Routt National Forest

THE FOREST RESOURCES

Timber.

Extensive stands of saw timber on the Routt aggregate over 2,300,000,000 feet, board measure. Lodgepole pine is the most important species, with Engelmann spruce running a close second. Alpine and Douglas fir make up the remainder of the commercially important timber.

Timber is raised and harvested on the forest as a crop, much the same as a farmer grows vegetables or grain, the main difference being in the length of time it takes to produce the two types of crops. The mature, overcrowded, and defective trees are selected and designated for cutting by trained foresters in advance of the logging operations. Such trees have ceased to make good growth and their removal promotes faster development of the younger and more healthy trees that remain. The volume of the annual timber harvest averaged 7,810,000 board feet during the 5-year period ending June 30, 1940. This is much less than the annual growth, and many times that amount may be cut each year in the future without depleting the total stand of timber. As a matter of fact, the timber growth on the forest will steadliy increase as the present mature and decadent stands are replaced by more thrifty rapid-growing trees.

Logging operations, to harvest national-forest timber, are carried on under the supervision of forest officers. The timber is sold to private individuals who cut it in accordance with plans prepared by forest officers. Competitive bids are solicited by the Government for all of the larger sales of timber, and award is made to the highest qualified bidder. The money from such sales, and from grazing and other uses of the forest, is paid into the national treasury, but 25 percent is returned to the counties in which the forest is located, in lieu of taxes, to be used for either school or road purposes.

THINNINGS IN A CROWDED LODGEPOLE STAND F—365878

DEEP SNOWS, THE RESERVE SUPPLY OP IRRIGATION WATER F—174433

Water.

Irrigation is the key to most of the agriculture of the West. Water for irrigation in turn is dependent largely on the snows and rains which fall at the headwaters of the various creeks and rivers. The maintenance of an adequate forest cover in the high mountain ranges results in slow melting of the heavy snows and provides for a continuous and uniform supply of water during the growing season for the thirsting agricultural crops in the broad fertile valleys below.

The Yampa River valley, which is one of the best ranching valleys in the State, is irrigated with water from the Routt National Forest. Other agricultural sections benefited by water from the forest are the valleys of the Colorado, North Platte, and Little Snake Rivers, whose waters originate in part in the Routt.

Fish and Wildlife

An attempt is made to maintain an abundance of fish and animal life on the forest by regulation of fishing and hunting. Streams and lakes are stocked regularly with fish from the Federal and State hatcheries, open seasons are adjusted, and certain waters are closed over short periods to maintain a plentiful supply for all who delight in angling for trout.

Big-game animals, such as elk and deer, are hunted during limited seasons, set by State law. Adequate range is reserved for them on the forest, the same as for domestic stock. Game uses the grazing resources in areas too rugged for cattle and sheep. Forest officers assist the State in law enforcement and other wildlife activities.

The more common species of wild animals of the Routt are:

ELK OR WAPITI (Cervus canadensis).—Wapiti is the Shawnee Indian name for elk. They are the largest local representatives of the deer family, the bulls weighing from 700 to 1,000 pounds. They have widely branching antlers, large light-colored rump patches, with sides and backs of a yellowish to brownish gray, dark-brown legs, neck and head, and blackish under parts. The cows are without antlers and are generally less strongly marked. Elk are polygamus and in the fall, or mating season, the "bugle" challenge of the bulls leads to fierce fights. The spotted calves, usually one, but sometimes two or three, are born in May or June. During the summer, about 1,200 head graze annually along the Continental Divide on the Routt, moving to range near Steamboat Springs in winter.

ELK ON WINTER RANGE F—405399

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemonius).—These are the common deer of the western ranges and are so named on account of the large ears. They are extensively hunted during the established season. The bucks have antlers with pronged tines which are shed annually after the mating season. The color in summer ranges from tawny to yellowish-brown and they have a medium-sized white tail with a black tip. The under parts are darker or blackish. In winter the color changes to a dark gray. The average weight of the bucks ranges from 150 to 200 pounds. Their bounding gait is characteristic. Mating occurs in late fall, and the spotted fawns, usually two, are born in late May or June. They are found at all elevations, and according to latest estimates, there are approximately 2,200 head on the Routt. Most of them drift to the lower country outside the forest for winter range.

BEAVER (Castor canadensis).—Beavers are large, aquatic rodents, compact, heavy bodied, and powerfully muscled. The broad, flat, scaly tail is characteristic, and, contrary to common belief, it is not used as a trowel. The pelage is composed of long, hard hair, with a short, soft underfur. Hearing and sense of smell are keen, but eyesight is poor. Mature animals weigh from 60 to 70 pounds. They are perhaps best known for the picturesque houses and dams they build in small streams. Material for houses and dams is clutched, against the body by the forefeet used as hands. The fur is highly prized, and the beaver itself is of considerable value because of the water which it stores in ponds by means of dams. The food consists of bark from aspens, willows, and cottonwoods, and roots of some grasses and aquatic plants. Beaver are plentiful on most portions of the Routt.

COYOTE (Canis lalrans).—The coyote is a small, slender species of wolf, 42 to 48 inches long, weighing from 35 to 40 pounds. The pelage is fairly long and heavy and is a grizzled, huffy, grayish and black, with under parts whitish. These animals are cautious and clever, and instead of retreating before human occupation, they merely change their habits and remain. They are prolific, and litters of from 5 to 7 pups are born about April. The shrill staccato howl of the coyote is familiar to everyone who has been in the West. The poultry and sheep depredations of coyotes have resulted in relentless persecution of the species by man. They inhabit all parts of the Routt.

BEAR (Euarctos americanus).—Contrary to popular belief, black and brown bear are of the same species, the color varying from black to cinnamon brown. The average height is 25 inches, and the weight varies from 200 to 500 pounds. They are monogamous, mating in June and early July. From 1 to 4, but usually 2 cubs, weighing from 8 to 18 ounces, are born in January or February, during hibernation. Hearing and smelling powers of the species are highly developed, but sight is poor. The skin and head are much prized as trophies and the flesh is edible. The bear population of the Routt is estimated at 650; the animals are found on nearly all portions of the forest.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN SHEEP (Ovis canadensis).—The bighorn is stoutly built, with medium or short legs, small pointed ears, and a short pointed tail. The pelage is hairy, not woolly. The rams, weighing from 200 to 300 pounds, have massive permanent horns with curl back, out, and around. The females have small, slightly curved horns. The animals have upper parts of grayish brown, with paler sides, creamy-white rump patches, and under parts of yellowish white. They are polygamous and mate in November and December. The lambs, sometimes 2, but more often 1, are born in May or June. The sense of sight is very keen and hearing also is well developed. In the past, relentless hunting has driven the bighorns from their former range in the lower foothills to the higher, steeper, and more rugged mountains, and even though protected from hunting by law they have been decreasing during the past decade. It is estimated that there are now approximately 50 on the Routt.

SHEEP ON THE FOREST RANGE F—212967

Forage.

About 12,000 cattle and 115,000 sheep, owned by 190 stockmen, are grazed on this forest annually, under permits issued by the Government. A small fee is paid by the permittee for each head grazed. Forest officers carefully supervise this use to prevent damage to the forest cover and to maintain maximum forage production.

Generally sheep use the higher and more rugged areas, while the lower and more accessible country is allotted to cattle. The sheep are grazed in bands of about 1,000 head each, and are kept under the direct control of a herder. Cattle do not naturally graze in bands, as do sheep. Cowboys ride the cattle ranges, put out salt at suitable locations, and keep the animals well scattered.

The country surrounding the Routt Forest has many productive livestock ranches. Their owners raise large quantities of hay to feed stock through the winter, but often need the forest range for summer pasture, to provide well-rounded ranch operations.

Minerals.

Placer gold was discovered at the base of Hahns Peak in 1862, by Joseph Hahn and two companions. Forced to recross the Continental Divide before winter, Hahn was unable to return to his discovery until 1865. That year he found considerable gold, returned to Georgetown and Empire, outfitted a party of 50 men and returned in 1866 to Poverty Bar, as Hahns Peak was originally named. When the party left in the fall, Hahn and two other men, named Doyle and Way, did not go. Way later went out for provisions and did not return. Hahn and Doyle lived through the winter on rabbits. Finally, in an attempt to reach the settlements, Hahn succumbed to illness and starvation, and died on the banks of Muddy Creek, May 30, 1867. His remains were buried later near the spot, about 1 mile from the present town of Kremmling. Hahns Peak, 10,824 feet in elevation, commemorates the name of this early prospector.

Prospecting and mining were continued in this vicinity on a limited scale at a later date, but the total production was less than half a million dollars. No other precious metals in sufficient quantities to be of commercial importance have ever been found on the Routt.

The Forest Service encourages legitimate mining developments within the national forests. No restrictions are placed on prospecting, and the general mining laws apply to operations on forest lands in the same manner as to those on other public lands. National forest timber on a mineral claim may be used without charge for the development of the claim.