Idaho forests protected by men in Civilian Conservation Corps

President Franklin Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps only a few days after taking office on March 4, 1933. His plan was to put unemployed youths from 18 to 25 and unemployed World War I veterans to work in forests, parks and rangelands. The military would run the camps, and the agriculture and interior departments would be responsible for work projects and provide personnel to manage them.

Since the Forest Service, responsible for most camp projects, didn’t have the manpower to manage the thousands enrolling, 24,000 local experienced men, or LEMs, and older experienced men who had experience in woodcraft, were hired to supervise work. And 24,000 veterans were also authorized for enrollment as workers in camps separate from the young men.

Enrollees were paid $30 a month, of which $25 was sent to their families. The remaining $5 could be used in camp canteens or for personal expenses. The government provided room, board, clothing and tools. Enrollees were expected to work 40 hours per week.

As the program evolved, more than 4,000 camps were established throughout the United States and in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Enrollment peaked at 502,000 in September 1935. With the advent of World War II, the CCC was dissolved in 1942.

In Idaho, the Corps’ greatest achievements were protection of the forests from fire, insects and blister rust disease. Forest areas were improved by planting millions of seedlings and thinning trees. In southern Idaho, soil erosion control and water reclamation projects were also beneficial. More than 28,000 Idahoans were enrolled, and more than 37,700 men served in the state. An average of 51 camps a year were operated with a total financial obligation within the state of more than $82 million.

From “The Tree Army, a Pictorial History of the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933-1942” by Stan Cohen, Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula, 1980.