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Mark Twain National Forest

Coordinates: 37°38′13″N 91°05′24″W / 37.637°N 91.09°W / 37.637; -91.09
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Mark Twain National Forest
A kayaker on the St. Francis River at Silver Mines Recreation Area in the Mark Twain National Forest
Map showing the location of Mark Twain National Forest
Map showing the location of Mark Twain National Forest
LocationMissouri, United States
Nearest cityRolla, MO
Coordinates37°38′13″N 91°05′24″W / 37.637°N 91.09°W / 37.637; -91.09
Area1,491,840 acres (6,037.3 km2)[1]
EstablishedSeptember 23, 1939[2]
Named forMark Twain
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteMark Twain National Forest

Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is a U.S. National Forest located in the southern half of Missouri. MTNF was established on September 11, 1939. It is named for author Mark Twain, a Missouri native. The MTNF covers 3,068,800 acres (12,419 km2) of which 1,506,100 acres (6,095 km2) is public owned, 78,000 acres (320 km2) of which are Wilderness, and National Scenic River area. MTNF spans 29 counties and represents 11% of all forested land in Missouri. MTNF is divided into six distinct ranger districts: Ava-Cassville-Willow Springs, Eleven Point, Houston-Rolla, Cedar Creek, Poplar Bluff, Potosi-Fredericktown, and the Salem. The six ranger districts actually comprise nine overall unique tracts of forests. Its headquarters are in Rolla, Missouri.

Some unique features of the Mark Twain include Greer Spring, which is the largest spring on National Forest land and part of the Eleven Point National Scenic River, and pumps an average of 214 million gallons of water per day into the river.[3] The public can also visit the Glade Top Trail National Scenic Byway, which offers views of over 30 miles (48 km) to the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. The 350-mile Ozark Trail system winds through much of the National Forest.

History

The Mark Twain National Forest, as we know it today, was created on February 17, 1976. The Mark Twain National forest has a rather unusual history – for it was once known as both the Clark National Forest and the Mark Twain National Forest – both being proclaimed on September 11, 1939.

Map of the National Forest

In June 1973, the Clark and Mark Twain NF were brought under one headquarters in Rolla and became known as the National forests in Missouri. On February 17, 1976, the forests were combined and renamed the Mark Twain National Forest.

Missouri’s only national forest, The Mark Twain, encompasses roughly 1.5 million acres, mostly within the Ozark Highlands. Located across southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, the Ozark Highlands are an ancient landscape characterized by large permanent springs, over 5,000 caves, rocky barren glades, old volcanic mountains and nationally recognized streams. Portions of the Ozarks were never under oceans, nor were the areas glaciated.

In the 1870s, citizens of southern Missouri began an era of extensive logging of the state's native oak, hickory, and pine forests. Lumber mills were commonplace, but by the 1920s they had disappeared, along with much of the state's native forests. Thus, in 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the MTNF into existence. In March 1933, he also created the Emergency Conservation Work Act, better known as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the area that would later become the Mark Twain National Forest, hundreds of young men at over 50 CCC sites worked at building roads and planting hundreds of acres of pine to preserve and enhance the natural resources of southern Missouri. Many of their contributions can still be visited and enjoyed today including the Rolla Ranger Station Historic District and Winona Ranger Station Historic District.[4][5]

Wilderness areas

Counties

County Area
Acres Hectares
Oregon County 104,721 42,379
Ripley County 97,437 39,431
Iron County 96,047 38,869
Carter County 90,641 36,681
Reynolds County 89,933 36,395
Wayne County 88,372 35,763
Shannon County 83,934 33,967
Washington County 82,133 33,238
Dent County 73,011 29,547
Taney County 65,953 26,690
Phelps County 65,379 26,458
Barry County 55,187 22,333
Christian County 52,260 21,149
Madison County 51,170 20,708
Howell County 50,504 20,438
Crawford County 50,048 20,254
Texas County 49,581 20,065
Butler County 48,494 19,625
Douglas County 41,030 16,604
Pulaski County 39,177 15,854
Ozark County 38,672 15,650
Laclede County 30,542 12,360
Callaway County 12,467 5,045
Stone County 10,335 4,182
Sainte Genevieve County 10,254 4,150
Wright County 7,159 2,897
Boone County 4,102 1,660
Bollinger County 1,646 666
Saint Francois County 673 272

Although it is far from being the largest National Forest in acreage, Mark Twain National Forest is located in more counties than any other. As of September 30, 2007, its 1,490,862 acres (2,329.472 sq mi; 6,033.30 km2) were spread over parts of 29 counties in southern and central Missouri.[6]

Climate

Climate data for Mark Twain National Forest
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24) 		80
(27) 		88
(31) 		90
(32) 		94
(34) 		100
(38) 		107
(42) 		104
(40) 		99
(37) 		94
(34) 		83
(28) 		75
(24) 		107
(42)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 42
(6) 		48
(9) 		58
(14) 		68
(20) 		75
(24) 		83
(28) 		88
(31) 		87
(31) 		80
(27) 		69
(21) 		57
(14) 		44
(7) 		67
(19)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 21
(−6) 		25
(−4) 		33
(1) 		42
(6) 		52
(11) 		61
(16) 		65
(18) 		64
(18) 		55
(13) 		44
(7) 		34
(1) 		25
(−4) 		43
(6)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28) 		−11
(−24) 		−2
(−19) 		18
(−8) 		28
(−2) 		40
(4) 		44
(7) 		39
(4) 		30
(−1) 		19
(−7) 		4
(−16) 		−10
(−23) 		−19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.1
(53) 		2.29
(58) 		4.18
(106) 		4.28
(109) 		4.95
(126) 		4.22
(107) 		3.70
(94) 		3.40
(86) 		3.91
(99) 		3.44
(87) 		3.91
(99) 		3.30
(84) 		43.68
(1,108)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 6.7
(17) 		4.6
(12) 		2.1
(5.3) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0.9
(2.3) 		7.1
(18) 		22
(56.12)
Source: [7]

References

  1. ^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  2. ^ "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). Forest History Society. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Mark Twain National Forest MPS
  6. ^ Table 6 - NFS Acreage by State, Congressional District and County - United States Forest Service - September 30, 2007
  7. ^ [2][permanent dead link‍]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Twain National Forest.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mark Twain National Forest.
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