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El Prado Cabin was the first Ranger's cabin on the Cleveland National Forest and was built in 1911. The cabin is still standing today and is located in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, El Prado Campground.
Until the arrival in San Diego of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the lands now within the Cleveland National Forest were known only to the desert and coastal Indian tribes who used them. The Kumeyaay, Luiseños, Cahuilla and Cupeño found a good living on the abundant acorns and game. Many of our trails today follow those routes first used by these early dwellers.
Cabrillo's arrival in 1542 had little affect on the area. It wasn't until 1769 that the Peninsular Range and its coastal plain attracted much interest. Fearing possible interference by England and possibly Russia, Spain encouraged Junípero Serra to establish his first of 21 California Missions.
The original site of the first mission was located near the present Old Town in San Diego. It was constructed in part by timbers hauled in from what is now Rancho Corte Madera (wood yard), on the Descanso Ranger District. Further north, timbers from Los Piños Potrero (on the Trabuco Ranger District) were hauled down toward the coast to build Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Also in that year, the Portolá expedition, led by Gaspar de Portolá and joined by Juan Crespí, Francisco Gómez, and Pedro Fages, left San Diego traveling to Monterey. They named many of the places along the way and those names remain with us today.
Prior to the establishment of the missions, human impact on the land was relatively insignificant. The explorers Vizcaíno and Cabrillo reported that the native Indians did considerable burning of the brushlands along the coast and in the mountains, but the overall impact was probably not very great. However, with the arrival of a ranching culture, the landscape underwent more dramatic changes; subtle at first, as the native grasslands were slowly replaced by European and Asian weeds and other introduced plants. Some botanists argue that this invasion of exotic plants had more affect on the area than any other single factor.
During the 1700's the land had been parceled out in large land grants. One of these, the Rancho San José del Valle grant, was given in 1844 to one of the earliest settlers, a fur trader named J. T. Warner. About the same time, Juan Forster received the land grants of Los Piños Potrero, El Cariso Potrero, and Potrero de la Cienega.
Widespread overgrazing throughout the area, brush and trees cut for fence posts, and fires set to produce forage expanded the impact well beyond that of the Indians in the previous centuries.
In 1869, gold was discovered near Julian attracting hordes of miners from the Mother Lode and swelling the town to a population greater than that of San Diego. Also, during this period, zinc, lead, and silver mines were booming in the western canyons of the Santa Anas (hence, Silverado Canyon). Nearby, in Trabuco Canyon, stands the remains of the large (and unproductive) tin mine, once owned (about 1900) by Gail Borden of the Eagle Milk Co. He had hoped to use its yield to produce cans for his milk.
The influx of miners left its mark on the land. Trees were cut for mine timbers, heat and cooking fuel. Great expanses of brush were burned so miners could penetrate new areas to search for minerals.
As the mines petered out, so did many of the early ranches which had been overgrazed and had lost their chief labor force as the Indian population died off due to hardship and disease.
The principal end results was steadily growing threats to the watersheds, which by now were of critical importance to southern California communities.
Early reports from the 1870's - 1880's refer to fires that burned uncontrolled for weeks at a time. Lack of protection from fire was causing serious damage to irrigation works, the water supplies of rural areas, the small metropolitan area of San Diego, and other coastal towns of the late 1800's. The need for a forest reserve was evident to the first California Forestry Commission, appointed by Governor Stone in 1886. The commission recorded in its findings the necessity for special protection of the watershed cover to prevent the occurrence of major fires and subsequent erosion which were injuring the climate, agriculture and future prospects of southern California.
The widespread support for better resource management found a few opposing voices. Among these were timber and ranching interests who viewed the movement as leading to greater restriction on their activities.
Regardless, the Forest Reserve Act was passed in 1891. Although the Act was meant to slow wasteful and illegal timber cutting, the problem was different in southern California. It was to protect their watersheds that Californians immediately began demanding Forest Reserves.
Cleveland National Forest became one of the first in the new system and had its basis in the 50,000 acre Trabuco Cañon Forest Reserve (in the Santa Ana Mountains), created by President Harrison in February 1893. In February 1897 President Cleveland created San Jacinto Forest Reserve, a 700,000 acre area which included the desert lands southeast of Palomar Mountain. In 1899, the Trabuco Reserve was more than doubled, in response to a petition sent to the General Land Office by residents near Trabuco Canyon.
These early Forest Reserves had been administered by the General Land Office (GLO) in the U.S. Department of Interior. However, the GLO lacked any trained foresters to aggressively take charge. As a result in 1905 the reserves were transferred to a new Bureau of Forestry (now the Forest Service) in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1907 their designation as Forest Reserves was changed to National Forests.
In 1907 President Roosevelt made extensive additions to both the Trabuco Canyon and San Jacinto Forest Reserves, to include Palomar and Laguna Mountains and those farther south to the Mexican Border. A year later (1908) President Roosevelt combined the two Reserves to form the new 1,904,826 acre Cleveland National Forest.
During the next seventeen years there were several deletions to the Cleveland. A major one in 1915 when 749,730 acres of non-forest value lands were returned to public entry, and another in 1925 when the San Jacinto unit was transferred to the San Bernardino National Forest. Today the Cleveland National Forest consists of approximately 424,000 acres of forest land.
Learn more about how the Forest continues to work with our tribal partners.
Heritage Resources on the Cleveland
Have you ever wondered: Who lived here before me?
Where did those people come from?
How did people live before us?
Your National Forests hold the evidence of more than 10,000 years of human past. Most people don't realize that 99% of the history of the earliest Americans was made during a time when there were no written records.
Since there are no documents or photographs of this time long ago, to learn more about these people we look for the evidence they left behind. Even a few broken pieces of pottery or flakes of stone can provide important information on how people used to live. Archaeology is the science that studies the artifacts that previous residents left behind.
Protect our Past! You can help by not disturbing archaeological sites or artifacts. Artifacts, including arrowheads, pottery sherds, stone flakes and historic bottles are protected by federal law. Penalties for removing artifacts or disturbing sites include fines up to $5,000, prison sentences, forfeiture of property such as automobiles, and civil damage assessments. Leave artifacts as you found them and encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Archaeology of the Cleveland National Forest
The three districts of the Cleveland National Forest may have been inhabited by humans 10,000 years ago.
Paleo Indian Period (from 12,000 years ago to 7,500 years ago). People of this period were probably gatherers and nomads who collected seeds and fruits and followed herds of large game animals like elk. These people, who archaeologists call the San Dieguito Culture, produced well made stone tools, but did not use pottery.
Archaic Period (from 7,500 years ago to 500 BC). During the Archaic Period (also known as the Milling stone Horizon), people were gatherers and hunters and relied on shellfish and other resources from the sea. Manos and metates, used to grind seeds, are common. Stone tools have coarser shapes, but obsidian (a fine-grained volcanic glass) is commonly used.
Late Prehistoric Period (from 500 BC to AD 1769). By the Late Prehistoric Period, people were using a lot of mortars and pestles to grind acorns and other seeds. The population in the area was increasing and there were many villages throughout the area now known as the Cleveland National Forest. Pottery was first used during this period.
Historic Period from AD 1769 to 50 years ago. The lifeways of the Late Prehistoric Period were disrupted by the arrival of the Spanish explorers. The Spanish identified four different cultures in the area of the Cleveland National Forest: Cahuilla, Luiseño/ Juaneño, Cupeño, and Diegueño (also called Kumeyaay or Ipai-Tipai). Many changes occurred during this period and the Spanish brought written documents to the area. Archaeologists study the artifacts of the Historic Period to learn more about the people who weren't mentioned in the written documents.
Places to visit, Things to do
See the Exhibits on archaeology at:
Laguna Mountain Visitor Information Office in the Laguna Mountain area (Descanso Ranger District) and Oak Grove Forest Service Station in Oak Grove (Palomar Ranger District).
Walk the Trails interpreting archaeology and American Indian culture:
Kwaaymii Trail in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area (Descanso Ranger District).
Participate in volunteer projects by contacting:
Passport in Time Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 31315
Tucson, AZ 85751-1315
(800) 281-9176 telephone & TTY
For Further Information
Publications
Indians of the Oaks by Melicent Lee.
The Archaeology of California by Joseph L. Chartkoff and Kerry Kona Chartkoff.
California Archaeology by Michael J. Moratto.
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
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.
The Civilian Conservation Corps and the California Region
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp administration and enrollee distribution for Region 5 were headquartered in San Francisco and directed by Army Corps Area 9. On April 26, 1933, Acting Adjutant General James F. McKinley approved 166 CCC camps within the nineteen forests in Region 5, 128 of which actually began by the year's end. Even though the region's mild climate prevented cutting back the number of camps during the winter months, the overall number of camps slowly dwindled to only 13 camps in 1942, the final year of the CCC. One of the first camps in Region 5 was the Buck Meadows Camp, F-82, in the Stanislaus National Forest, established on May 20, 1933. The camp housed 200 enrollees from the San Francisco Bay area. The enrollees at Buck Meadows were initially housed in tents, later to be replaced by barracks, a mess hall, and a recreation building in the fall of 1933.
The CCC were primarily concerned with forest fire prevention, structural and transportation improvements, the preservation of forest culture, and the development of recreational facilities. By 1941, the CCC developed 64,640 miles of truck trails and minor roads, constructed 1,585 bridges, 405 lookout houses and towers, and more than 8,000 other buildings such as administrative and storage facilities. Fire prevention and fire fighting were major activities, and involved the building of fire lines and breaks, cutting down snags, and the clearing of roads and trails. The largest project undertaken by the CCC in California was the Ponderosa Way firebreak and truck trail, which spanned nearly 800 miles down the length of the Sierra from the Shasta Bear Lookout and ending in the south at the Kern County boundary line. Recreational improvements also provided a large amount of work. Projects included trail development and maintenance, with some of the most notable work completed on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. In the Angeles National Forest alone, 20 trail camps were improved for recreational use. The CCC also improved recreational camping facilities through the construction of stoves tables, wells, as well as clearing ground for both picnic and camp use.
Civilian Conservation Corps and the Cleveland National Forest
The Cleveland National Forest was home to several CCC camps. The first CCC camp established in California was Camp F-160 at Pine Valley. On April 28, 1933, the first fourteen men of this camp were enrolled into CCC Company 901. Company 901 later filled out to 187 men. CCC Company 911 was composed of 184 men and was established as Camp F-165, Temescal in Corona on May 22, 1933. CCC Company 531 included 192 men and was established as Camp F-163, Temecula, in Aguanga on May 29, 1933. CCC Company 532 was composed of 187 men and was established as Camp F-162, Puerta La Cruz, in Warner Springs on May 29, 1933. CCC Company 533 was composed of 201 men and was established as Camp F-161, Pamo valley, in Ramona on May 29, 1933. CCC Company 534 was composed of 201 men and was established as Camp F-159, San Diego River, in El Cajon on May 29, 1933. CCC Company 535 was composed of 193 men and was established as Camp F-158, Lyons Valley, in Jamul on May 29, 1933. CCC Company 546 was composed of 204 men and was established as Camp F-166, Silverado, in Silverado Canyon on June 2, 1933. CCC Company 599 was composed of 199 men and was established as Camp P-231, Fallbrook, in Fallbrook on June 16, 1933. Finally, CCC Company 1501 was composed of 204 men and was established as Camp SP-4, Cuyamaca Rancho, in Descanso on June 18, 1933.
One of the most unique CCC companies on the Cleveland was Company 2923-C. All members of Company 2923-C were African-American, and were one of only four companies with all-African America enrollees within the Los Angeles CCC District. 2923-C was originally organized at La Cienega in August, 1935, and later transferred to Camp F-164, at Elsinore. Their forest Service Project Superintendent was Ray C. Smith. Company 2923-C's primary Forest Service projects included campground development, reforestation, and construction of truck trails and fire breaks. In May 1937, 2923-C established a spike camp at Oak Grove Ranger Station with a side camp at Palomar Mountain, and completed construction on the High Point Lookout Tower and house on the highest peak on Palomar Mountain; constructed the Forest Service Fire/Weather building; construction of truck trails from Oak Grove Ranger Station to Palomar Mountain, from Henshaw Dam to Palomar Mountain, and from Rincon-Henshaw Dam State Highway to the Palomar Observatory. Other completed structures include the Corona Ranger Station, the Silverado Ranger Station, the Tenaja Ranger Station, and lookouts on Estelle Peak, Santa Margarita Peak, and Santiago Peak.
Company 2923-C had a highly distinguished fire-fighting record after performing amicably in the September 1935 Malibu Fire, which destroyed the homes of several prominent southern California celebrities. 2923-C was the first company to employ the use of homing pigeons as a communication aid for firefighting, and were personally raised by Forest Service fire fighting foreman Charles L. Hayes. The pigeons lent a distinct advantage as they were able to relay communications directly from the lines back to the base camp when other means were not practical. Company 2923-C also had a distinguished basketball team, called “The Brown Bombers”, which were unbeaten among all the CCC camps in both the March Field and Fort MacArthur Districts during the winters of 1935-36 and 1936-37.
Many different projects were completed by the CCC camps in the Cleveland. Projects include the Laguna water reservoir system, which was completed by Camp Pine Valley, F-160, consisting of three reservoirs carrying over 500,000 gallons each, with four miles of connecting pipelines at an elevation over 6,000 feet; the construction of the Dripping Springs Guard Stations, the Oak Grove Guard Station, and the Pala Guard Station by Camp Temecula, F-163; the construction of the Red Mountain Fire Station and the De Luz Fire Station for the California Department of Forestry by Camp Fallbrook, P-231; the construction of the Campo Fire Station and Potrero Fire Station for the California Department of Forestry by Camp Minnewawa, P-233, based in Jamul; the construction of portions of the San Juan, El Cariso, and Temescal Guard Stations, and the construction of the El Toro Fire Station and the San Juan Capistrano Fire Station by Camp Trabuco, P-226; the construction of a 150,000 gallon reservoir which supplied water for Cuyamaca State Park and swimming pool, along with the construction of Tapawingo Girl Scout camp, built entirely of native materials, in the Stonewall Mining District by Camp Cuyamaca Rancho, SP-4.
Even as African-Americans endured a higher rate of unemployment during the Depression Era, a majority of CCC enrollees were white. The law establishing the CCC contained a provision that "no discrimination shall be made on account of race color, or creed," although this was overlooked by corps administrators. African-American enrollment peaked at 10 percent after 1935. African-American enrollees were assigned to camps without regard to race, but were later segregated due to biased attitudes in the U.S. Army and antipathy from local communities. In July 1935, CCC policy directed the complete segregation of white and African-American enrollees, and policies announced in August of the same year, transferred of all African-American members to form five colored companies in California. In 1942, when the CCC was officially terminated, almost all of the African-American corps members in California had at one time been a part of an all-African-American company.
African-American corps members made many significant developments to the Cleveland. In addition to the accomplishment of Company 2923-C in La Cienega, Company 2924-C, of Camp Minnewawa in Jamul, constructed a telephone link connecting the Forest Service line at Descanso with that of the state Division of Forestry at La Mesa. Even though the project was severely handicapped as the telephone crew had only three experienced men and several rookies, the project was completed with the company performing all of the work except for surveying. African-American companies also provided extensive work in the construction and maintenance of park roads, service-truck trails, fire breaks, hiking trails, and campground development and maintenance.
References
Godfrey Anthony, 2005. The Ever-Changing View: A History of the National Forests in California. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Meinecke, E.P., 1934. Camp Planning and Camp Reconstruction. Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture.
Otis, Alison T., Honey, William D, Hogg, Thomas C., and Lakin, Kimberly K., 1986. The Forest Service and The Civilian Conservation Corps: 1933-1942. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Palmer, Christine Savage, 1993. Civilian Conservation Corps Structures on the Cleveland National Forest, California: 1933-1942.
Public Camp Manual 1935. United State Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 5.
Recreation Visits to the National Forests 1924-1963. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.