Deschutes National Forest
1001 SW Emkay Drive
Bend, OR 97702
(541) 383-5300
Ochoco National Forest
3160 N.E. 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
(541) 416-6500
Crooked River National Grassland
813 S.W. Hwy. 97
Madras, OR 97741
(541) 475-9272
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between the Forest Service, National
Parks, and State Parks?
- The Forest Service is part of the US Department of
Agriculture and manages the national forests and grasslands,
forestry research and cooperation with forest managers on
State and Private Lands. The Forest Service is dedicated to
multiple-use management for the sustained yield of renewable
resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood and recreation.
Multiple-use means managing resources under the best combination
of uses to benefit the American people while ensuring the
productivity of the land and protecting the quality of the
environment. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest
Service, summed up the mission of the Forest Service - "to
provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount
of people in the long run."
- The National Park Service is part of the US Department
of Interior and focuses on preservation. They preserve, unimpaired,
the natural and cultural resources and values of the national
park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration
of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates
with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural
resource conservation and outdoor recreation.
- State Parks are similar to National Parks but are
managed on state level and can have fewer restrictions.
- When and why was the Forest Service established?
- Congress established the Forest Service in 1905 to provide
quality water and timber for the Nation's benefit. Over the
years, the public has expanded the list of what they want
from national forest and grasslands. Congress responded by
directing the Forest Service to manage national forest for
additional multiple uses and benefits for the sustained yield
of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood,
and recreation. Multiple use means managing resources under
the best combination of uses to benefit the American people
while ensuring the productivity of the land and protecting
the quality of the environment.
- National forests are America's Great Outdoors. They encompass
191 million acres of land, which is an area equivalent to
the size of Texas. National Forests provide opportunities
for recreation in open spaces and natural environments. With
more and more people living in urban areas national forest
are becoming more important and valuable to Americans. People
enjoy a wide variety of activities on national forest, including
backpacking in remote, unroaded wilderness areas, mastering
an all-terrain vehicle over a challenging trail, enjoying
the views along a scenic byway, or fishing a great trout stream,
to mention just a few.
- How are the Forest Service offices organized? There are
four levels of national forest offices:
- National Level: This is commonly called the Washington
Office. The person who oversees the entire forest service
is called the chief. The chief is a federal employee who reports
to the Under Secretary of Natural Resources and Environment
in the US Department of Agriculture. The Chief's staff provides
a broad policy and direction for the agency, works with the
President's Administration to develop a budget to submit to
Congress, provides information to Congress on accomplishments
and monitors activities of the agency.
- Regional Level: There are 9 regions, numbered 1-10
(Region 7 was eliminated some years ago). The regions are
broad geographic areas usually including several states. The
person in charge is called the regional forester. Forest supervisors
of the national forests within a region report to the regional
forester. The regional office staff coordinated activities
between national forest, monitors activities on national forest
to ensure quality operations, provides guidance for forest
plans, and allocates budgets to the forests.
- National Forest: There are 155 national forest and
20 grasslands. Each forest is composed of several ranger districts.
The person in charge of a national forest is called the forest
supervisor. The district rangers from the districts within
the forest work for the forest supervisor. The headquarters
of the national forest is called the supervisor's office.
This level coordinates activities between districts, allocates
the budget, and provides technical support to each district.
- Ranger District: The district ranger and his or her
staff may be your first point of contact with the forest service.
There are more than 600 ranger districts . Each district has
a staff of 10 to 100 people. The districts vary in size form
50,000 acres to more than 1 million acres. Many on-the-ground
activities occur on the ranger districts, including trail
construction and maintenance, operation of campgrounds, and
management of vegetation and wildlife habitat
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