| Show r SMOKEY S SAYS 8 If a map of the thc United States showing the location of the National Forests is superimposed over a relief elief map on the same scale most of the National Forests will fit snugly on top of the great mountain chains of the Conti Conti- nent Mountain country was usually usually ally the last to be settled in inthe inthe inthe the West As a result millions of acres of it remained in th the public domain and were proclaimed proclaimed pro pro- claimed forest reserves Later the reserves became National Nation Forests Because so many of the National National Na Na- Forests are are located in high mountain country they exert a great influence u upon on water yater yield for municipal water wa wa- water ter supplies and for irrigation But mOUl mountain tain streams are characterized by steep gradients gradients grad grad- and they toil relentlessly to tear down the very mountains moun moun- mountains that cradle them It takes the action of water falling on parent rock and freezing and thawing to start the long soil-building soil process It takes plant life bacteria spiders beetles ants and earth worms to complete the process and create the living community necessary for soil solI productivity Mountain vegetation keeps soils stable by preventing surface sur sw- face run off and soil erosion thus insuring higher quality stream flow How well man can slow up the action of water on the mountain m ranges in the National National Na Na- Forests will determine h how w long their resources will continue to contribute to the American way of life |
