The history of Bannock County, IdahoSaunders, A. C. (Arthur Charles)
History
The history of Bannock County, Idaho
Saunders, A. C. (Arthur Charles)
Bannock County (Idaho) -- History
The early work was experimental and principally valuable as indicating
the future methods to be followed. However, actual production of stock
was begun on an extensive scale in 1911, and since that time half a
million or more young trees have been shipped each year to the forests
of southern Idaho and Utah. The present capacity of the nursery is
about 2,000,000 plants a year and the nursery is firmly on its feet
with a record of successful production of stock for several years at a
cost not exceeding five dollars per thousand for the stock supplied.
At present there are probably three or four million young trees in the
nursery, the principal species being Douglas fir and yellow pine.
Stream flow protection is the first object of the service on the area
of the Pocatello city watershed. During the time that this area was
part of the Indian reservation there was not much difficulty with
stream flow protection, but when it was opened, the citizens received
an object lesson in the effects of free grazing that led to the
inclusion of the watershed in a forest and the prohibition of grazing.
The protection of this area has been devoted to prevention of fire,
prohibition of grazing and replanting to forest. During the last
five years, not five acres of this area has been burned. Control of
grazing is more difficult because the boundaries are not fenced, but
it may be stated that with the exclusion of stock, the forage has been
completely replaced, forming a sight such as gladdened the eye of the
first explorer and incidentally a cover that prevents erosion and rapid
run-off of water. The streams are almost always clear and the city of
Pocatello has an exceptionally pure and palatable supply of water.
The planting operations will probably have no effect on the water
supply of the present generation, as it is being undertaken for the
future timber supply and present experimental value. About 200,000
trees are being planted a year and recently with good success. The
conifers planted are slow growing, but the early plantations are a foot
or two high and even the present generation should see fine groves as a
result.
Lately the question of stocking this area with game has been
considered. It is pointed out that the area is an ideal natural
range for elk, deer and other game, also that such a use would not
interfere with the stream protection, but would furnish meat, sport and
attractiveness to the region and would tend to reduce the fire danger.
To provide complete use with complete protection will be the next
logical step.
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