E. National Forest lands are the most massive scenic, ecological, and recreational asset in public ownership in the Basin, and Forest Service programs have beneficial effects far beyond the National Forests' limits. Action specifically relating to these lands and programs is vital to landscape protection and recreational development, and should involve the following: 1. To preserve the natural beauty of the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River above their confluence, to assure public access, to provide for development and public use of the recreational potential of the streams, mountains, and forests in this area and conservation of its watersheds and natural resources, a National Recreation Area should be established, to be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture and to be comprised of the existing Massanutten Unit of the George Washington National Forest and such adjacent areas as may be needed to accomplish the purposes enumerated above. 2. Development of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, designated by Congress in 1965, should be accelerated. 3. Other National Forest lands in the Basin should also be adapted to a variety of compatible recreational uses, and their beauty and natural functioning protected by watershed management and the improvement of wildlife habitat, at an accelerated pace for early results. 4. In the interest of consolidation of this great resource, the Secretary of Agriculture should continue discussion with States, local governments, and private citizens, leading to extension of the National Forests on the upper reaches of the Potomac. 5. To enhance and increase the widely sought opportunity for water-related recreation in the National Forest lands as well as to contribute to the Forests' functional health, two measures are recommended: a. Acceleration of work to improve the hydrologic characteristics of these lands, with the purpose of decreasing damage from rapid runoff and increasing the flow of clean natural water in the streams during critical low-flow periods. b. Installation of that portion of the Department of Agriculture's upstream watershed improvement program consisting of some 40 small reservoirs within the National Forests, and recreational development of the sites in a manner compatible with State recreation planning. 6. To encourage and help non-Federal forest landowners in the Basin to maintain forest cover and develop their woodlands for fish and game production, natural beauty, and recreation, existing Forest Service, State, and private forestry programs should be accelerated. [Illustration]