Cover Page

Contents

Preface
Letter

SECTION I

Orientation
Summary

SECTION II

History
Needs
Geography
Historic Sites
Competitors
Economic Aspects

SECTION III

Federal Lands
State and Interstate
Local

SECTION IV

Division of Responsibility
Local
State
Federal
Circulation

SECTION V

Educational Opportunities

State Forests

Recreational Use and Value.—Investigation by the Recreation Section of the National Resources Board discloses the fact that, out of 25 States which possess State forests, all offer active recreation which ranges from hikers' use of protection trails to a variety of uses comparable to that of the good, well-selected, and well-developed State parks.

State forests have been established largely in those areas which, while not particularly suited for agriculture, are excellently suited for the growing of trees. Selection of them has been based on this capacity, plus their importance in stream-flow control. That has meant inclusion in them of much hilly or mountainous terrain, many streams so close to their sources as to be free from silt and pollution, and hundreds of thousands of acres of land which bear timber still far from maturity, and yet of definite and considerable beauty both as individual trees and in the mass. On the other hand, Michigan has been establishing State forests on tax-delinquent lands, many of which have been completely cut over and repeatedly burned. Even those have a definite value to the recreationalist, however, for streams flow through them there are many lakes and ponds, and fish and game are there in greater or lesser abundance to attract the hunter and fisherman.

In all the States, there were, in 1932, 6,333,933 acres of lands designated as State forests.⁷ They contain recreational values comparable with their economic values they occupy an important place in the whole recreational scheme and will continue to do so.

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⁷ Editor's note: These are U. S. Forest Service figures. They show a total of 8,527,561 acres in the state-forest classification, but include 2,193,628 acres of Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves in New York. These are not State forests in the ordinary sense of the word, since all tree cutting is strictly prohibited by the state Constitution. They are listed as State parks by the New York Council of Parks.

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In general, the State forest is a considerably more extensive area than the State park. Though the tendency is definitely in the direction of larger, more nearly complete and adequate State parks, few of the States have as yet felt that it is either necessary or possible to devote areas to the State park type of administration, comparable in extent to the State forests. Primarily, the purpose of establishing State forests has been the production of a continuous supply of forest products, whereas, park usage involves, or should involve, allowing the natural processes of growth, maturity, and decay to function undisturbed. Silvicultural thinnings and the harvesting of all classes of merchantable timber result in constant disruption of the natural character of the forests. Yet in spite of these things the hiker finds in their roominess a chance to get away by himself in the out of doors in surroundings generally attractive. His camp beside a stream or lake gives him pleasure; many of the forest lakes and streams offer him an opportunity to fill his creel. In general, perhaps, he feels a greater sense of freedom than in a State park, but the conditions which encourage that feeling are changing. In few forests today can he enjoy complete freedom to do as he pleases to do as the pioneer did in his westward progress.

Administration of the commercial resources of the forests compels the imposition of many of the same restrictions as are necessary in the well-selected park. Indiscriminate camping and building of camp fires are as dangerous in one as in the other, which explains the increasing insistence of forest authorities on the building of camp fires in definitely designated locations, where safety is combined with convenience. Prepared camp grounds with running water and sanitary toilet facilities are becoming as characteristic a feature of State forests as of State parks. Even scattered public use compels the visitor to look to specially safeguarded water supplies for his drinking water. He, in turn, is equally under the necessity of refraining from pollution of lakes and streams. His use of the forest is compelling much the same type of planning for that use as is needed in a State park.

New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are preeminent among the forest-owning States in the extent to which their State forests are used for recreation they are also leaders in the establishment and administration of forests. Many of the forest camp grounds are roadside affairs, for both day and overnight use many of them lie needlessly close to the roads many of them are unskillfully laid out, unattractive in appearance, and grow progressively more unattractive under the wear and tear of use. They perform, nevertheless, on the whole, a valuable and desirable public service.

Pennsylvania is unique among the States in having established a group of forest monuments. These include not only groves of old-growth forests, which are kept in completely natural condition, but also areas of special interest in the history of the State.

Pennsylvania and Massachusetts have both followed the United States Forest Service example of leasing summer home sites in the State forests both may be said to have made the mistake of permitting exclusive occupancy of places of high recreational value. Massachusetts is not only discontinuing the practice, but is endeavoring to cancel leases at as early a date as possible.

In many States possessing State forests, these holdings offer especially valuable fishing and hunting opportunities, as they are increasingly restricted on private lands. Pennsylvania, notable for her successful handling of game management problems, has established a large number of game refuges in her forests, surrounded by extensive forest areas which serve as public shooting grounds.

Protection of Public's Right to Fish.—Although in most States access to fishing streams is allowed by owners of adjacent property, a few States have found it necessary or desirable to assure access to them by means of easement agreements.

Rhode Island in 1927 authorized the commissioners of inland fisheries to acquire by gift, lease, or purchase, any land, freshwater stream, lake, pond, or part thereof for this purpose, but lack of funds has precluded use of this authority. New Jersey has leased 1 mile of Big Flat Brook. The Ohio Conservation Division is favorable to the practice, but has not yet undertaken it. North Dakota is executing easement agreements in connection with dams being constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Similar action is being taken in Kansas. By allotting 25 cents out of each fishing license fee, Colorado is accumulating a fund of $20,000 to be used in acquiring stream easements. The Connecticut State Board of Fisheries and Game has leased public fishing rights on 32 streams for a length of about 200 miles. In Iowa, whenever stream improvement has been undertaken, agreements have been obtained from the bordering property owners assuring public access for a short period of years.

Since 1911, California county boards of supervisors have had authority to declare sloughs, rivers, or streams which do not run through cultivated land to be public highways. It has been little used, except as a threat to keep the streams open. Idaho's fish and game department has tried several times to obtain authority to take easements on streams, but without success. Most of her good streams have been posted against fishing.

The Pennsylvania Commissioner of Fisheries reports that some waters in that State have been declared public highways, and also that no permits are given for construction of dams without providing for public fishing rights. "Fortunately for Pennsylvania", he writes, "it has thousands of miles of open streams and hundreds of lakes and ponds which are being stocked yearly by the Fish Commission, which have always remained open to the public."

The director of the division of fisheries and game for Massachusetts reports that his division is authorized to lease or purchase fishing rights on streams, and now has such leases on 75 miles of the best fishing waters in the State. Their lease provides for an easement on the stream and on a 10-foot strip on each side, for which an annual rental of $20 a mile is paid.

With the exception of the States noted, there is, in general, a disposition to meet this particular problem when it arises without much forethought or planning.

Continued >>>

Last Modified: Fri, Sep. 5, 2003 10:32:22 am PDT
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