846,870
  Minidoka1 4 Oakley, Idaho 72,123 20,157 92,280
  Powell 4 Escalante 689,927 14,773 704,700
  Sevier 4 Panguitch 729,061 73,599 802,660
  Uinta 4 Provo 988,602 54,533 1,043,135
  Wasatch 4 Salt Lake City 607,492 56,913 664,405
WASHINGTON          
  Chelan 6 Chelan 677,429 46,681 724,110
  Columbia 6 Portland, Ore. 784,498 157,702 942,200
  Colville 6 Republic 754,886 61,114 816,000
  Kaniksu1 1 Newport 257,859 118,904 376,763
  Okanogan 6 Okanogan 1,486,325 54,675 1,541,000
  Olympic 1 Olympia 1,534,689 117,311 1,652,000
  Rainier 6 Tacoma 1,315,891 245,579 1,561,470
  Snoqualmie 6 Seattle 698,043 343,957 1,042,000
  Washington 6 Bellingham 1,454,214 35,786 1,490,000
  Wenaha1 6 Walla Walla 313,434 8,397 321,831
  Wenatchee 6 Leavenworth 665,276 491,724 1,157,000
WYOMING          
  Ashley1 4 Vernal, Utah 5,987 73 6,060
  Bighorn 2 Sheridan 1,119,725 16,475 1,136,200
  Black Hills1 2 Deadwood, S.D. 144,759 34,362 179,121
  Bridger 2 Pinedale 710,570 7,407 717,977
  Caribou1 4 Montpelier, Idaho 6,547 813 7,360
  Hayden1 2 Encampment 322,175 43,445 365,620
  Medicine Bow 2 Laramie 469,786 41,596 511,382
  Palisade1 4 St. Anthony, Idaho 250,501 3,119 253,620
  Shoshone 2 Cody 1,576,043 32,957 1,609,000
  Targhee1 4 St. Anthony, Idaho 84,970 480 85,450
  Teton 4 Jackson 1,922,947 48,245 1,971,192
  Washakie 2 Lander 852,653 12,220 864,873
  Wyoming 4 Afton 899,980 12,020 912,000
Aggregate for the 147 National Forests 155,166,619 21,085,541 176,252,160
1Area of National Forest in more than one State.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Transcriber's Notes

Simple typographical errors were corrected.

Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.

This text uses both 'Uncampahgre' and 'Uncompahgre'; the latter currently is the preferred spelling.

Page 55 "sunlight; without it is useless." Probably should be "sunlight; without it, it is useless."

Cover created by Transcriber, using a photograph from the book, and placed in the Public Domain.