The U.S. Forest Service says it "prefers" to completely close a popular 4-wheel-drive trail system in the Nantahala National Forest.
The Nantahala National Forest is the same forest as the Cherokee National Forest, it simply goes by a different name on the North Carolina side of the border. For many years there has been a 39-mile system called the Upper Tellico OHV Trail System (OHV stands for "Off-Highway Vehicles"). It is located on the Tusquitee Ranger District, in Cherokee County, NC.
There were complaints filed by several organizations, including the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), that the off-road activity was causing severe erosion, impacting the Tellico River which is classified as a native brook trout stream. The Forest Service conducted a full-scale Environmental Assessment (EA).
That EA has been completed and the Service has reached six alternatives for long-term management of the area. The Service's "preferred" alternative is to completely close the Tellico OHV system.
North Carolina Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard said, “Our analysis indicates that on-the-ground conditions are worse than we first thought,” Hilliard said. “The EA shows that the Upper Tellico OHV Trail System has extensive damage and contributes unacceptable levels of sediment into the Tellico River and its tributaries. The Forest Service is in violation of its own standards and North Carolina state water quality standards because visible sediment from the OHV trails is reaching the Tellico River and its tributaries in hundreds of locations,” Hilliard said.
SELC Senior Attorney DJ Gerken said, "It's clear the upper Tellico watershed is the wrong place for a designated ORV area. After years of discussion, we are glad the agency ultimately took a hard, honest look at this problem. It's not surprising that, faced with the mounting evidence of dirt and mud polluting streams throughout the watershed, the agency concluded the best way to meet the standards and protect water quality now and in the future is to close the system. We support that decision."
Before closing the area however, the Forest Service is seeking public comments on the six alternatives for long-term management of the Upper Tellico OHV Trail System.
The Forest Service News Release reads:
In June 2008, the Forest Service initially proposed a reduction in the size of the trail system in order to stem the flow of sediment from the trails into the Tellico River which is classified as a native brook trout stream.
“We received around 1,500 public comments on this initial proposed action,” said National Forests in North Carolina Supervisor Marisue Hilliard. “We have completed an environmental assessment (EA) which includes six alternatives and would now like the public’s comments on the alternatives and analysis before making a final decision on long-term management of the System,” Hilliard added.
“Our analysis indicates that on-the-ground conditions are worse than we first thought,” Hilliard said. “The EA shows that the Upper Tellico OHV Trail System has extensive damage and contributes unacceptable levels of sediment into the Tellico River and its tributaries. The Forest Service is in violation of its own standards and North Carolina state water quality standards because visible sediment from the OHV trails is reaching the Tellico River and its tributaries in hundreds of locations,” Hilliard said.
“Additionally, since the Upper Tellico River watershed is located in an area of steep terrain, highly erosive soils, and high rainfall, our analysis tells us that maintaining an OHV trail system without causing significant environmental damage at this location would be extremely difficult,” Hilliard added.
“After careful consideration of the environmental effects of the alternatives as presented in the EA, my preferred alternative is Alternative C, which closes the OHV System,” Hilliard said. Alternative C would maintain over 10 miles of existing Forest system roads (currently also OHV trails), open year-round or seasonally, to provide public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation uses. Trail 1 (FS Road 420-1) would be paved and kept open as a through route for highway-legal vehicles. Closed roads and trails would be stabilized and rehabilitated to eliminate future sedimentation into the Tellico River,” Hilliard said.
“I want to emphasize that a final decision has not yet been made. This public review period is an opportunity for you to give us constructive feedback. I encourage you to review the environmental assessment closely and provide us with any information that you think we have not considered adequately” Hilliard said.
The Forest Service is also seeking comment on a proposed temporary closure of the Upper Tellico OHV Trail System for resource protection. It would be effective from April 1, 2009 until a final decision is reached. A final decision on the Upper Tellico OHV trail system is expected by May 2009.
Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days of the start of the comment period. Comments may be mailed electronically, in a common digital format, to: comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahala-tusquitee@fs.fed.us; or by regular mail to: National Forests in North Carolina, Attn: Candace Wyman, 160 A Zillicoa Street, Asheville, NC 28801, or faxed to 828-257-4263. Hand delivered comments must be received within our normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information contact: Tusquitee District Ranger, Steve Lohr 828-837-5152 or Candace Wyman, UpperTellico Project Coordinator, at 828-257-4816.