Show FISHLAKE inspection two interesting conditions wore were found on the fishlake fishlike Fish lake by district engineer J P martin on ills his recent trip to that forest in chalk creek canyon through which the forest service is proposing to build a road the first known storm resulting in floods occurred about 40 years ago these floods tilled filled the canyon with bo bowl ders in many luaces the entire width in some places deep gullies have been formed in these boulder bottoms to the sorrow of the people of fillmore prior to about 10 years ago heavy floods were frequent occurring five or six times a year it was believed by the citizens of fillmore that the great floods and subsequent erosion were due to overgrazing in the watershed and particularly premature grazing which destroyed the vegetation and sod they evidently have learned a I 1 lesson esson from this tor for during the last ten deais no floods of any consequence have occurred in the canyon they are taking every precaution possible to insure a good water supply and good protection against floods it was found that the grazing season in the watershed is now open but the people absolutely refuse to enter any stock on it until after june 15 dy by following this custom the people feel that the watershed which is now coming back in grass and browse will eventually be restored to its original condition and will then accommodate a large amount of stock and also give them security in water supply and protection from floods the other condition was the neat manner in which the forest officers are keeping the forest the citizens who use the forest tor for r recreation and other purposes are following the example set by the forest officers all papers tin cans and leftovers left overs from lunches disappear immediately from sight oak creek Is a recreation center improved and kept up by oak I 1 city while the area is olento open to grazing as far as the forest service rethe people do not allow stock to en w galation gu lation is concerned at this alii s time ter until june 15 and they refuse to allow the stock in the recreation area after august 15 at which time the use is confined to recreation purposes it if all forest officers would follow the example of those on the fishlake fishlike Fish lake and could reach the point where the citizens in the vicinity of the forest would feel the need of forest protection like those in the vicinity of the fishlike fishlake Fish Fisli lake the danger from tire fire floods and erosion bould be greatly reduced 0 |