CHATTOOGA ZONING -LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Forest Service Extends Comment Period - Click HERE http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/

At the request of two boating organizations (American Whitewater and American Canoe Association), the Forest Service extended the comment period to August 18^th. The boating organizations have made a nationwide call for all boaters to comments to the Forest Service, and boaters from everywhere are responding.

The Forest Service has posted on their website the first 400 public comments received. To review comments, click HERE         Your comments are needed NOW mail to comments-southern-francismarion-sumter@fs.fed.us or surface mailed to U.S. Forest Service, Chattooga River Project, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.

> Thank the Forest Service for this opportunity to comment on the Draft EA and preferred alternative.

> Thank the Forest Service for involving all affected and interested parties in the analysis process through their public meetings, hearings, workshops and comment periods.

> Thank the Forest Service for a professional, comprehensive, complete, and fair User Capacity Analysis.

> Thank the Forest Service for designing the preferred alternative (#4) with zoning stipulations to minimize conflict between anglers and boaters, avoiding the overuse and user conflicts that have plagued the lower Chattooga for decades.

> Zoning is a time tested, fair, and legal land and water management practice.

> Zoning of conflicting activities is good stewardship.

The preferred alternative (#4): Allows boating from December 1 through March 1 from County Line Trail Road in NC to Burrell’s Ford Bridge on days when the mean daily flow is 450 cfs or more as measured by the Burrell’s Ford gauge.

> Will limit camping and parking, which are needed to protect and enhance the biophysical riparian resources for future generations.

> Will enhance water quality by reducing erosion and sedimentation from visitor overuse and abuse.

> Prohibits the removal of large woody debris to accommodate boating. Large woody debris (LWD) has incredible ecological importance in river systems.

> Provides protection and enhancement of the aesthetic values of the upper Chattooga such as remoteness and wildness.

> Prevents in-stream conflict and interference in the Rock Gorge segment, which will protect and actually enhance its backcountry values of solitude and remoteness for present and future generations as required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act:

> Prevents in-stream conflict and interference in the popular Delayed Harvest segment, which will preserve economic value. DH regulations attract more specialized trout anglers coming from hundreds of miles away.

> Will enhance the quality of experience for all visitors and protects riparian resources.

> Has the proper regard for the rights of others to solitude.

> Preserves backcountry values intact for future generations.

> Is a compromise that is fair to all stakeholders.

The potential environmental effects of the other alternatives:

> Alternatives 1, 2 and 3, by being boating-free, would protect and enhance for future generations the aesthetic backcountry values of the upper Chattooga such as solitude and wildness.

> Alternatives 1 does not improve the biophysical riparian conditions above Highway 28. All other alternatives protect LWD and reduce biophysical damage from trails, campsites, and roadside parking.

> Alternatives 5 and 9, by zoning for limited boating through the Wilderness and backcountry segments, would cause some deterioration of the backcountry Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORV) of solitude and remoteness.

> Alternatives 8 and 10, by allowing boating through Burrell’s Ford and the Delayed Harvest segment, would create conflict and interference with existing users. These alternatives will deteriorate the quality of the recreational experience for all visitors.

> The range of the alternatives is all-inclusive and wide-ranging.

Suggestions to improve the management of the upper Chattooga:

> Additional law enforcement and education of visitors are the keys to the successful implementation and administration of this plan.

> Increase the fines for violations and repeat offenders. Stiff fines are needed as deterrents.

> Instead of boater self-registration, implement an Internet based boating permit system that is activated when adequate flow is predicted.

> The Forrest Service or a contact concessionary must pre-authorize “boatable” days and post this information publicly.

> This Wild and Scenic Chattooga corridor deserves an on-site, fulltime river manager to protect and preserve this national treasure for future generations.

> Involve stakeholders in the implementation and monitoring of the new management plan.

> If the Forest Service is unable to adopt these suggestions to improve management and protection, then Alternative #3 should be the preferred alternative (no boating) and use the freed up funds to restore the upper Chattooga biophysical resources.

# # #

Availability of nearby recreational alternatives:

> For boaters, there are many nearby alternatives. Diverse whitewater boating opportunities with unrestricted access exist on over 60% of the length of the Chattooga.

> Diverse whitewater boating opportunities with unrestricted access exist on all other public streams on all surrounding National Forests.

> West Fork /Overflow Creek with unrestricted boating is slightly more difficult than the upper Chattooga. Overflow and the upper Chattooga are likely to experience the same rain events.

> For anglers, the upper Chattooga offers a unique fishing experience with the solitude and scenery, as well as the quality of the trout fishery, which is not found on other trout rivers in this region.

> For anglers, the boat-free upper Chattooga has uniqueness not found in any other river in the south and east.

The range of alternatives:

The “no boating” group

Alternative 3: Emphasizes, protects and enhances exceptional, year-round, high-quality trout fishing.

Alternative 2: Increases solitude by managing encounters through a permit system and reducing user-created features.

Alternative 1: Maintains current management on all three national forests.

The “zoning for partial boating (no boating in DH section)” group

Alternative 4: Adds additional winter season (12/1 – 3/31) boating opportunities while continuing to emphasize, protect and enhance optimal, year-round, high-quality trout fishing

Alternative 9: Adds a boating zone in the stretch of river most highly rated for creek boating with seasonal (11/1 - 3/31) and lower flow restrictions. Excludes boating from areas with the highest volume of existing users, but the season is longer than other alternatives except 5 and 8.

Alternative 5: Adds year-round boating with lower flow restrictions outside the Chattooga Cliffs reach and the delayed-harvest area to address a combination of biological and social concerns.

The “boating to Highway 28” group

Alternative 7 was eliminated: It provided boating opportunities while limiting impacts to other users by implementing season restrictions (12/1 – 3/10) for boaters.

Alternative 10: Opens the entire upper Chattooga River to boating with season (11/1 through 3/1) and lower flow restrictions

Alternative 8: Opens the entire upper Chattooga River to year-round boating opportunities with no zone, seasonal or flow restrictions; provides adaptive limits on all users.

Alternative 6 was eliminated: It provided year-round boating opportunities restricted only by natural flows.

Comments by Doug Adams:

I would rather the preferred alternative had been Alternative #3 (boat-free year-round, high-quality trout fishing), but I can accept Alternative #4. It preserves a "foot travel only" backcountry zone between Burrell's Ford and the Highway 28 Bridge. It is designed to minimize conflict between visitors to the upper Chattooga.

More important, alternative #4 preserves the ability to zone public recreational waters for all federal agencies (USFS, NPS, and BLM) by section of stream, by time of year, by water level (flow), and by number of boats/day. To maintain the quality of experience for all visitors and/or protect riparian resources, zoning of public recreational waters is absolutely necessary now and in the future, particularly as recreational demands on limited public waters increase near population centers and in the Rocky Mountain Region.

The Forest Service preferred alternative also calls for limiting overnight camping in the corridor of the upper Chattooga to designated sites and closing and/or rehabilitating a number of user-created campsites and trails. To relieve congestion and reduce impacts, roadside parking will also be prohibited within ¼ mile of Burrell’s Ford Bridge. In addition to ‘Put and Take’ trout fishing, Burrell’s Ford is the most popular trailhead for the Ellicott Rock Wilderness. It is the trailhead for Kings Creek Falls, the trailhead for Spoonauger Falls, the trailhead for the backcountry trails down the river, plus the Burrell’s Ford walk-in campground. As a result, the Burrell’s Ford Bridge area is the most congested and overused/abused section of the upper Chattooga. Limiting camping and parking are needed to protect the area for future generations.

I believe that the Forest Service‘s preferred alternative is a compromise that is fair to all stakeholders. It is obvious that not all recreation activities are compatible. Zoning ensures that different and conflicting types of users are physically separated Zoning is a time tested, fair, and legal land and water management practice. Zoning of conflicting activities is good stewardship. I believe the zoning stipulations in Alternative #4 will provide good protection for the upper Chattooga backcountry’s Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORV) of solitude and remoteness for present and future generations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to help preserve the Chattooga experience for future generations. If you have already sent your comments and now have thought of something else, please send another E-mail. That's fine, the Forest Service wants to consider all information.

Happy Trails, Doug Adams – A Chattooga visitor since 1955

E-mail edadams1@alltel.net

For more information: Click here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/forest/projects/ChattoogaDraftEA.shtml

For the comparison of alternatives, click HERE and go to pages 19 and 20.

For a discussion of the effect of boating on the social environment, click HERE and go to pages 88 – 96.

For a complete description of the USFS’s preferred alternative, click HERE and go to pages 109-112.

Please go to www.stopi3.org and see what is going on. You should consider having your chapter or state council join as a supporting member. The Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited, along with the Rabun Chapter, are members. We all have "a dog in this fight" as the proposed route could greatly damage trout water. The Stop I-3 Coalition is working hard and needs our support. Your questions can best be answered by the website or direct contact with the coalition. For one Legislator’s thoughts click here.

SPAWNING TROUT IN TRIBUTARY STREAMS (STITS Study by DNR), CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER

There have been sightings on a tributary of the Chattahoochee (Cabin Creek) of spawning trout. The Georgia DNR has now authorized a study of naturally reproducing trout on the Hooch. Four Ga TU Chapters will monitor approximately twenty streams along the river corridor beginning in February. If it can be shown that more streams have the ability to support reproduction, there are possibilities for enhanced fisheries management. Bruce Ricky coordinated the STITS training, and people from four Georgia TU Chapters are now able to train Chapters volunteers for this survey. Some of our members fish the corridor (especially around Delayed Harvest season). If you can help, you will contibute to enhancing the fishery- AND see where you can catch some fish. Bruce Ricky has ordered some necessary equipment and is contemplating holding a training session Jan 19 and 20. If you would like to participate, contact him at   bruceandjulie@comcast.net . He can give you the names of the other “trainers”. TU can be a valuable assest to this study.

Preserving our Treasured Rivers: Campaign for the Conasauga

The campaign to declare Georgia’s first Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW) along the headwaters of the Conasauga River has an end in sight! As most on you know, the Headwaters of the Conasauga is an amazing spot- nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Cohutta Wilderness Management Area, the river provides cool, clean water for an abundance of fresh water fish and mussels, many of them on the endangered or threatened species list.

In fact, the Conasauga has been called one of the most bio-diverse river ecosystems in the world—a feature which is on display in the Conasauga snorkeling hole, just over the state border in Tennessee If any river is deserving of the first ONRW title in the state it is certainly the Conasauga!

After meeting several times with folks at the EPD we have settled on a rough timeline—November-The DNR board will be briefed on our ONRW proposal

December & January- EPD will open a comment period and respond to comments

February- DNR board will vote on the ONRW proposal

From a letter to the Dept. of Natural Resources from Mr. Jim Dellinger on October 15, 2007…..

“This is to inform you that as a longtime property owner in the watershed of the Conasauga River I wholeheartedly support the effort to have the River, as it flows throught the Wilderness Area of Murray County, Georgia designated as Georgia’s first Outsanding National Resource Water (“ONRW”) river.

My property, the old B.J. Rice place, adjoins the Wilderness area and totals approximately 1400 acres. The Conasauga runs through my land for approximately one and one half miles as it flows North and North East to join the Jacks River. It would be most pleasing to have this section of the river also designated ONRW at some future date. This property has been under my stewardship for thirty six years

This pristine river has always been treated with the utmost of love and respect by my family. On many occasion I have walked the old railroad bed along the river upstream for several miles to reach the habitat area of native Rainbow and German Brown Trout. The Conasauga has given me and my fishing buddies many days of memorable fly fishing….”

Georgia Trout Unlimited Forms Partnership with
Georgia Wildlife Federation's Camouflage Coalition

I am excited to announce our groundbreaking partnership with Georgia Wildlife Federation’s Camouflage Coalition! We join thousands of conservationists, anglers and hunters throughout Georgia.

The Camo Coalition is a program of the Georgia Wildlife Federation formed to protect Georgia's wildlife resources and fishing and hunting heritage. Approaching conservation issues from a scientific viewpoint, guided by research, experience and sound management principles, the Coalition has made a commitment to arm the public with facts so it can do its part to direct the future of Georgia’s natural resources.

As important issues arise, Georgia Trout Unlimited will partner on those that correspond to our mission to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. The Camo Coalition will send you a Camo Alert email. You will see the TU logo clearly displayed when you receive these partnered alerts. An editable message, which Georgia Trout Unlimited has reviewed, along with a list of recipients is provided by the alert system. After you approve the message with the click of a button, it is emailed to the appropriate decision-makers to let them know what you think. This is an easy, convenient way for you to support positions that Georgia Trout Unlimited feels are important. You can also unsubscribe to the alerts if you desire.

The Camo Coallition also sends out alerts that do not affect Trout Unlimited’s mission. We will not be partners on these alerts that cover hunting, warm and salt water angling and other conservation issues. If you are not already a member of the Camouflage Coallition, I encourage you to join independent of Georgia Trout Unlimited in order to receive alerts about those issues not covered by TU’s mission that you may have an interest. Click the Take Action button to receive Camo Coalition alerts in addition to those sent in partnership with Georgia Trout Unlimited.

Charlie Breithaupt, Georgia Trout Unlimited  Jerry McCollum, Chairman President and CEO Camouflage Coalition

David Waller, Georgia Wildlife Federation Georgia Wildlife Federation

Join Now and Test Out the System:

By clicking on the take action link, you can sign up to receive additional alerts, test out the system, and find out more about Georgia Wildlife Federation and the Camo Coalition. Please take action. The Georgia Wildlife Federation and its Camo Coalition provides powerful leadership and advocacy for the enhancement of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit of Georgia’s hunters, fishermen, and others interested in wildlife conservation. Georgia Wildlife Federation is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Visit the Coalition website for more information on our Privacy Policy or to unsubscribe.