Northern
Region
Federal Building
200 E. Broadway
P.O. Box 7669
Missoula, MT
59807-7669
INFO:
(406) 329-3511
FAX:
(406) 329-3347
TDD/TTY:
(406) 329-3510
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Visit Smokey Bear's own web site! It includes games, fire
prevention information and archives.
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About Us
The Northern Region National
Forest lands encompass 25 million acres and is spread over 5 states. Included
are 12 national forests located within the perimeter of northeastern Washington,
northern Idaho, and Montana; and a national grassland in North Dakota
and northwestern South Dakota.
The Region's diversity and
expanse of landscape features a vast array of native species in native
ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. The boundaries extend from
the tall grass prairies of the Dakotas, through high elevation lodgepole
pine forests and sagebrush communities of Montana, to old-growth Douglas-fir
and hemlock forests of northern Idaho.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
As a part of the United States
Department of Agriculture, we show you more about our Forest Service structure
and organization.
HISTORY
Explore the early beginnings
of the Northern Region of the US Forest Service below.
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The creation
of the Northern Region goes back to the earliest days of the Forest
Service. Born almost 100 years ago in the midst of massive destruction
of our Nation's natural resources, the Forest Service represents
a grand experiment to assure that the country's forests and watersheds
would always be protected. |
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Congress took
the first step towards that goal in 1891 when it passed the Forest
Reserve Act. It authorized the creation of over a dozen new forest
reserves to be carved out of public lands bearing forests. |
In
1897, President Grover Cleveland proclaimed 13 additional forest
reserves, 3 in what in now the Northern Region. They were: the Bitterroot
Forest Reserve in Montana and Idaho, the Flathead in Montana, and
the Lewis and Clark in Montana. Today the region consists of 12
forests and 1 grassland spread over 4 states: Montana, northern
Idaho, western North Dakota and a small area in eastern Washington. |
Photograph by Dale Dufour. |
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In 1905, the Forest
Service was created and the forest reserves placed under its management.
Region One, also known as the Northern Region, in Missoula, Montana,
was among the original six regions.
In those days, field
employees had to know woodcraft and horsemanship. Its field officers
were called "forest rangers." For the Ranger exam, men
had to shoot, ride, use an ax, throw a diamond hitch, lash freight
on a mule or horse, and take a written test. Rangers cleared forest
trails, strung telephone wire, and built lookout towers as well
as their own residence. Additionally, one of the duties of early
forest rangers was to assure that the multiple use idea did not
compromise forest, stream or range health. |
In
August 1910, 3 million acres in the Northern Rockies were engulfed
in flames. The Forest Service quickly assembled all available manpower,
but is was not enough. A total of 87 people lost their lives battling
the horrific blazes. As a result, an aggressive fire suppression
policy was put in place. Hundreds of fire towers were built in the
1920's, '30s and '40s. In the 1940s, smokejumper crews were formed.
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During
the 1940's, the Northern Region saw the development of a cadre of
firefighters who parachuted into fire zones. This method of firefighting
was called smokejumping. The program came to be concentrated in
the Northern Region because of its vast roadless areas that were
more inaccessible to firefighters. One of the first bases was established
near the Ninemile Ranger District on the Lolo National Forest. Later
the program expanded to other locations outside Region One. |
Photo used by permission of the National
Smokejumpers Association; from the video "Smokejumpers:
Firefighters From the Sky" |
Photo used by permission of the National
Smokejumpers Association; from the video
"Smokejumpers: Firefighters From the Sky" |
Historically,
National Forest System lands always, by law, have been managed for
multiple use. After World War II, with the return of veterans, a
bay boom took place, instigating new home construction. Timber harvesting
in the 1950s increased dramatically from previous year. In the 1960s,
some timber harvesting practices, particularly clearcutting, precipitated
national debate. Out of that debate came new regulations and a heightened
awareness to assure that Forest Service lands and resources were
not abused by overuse.
For over 100 years, regional
employees have managed vast stretches of public lands on behalf
of the American people. Today that area totals 25 million acres.
Of that total, 40 percent (or 10 million acres) is unroaded backcountry,
of which half, or 5 million acres is within congressionally designated
Wilderness areas. |
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