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, is to preserve and safeguard the country's resources. To improve resource management, the agency oversees several programs. Some of these programs include forest fire research and National Recreation Strategy.
National forests were established in the middle of the 19th century. Edward T. Allen was the first regional forester in the Pacific Northwest Region. In the early decades of the 20th-century, the majority of national forests was managed for timber harvesting or grazing. Because of this, recreation on these lands was not a rapid development. But the Roaring Twenties were a time of great growth in recreation. There were many ways to enjoy national forests, including campgrounds and road construction.
In the 1920s the Forest Service operated 12 regional research centers. These stations were responsible for collecting dendrological data as well as other information that was necessary to manage federal forests. The need for additional research in forestry increased after World War II. In the 1930s was created the Civilian Conservation Corps program. Enrolled personnel were sent to the West to combat wildfires. CCC constructed hundreds of lookout towers to locate and fight fires. More than 1000 men were assigned to fight fires by the 1940s. A few women were also hired, but they rarely worked in the field.
In the 1950s the Forest Service took over primary responsibility for the protection of rural areas from fire. It took the first step towards this goal by creating the Division of Fire Research. It was also authorized to form cooperative units. This legislation changed the way the Forest Service operated and pushed it further into the autonomy it has today.
The Forest Service also created a professional standard for firefighters. It was known as "10 a.m." Policy. This mandated that fires had to be contained by 10 am after being reported. This was an omission that was repeated in Federal agencies.
The Forest Service developed a National Recreation Strategy in response to changing economic and social circumstances as the Roaring Twenties faded. The strategy required public-private partnerships for outdoor recreation.
The creation of a network of computers to track lightning strikes was a key part of the strategy. The network has grown to more than 100 stations in the US and can be used to track fires that are started by lightning storms. The Forest Service has begun to implement an ecosystem-based approach to 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 Wagon Wheel Gap Study on Watersheds was a joint effort by the U.S. Weather Bureau and Forest Service. This study was an important precursor to the creation the National Park Service, and the National Wildlife Refuge System.