Mark Twain National Forest

Mark Twain National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
A kayaker on the St. Francis River at Silver Mines Recreation Area in the Mark Twain National Forest
Location	Missouri, USA
Nearest city	Rolla, MO
Area	1,491,840 acres (6,037.3 km2)
Established	September 11, 1939
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf

Map of the 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 1,491,840 acres (6,037.3 km²), 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. 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 unique 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.

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 Feb. 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 Mark Twain National Forest, hundreds of young men at over fifty 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.

Wilderness areas

• Bell Mountain Wilderness
• Devils Backbone Wilderness
• Hercules-Glades Wilderness
• Irish Wilderness
• Paddy Creek Wilderness
• Piney Creek Wilderness
• Rockpile Mountain Wilderness

Counties

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 (2,329.47 sq mi, or 6,033.3 km²) were spread over parts of 29 counties in southern and central Missouri.

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

External links

• "Mark Twain National Forest". USDA Forest Service. Retrieved February 6, 2006.