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Hills, which support mainly softwood stands of lodge- pole pine, Douglas fir, spruce, and ponderosa pine. Twenty-three percent of the forest land is in the Ozark Plateaus province where the growth is mostly hardwood stands of walnut, oak, hickory, and pine. Total timber products output in the Missouri Basin was nearly 139 million cubic feet in 1962, with 92 percent from roundwood and the balance from plant by-products. Much of the forest and woodlands is also grazed, accounting for the duplication in the inventory by categories and enhancing their agricultural value due to the multiplicity of use. Classification of Agricultural land In -the eight subbasins there is little variation in the percent of land used for agricultural production. However, area alone is nearly meaningless as a measure for productive capability of the agricultural resource. Rather the value of land for agriculture is dependent upon exis ting physical characteristics, clima tic condi- tions, and water availability. Thus, private agricultural land in the basin is classified on the basis of eight capability classes according to the intensity of use that can be sustained safely on these lands, and the treatment that may be necessary for such sustained use, as illustrated in figure 17. The risk of land damage or limitation in use becomes progressively greater from class I to class VIII. It is considered generally that land capability classes I through IV are arable and can be used safely for crop production over extended periods of time with proper conservation treatment and management. Land too wet for agricultural use is classified as class V. Classes VI and VII are best suited for grass, woods, and wildlife. Class VIII is typically badlands and rocky areas. The acreage of private agricultural land is shown by major use categories within the eight capability classes in table II. Table 11 - CAPABILITY CLASS AND PRESENT USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, MISSOURI BASINl Land Pasture Forest Other Capability and and Agricultural Oass Cropland Range Woodland Land Total (1l1ousand Acres) I 5,191 634 305 169 6,299 II 32,911 8,374 866 898 43,049 III 43,471 21,564 1,192 1,025 67,252 IV 13,518 19,435 1,261 354 34,568 V 387 2,124 169 24 2,704 VI 7,224 60,200 3,253 411 7 I ,088 VII 1,078 38,29 I 6,089 207 45,665 V III 9 2,042 519 473 3,043 - - - - TOTAL 103,789 152,664 13,654 3,561 273,668 1 Does not include agricultural production from Federal lands. Source: USDA National Inventory of Soil and Water Conservation Needs, 1958. Fish and Wildlife dedicated lands owned by various Federal agencies and State game and fish departments representing 0.3 per- The Missouri Basin supports an unusual variety of fish cent of the basin, or, lands where fish and wildlife is one and wildlife species, often in a primitive environment. of the principal multipurpose uses in both private and Their value is principally for hunting and fishing and a public ownership applicable to 2.7 percent of the basin. growing environmental, aesthetic, and scientific interest. The distribution of this 9,900,000 acres of lands and Certain fur animals and many kinds of fish have a waters within the eight subbasins is shown in figure 18 significant commercial value. The trades and businesses without regard to ownership. associated with the enjoyment and harvest of fish and A far greater acreage of lands and waters, 309 million wildlife resources are increasing, both locally and acres, is important to fish and wildlife as an ancillary nationally. Because of its central location and the use. Agriculture, because of its land-area magnitude, quality and variety of fish and wildlife;-thebasin-is-one--supportslhe-majority-of-wildlife-and-offers-a-grea-r--- of the Nation's prime hunting and fishing areas. opportunity for general enhancement of wildlife values Although fish and wildlife is the primary use on only in the basin. Most lands and waters in this category are a small portion of the lands and water aggregating about in private ownership as shown in figure 19, and wildlife 9,900,000 acres .as shown in table 12, these lands and enhancement measures thus are dependent upon private waters are of special importance since much of the area initiative. is in public ownershIp and managed as wildlife refuges, The fishing waters of the basin include 43,500 special production areas, fish hatcheries, and other uses. miles of streams and 1,422,000 surface acres of im- Primary fish and wildlife lands and water may be either pounded waters and natural lakes distributed as shown 42