The United States Forest Service (USFS), is responsible for the management and resurvey of federal lands as well as for the monumentation of national forest. Its mission it to protect and preserve the country's natural resource. This agency manages many programs to improve management of these resources. Some of these programs include forest fire research and National Recreation Strategy.
National forests were first established in the mid-19th Century. Edward T. Allen, the Pacific Northwest Region's first regional forester, was appointed. The national forests were primarily managed for timber harvesting and grazing in the early 20th century. It was therefore difficult to enjoy these lands for recreation. But the Roaring Twenties were a time of great growth in recreation. From campgrounds to road construction, there were more ways to enjoy national forests than ever before.
The Forest Service maintained 12 regional research stations in the 1920s. These labs were devoted to dendrological data and other information necessary to manage federal forests. However, the need for additional forestry research expanded after World War II. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps program was developed. The Civilian Conservation Corps program sent its enrolled members to battle wildfires in West. CCC created hundreds of towers called lookout towers which were used for finding and fighting fires. By the 1940s, more than a thousand men had been assigned to fight fires. Although there were a few female firefighters, most of them did not work in the field.
In 1950, the Forest Service was given primary responsibility to protect rural areas from wildfires. It took its first steps in this direction with the establishment of the Division of Fire Research. It was also given authority to create cooperative groups. This legislation changed the Forest Service's operations and enabled it to achieve the autonomy that it enjoys today.
The Forest Service also initiated a professional standard for firefighting. It was also known as the "10 am" policy. It stipulated that fires should be contained no later than 10 a.m. upon receiving a report of a burning house. This was a Federal requirement that was repeated by other agencies.
As the Roaring 20s began to fade away, the Forest Service created a National Recreation Strategy to address changing socio-economic conditions. The strategy required the establishment public-private partnerships for outdoor recreational activities.
A major part of the strategy was the creation of a computer network to track lightning strikes. The network now includes over 100 stations throughout the country. It is also used for monitoring lightning-related fires. The Forest Service is now using an ecosystem-based approach for forest management.
Forest Service has made the National Recreation Strategy a success thanks to its efforts. The agency's work in research has also had a significant impact on its operations. The Wagonwheel Gap Watershed Study, for example, was a joint U.S. and U.S. project. Weather Bureau and Forest Service. This study was used as a guideline for the creation of the National Park Service.