Weeks Act

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On 1 March 1911, the Weeks Act (36 Stat. 961) was passed. It authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to "Examine, locate and recommend for purchase ... such lands within the watersheds of navigable streams as ... may be necessary to the regulation of flow of navigable streams...." The Act further states that lands so acquired will be reserved and administered as national forests. Prior to this time, on 1 February 1905, control over the forest reserves had been transferred from the Land Office of the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture. Responsibility for these lands was given to Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot. With these lands he inherited the power to issue permits for water power development on National Forest Lands.http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/history/pdf/A_History_of_Water_Resource_001.pdf

The Weeks Act was originally intended for purchase of eastern lands, but later western lands were acquired under the Weeks Act.http://www.lib.duke.edu/forest/Research/usfscoll/policy/Agency_Organization/NF_System/weeks_law/index.html

The Weeks Act was substantially expanded and modified by the Clarke-McNary Act in 1924.

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