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History of the Cleveland National Forest - Recreation Development
History of the Cleveland National Forest - Recreation Development: The Civilian Conservation Corp on the Cleveland National Forest and Local African-American History
by Spencer Bietz and Margaret Hangan
Cleveland National Forest 2006
Cleveland NF History: Recreation Development | Civilian Conservation Corp in the California Region | The CCC on Cleveland NF and local African American History
Recreation on Forest Service Land
Between March 4, 1905 and February 6, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt created twenty forest reserves under the Forest Reserve Act in California alone, the largest number of any U.S. state. Reserves included the Klamath Forest Reserve, the Lassen Peak Forest Reserve, the Trinity Forest Reserve, the Shasta Forest Reserve, and the Stony Creek Forest Reserve. These lands were supervised under the US Department of Agriculture, following the consolidation of previous forest reserves and their revenues with the Forest Transfer Act, previously enacted under President Woodrow Wilson. Upon enactment of the Forest Transfer Act in 1905, President Wilson issued a letter proclaiming "all land is to be devoted to its most productive use for the permanent good of the whole people and not for the temporary benefit of individuals or companies."
From 1924 to 1932, campground visits increased from 1,588,489 per year to 2,178,231 per year (increase of 37%). From 1932 to 1940, campground visits increased from 2,178,231 per year to 3,583,091 per year (increase of 64%). Campground visits peaked in 1940, and visitations dropped to lower than before 1924 during the years of World War II. However, following the end of the war, visitation picked up immediately, and steadily increased every year.
The popularity of forest recreation had a dramatic impact on the forest's integrity. E.P. Meinecke of the Bureau of Plant Industry identified automobiles, unregulated campfire locations, and campground ambience as three major problems, and provided a solution by redesigning basic campground layouts. In order to accommodate the growing use of automobiles, campgrounds were to be planned so that upon entering the camping area one way road systems would guide the traveler throughout the site, with natural borders set along these roads to discourage entrance into protected areas. Parking spurs were designed similarly, with parking areas long enough to accommodate most cars, but not wide enough to turn around. The campfire problem was solved with Meinecke's recommendation that only one area be designated for campfires, and that this area was to contain a constructed element in which the public could contain their fires. Picnic tables at these sites were also later modified to accompany the growing use of gasoline stoves. Campgrounds were also to be preplanned so as to maximize the use of existing flora for the public's viewing pleasure as well as the public's protection from wind, sun, and adjacent campers (see figure 1 and 2).
Over the past fifty years, the Bluejay and El Cariso campground areas, along with the Cleveland National Forest, have been increasingly used by hikers, campers, and others interested in recreation. Construction of major highways across, and near, the Forest lands has increased ease of access and a national ethic based on experiencing the wilderness and on sharing the outdoor experience has placed pressures on the Forest to develop and maintain facilities. The development and sales of off-road vehicles have posed special challenges for land use and resource managers.
Figure 1: Campground design
Figure 2: Campground design