Sierra Forest Reserve

The Sierra Forest Reserve was a federal reserve in the state of California, established on Feb. 14, 1893 by President Harrison with authorization from section 24 of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891. It was the largest reserve with over 4 million acres and was the second reserve established, the first being the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve.

Also, like the San Gabriel Reserve, the Sierra Reserve beginnings were by petitions sent to the US Congress from Tulare County officials wanting to stop the damage in the Sierra Nevada Range by timber and livestock commercial interests.
The General Land Office which was responsible for management of public lands, sent Benjamin Allen to investigate and report back, which he did, recommending a set aside of land called Tulare Reserve. He originally had five to six million acres for this reserve in his report. Th majority of local citizens were supportive, any protests heard were coming from the sheepmen. Conservationist Abbot Kinney and "Century" magazine editor Robert Underwood Johnson gave their support of the proposed set aside. Allen, in his final report, reduced the size and changed the name to Sierra Forest Reserve. [Godfrey, pp. 38-9]

The new reserve bordered most of Yosemite National Park with its western boundary almost surrounding General Grant and Sequoia national parks. [Godfrey p. 40]

Footnotes

References

Godfrey, Anthony "The Ever-Changing View-A History of the National Forests in California" USDA Forest Service Publishers, 2005 ISBN 1-59351-428-X