The third McNary bill failed to receive the favorable endorsement of the Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys, and thus the Diamond Lake extension issue lay dormant for several years. The Park Service continued to make pleas for the preservation of the scenic values of the region, but little could be done with the growing opposition of the U.S. Forest Service, the Diamond Lake concessionaires operating under Forest Service lease, the owners of private cottages, the State Game Commission, and grazing and hunting interests. [75]
In 1926 the Park Service focused its efforts on Crater Lake National Park expansion by submitting proposals to the President’s Coordinating Committee on National Parks and Forests. The committee had been established to investigate and make recommendations regarding transfer of lands between the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. In August the committee held hearings regarding Crater Lake expansion in Klamath Falls, Diamond Lake, and Medford. The Park Service recommended three extensions to the park boundaries- -areas that were of outstanding scenic and recreational value that would relieve the park of administrative burdens that were “fast becoming critical.” The three extensions were:
1. DIAMOND LAKE EXTENSION: The proposed extension is in general accord with the McNary Senate Bills, but reduces Senator McNary’s proposed extension by 36 square miles. This extension would bring the Park boundaries one mile north of Diamond Lake and would include Mounts Thielson and Bailey.
Area embraces approximately 83.5 square miles.
2. UNION CREEK EXTENSION: This is an extension westward that includes a portion of the headwaters of the Rogue River; to secure the immense recreational opportunities of the Union Creek area; to secure gravity water supply; and to provide an all-year Park headquarters of vital importance to administration .
Area embraces approximately 34 square miles.
3. KLAMATH EXTENSION: A small extension southward, worked out on the ground with the Forest Supervisor, to secure mutually advantageous positions.
Area embraces approximately 3.8 square miles.
The Park Service also proposed the elimination of three areas from the park. The three areas contained valuable timber, grazing tracts, and private inholdings that were a source of irritation to park administration. These areas were:
1. NORTHEAST AREA: Designed to eliminate 12 square miles from the northeast section of the present Park, an area containing a very valuable stand of mature yellow pines, very accessible, contiguous to timber now being marketed under Forest supervision. Immediately marketable yellow pine in this area is estimated by Forest Service officers at 100,000,000 board feet.
2. NORTHWEST AREA: To eliminate 18 square miles of timber and grazing desired by the Forest Service. Also desired by them to improve the administration of the Crater National Forest by giving access to sources of streams, and a better topographical boundary.
3. SOUTHEAST AREA: Eliminate approximately 13 square miles of valuable timber land contiguous to Forest timber now being marketed. It also eliminates private holdings that embarrass Park administration.
All told the proposals provided for a total extension of the park boundaries of some 118 square miles and eliminations totaling 43 square miles for a net enlargement of 75 square miles. As a result of continuing opposition by the Forest Service, however, none of the proposed park extensions or eliminations were approved. On August 6 the committee met in Medford and voted unanimously to disapprove all of the Park Service proposals. Later in 1932 a portion of the proposed Klamath extension would be added to the park, thus providing for a more attractive southern entrance amid a stand of yellow pine. [76]
