San Bernardino Forest Reserve

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The San Bernardino Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in California on February 25, 1893 with 737,280 acres (2,983.7 km2) in the San Bernardino Mountains. After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with San Gabriel National Forest and Santa Barbara National Forest to create Angeles National Forest, and the name was discontinued. On September 30, 1925 San Bernardino National Forest was re-established from parts of Angeles and Cleveland National Forest. [1]

General Land Office former agency of the US Department of the Interior

The General Land Office (GLO) was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury. Starting with the passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785, which created the Public Land Survey System, the Treasury Department had already overseen the survey of the "Northwest Territory", including what is now the state of Ohio.

California State of the United States of America

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second-most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.

San Bernardino Mountains mountain range in Southern California

The San Bernardino Mountains are a high and rugged mountain range in Southern California in the United States. Situated north and northeast of San Bernardino and spanning two California counties, the range tops out at 11,489 feet (3,502 m) at San Gorgonio Mountain – the tallest peak in all of Southern California. The San Bernardinos form a significant region of wilderness and are popular for hiking and skiing.

The reserve was the fourth one established in the state and was created on the same day as the Trabuco Canyon Reserve. [2] And, like the other reserves, the San Bernardino Reserve's purpose was the protection of watersheds and water resources. It was bordered by the San Gabriel Reserve on the east at Cajon Pass and extended over all of the San Bernardino Mountains to the Mojave Desert. [3]

Cajon Pass mountain pass in Southern California

Cajon Pass is a mountain pass between the San Bernardino Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California in the United States. It was created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault. Located in the Mojave Desert, the pass is an important link from the Greater San Bernardino Area to the Victor Valley, and northeast to Las Vegas.

Mojave Desert desert in southwestern United States

The Mojave Desert is an arid rain-shadow desert and the driest desert in North America. It is in the southwestern United States, primarily within southeastern California and southern Nevada, and it occupies 47,877 sq mi (124,000 km2). Very small areas also extend into Utah and Arizona. Its boundaries are generally noted by the presence of Joshua trees, which are native only to the Mojave Desert and are considered an indicator species, and it is believed to support an additional 1,750 to 2,000 species of plants. The central part of the desert is sparsely populated, while its peripheries support large communities such as Las Vegas, Barstow, Lancaster, Palmdale, Victorville, and St. George.

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Angeles National Forest

The Angeles National Forest (ANF) of the U.S. Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains, primarily within Los Angeles County in southern California. The ANF manages a majority of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

San Bernardino National Forest

The San Bernardino National Forest is a United States National Forest in Southern California encompassing 823,816 acres (3,333.87 km2) of which 677,982 acres (2,743.70 km2) are federal. The forest is made up of two main divisions, the eastern portion of the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Ranges, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular Ranges. Elevations range from 2,000 to 11,499 feet. The forest includes seven wilderness areas: San Gorgonio, Cucamonga, San Jacinto, South Fork San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, Cahuilla Mountain and Bighorn Mountain. Forest headquarters are located in the city of San Bernardino. There are district offices in Lytle Creek, Idyllwild, and Fawnskin.

The San Gabriel Timberland Reserve was the first federal reserve in the state of California. It was established on December 20, 1892 by proclamation order of President Benjamin Harrison and consisted of 555,520 acres (2,248.1 km2) extending from Pacoima to Cajon Pass in Southern California. The San Gabriel Timberland Reserve became the Angeles National Forest in December 1908.

Diamond Mountain National Forest was established as the Diamond Mountain Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on July 14, 1905 with 626,724 acres (2,536.26 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 a portion of Diamond Mountain was transferred to Plumas National Forest and the remainder to Lassen National Forest. The name was discontinued.

Magdalena National Forest was established as the Magdalena Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico on November 5, 1906, with 153,781 acres (622.33 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908, San Mateo National Forest was added. On February 23, 1909, the forest was combined with Datil National Forest

Mount Taylor National Forest was established as the Mount Taylor Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico on October 5, 1906 with 110,525 acres (447.28 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On April 16, 1908 Mount Taylor was combined with Manzano National Forest.

Monterey National Forest was established as the Monterey Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on June 25, 1906 with 335,195 acres (1,356.49 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 Pinnacles National Forest and San Benito National Forest were added. On August 8, 1919 the entire forest was transferred to Santa Barbara National Forest and the name was discontinued. The lands presently exist in Los Padres National Forest.

Santa Barbara National Forest was established as the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on December 22, 1903 with 1,838,323 acres (7,439.43 km2) by consolidation of Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake and Santa Ynez Forest Reserves. It included areas of the San Rafael Mountains and Santa Ynez Mountains.

The Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in California on March 2, 1892 with 1,644,594 acres (6,655.44 km2) of the San Rafael Mountains in Santa Barbara County, California.

The Santa Ynez Forest Reserve was established by the General Land Office in California on October 22, 1899 with 145,280 acres (587.9 km2). On December 22, 1903 the entire forest was combined with Pine Mountain and Zaka Lake Forest Reserve to create the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve and the name was discontinued.

San Luis Obispo National Forest was established as the San Luis Obispo Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in California on June 25, 1906 with 363,350 acres (1,470.4 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 part of the forest was combined with Santa Barbara National Forest, the remainder was used to establish San Luis National Forest, and the name was discontinued.

San Francisco Mountains National Forest was established as the San Francisco Mountains Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in Arizona on August 17, 1898 with 975,360 acres (3,947.1 km2). After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905,it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with other lands to create Coconino National Forest and the name was discontinued.

San Gabriel National Forest was established as the San Gabriel Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on December 20, 1892 with 555,520 acres (2,248.1 km2). After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907.

Trabuco Canyon National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in California on July 6, 1907 with 153,387 acres (620.74 km2) when the name was changed from Trabuco Cañon Forest Reserve and land was added. On July 1, 1908 the forest was combined with San Jacinto National Forest to create Cleveland National Forest and the name was discontinued.

Trabuco Cañon National Forest was established as the Trabuco Cañon Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on February 25, 1893 with 49,920 acres (202.0 km2). In 1905 all federal forests were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. On July 6, 1907 the name was changed to Trabuco Canyon National Forest and lands were added.

Warner Mountains National Forest was established as the Warner Mountains Forest Reserve by the General Land Office in California on November 29, 1904 with 306,518 acres (1,240.43 km2). After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the forest was combined with Modoc National Forest and the name was discontinued.

Wet Mountains National Forest was established as the Wet Mountains Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado on June 12, 1905 with 239,621 acres (969.71 km2). It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the forest was combined with San Isabel National Forest and the name was discontinued.

Cucamonga Wilderness

The Cucamonga Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area located in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains, in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

Sand to Snow National Monument protected area in California

Sand to Snow National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located in San Bernardino County and into northern Riverside County, Southern California.

Cranston Fire 2018 wildfire in California

The Cranston Fire was a wildfire that burned in southwest Riverside County, California, in the United States. The fire was started on July 25, 2018 by Brandon M. McGlover, in an act of arson. The fire burned a total of 13,139 acres (53 km2), before it was fully contained on August 10. The Cranston Fire impacted the communities of Idyllwild and Mountain Center, as well as recreational activities in the Lake Hemet area, San Bernardino National Forest and Mount San Jacinto State Park. Over 7,000 people were evacuated due to the Cranston Fire.

References

  1. Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005), National Forests of the United States (pdf), The Forest History Society
  2. Cermak, Robert W. Fire In The Forest-A History of Forest Fire Control on the National Forests in California 1898-1956 USDA Forest Service Publishers, 2005. p. 25
  3. Godfrey, Anthony The Ever-Changing View-A History of the National Forests in California USDA Forest Service Publishers, 2005. pp. 40-41

The Forest History Society is an American non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of forest and conservation history. The society was established in 1946 and incorporated in 1955.