Tellico EA release announcement!!!

[Alabamatoy]

See http://www.sfwda.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=171

[k9crazy]

To summarize, the EA will be out (released to the public) on Friday. Southern has been asked to attend a meeting where they (the FS) will summarize their findings and their alternatives. We will be attending.

To combat their science, SFWDA has been working behind the scenes and paid for our own analysis and has developed our own alternatives. THIS IS WHAT YOUR RESCUE TELLICO MONEY IS PAYING FOR.

Our study is meant to give us good solid standing for our comments to the EA. It is also a short and long term maintenence plan for the area. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE USFS HAS FAILED TO DO FOR 10 YEARS. We decided that if we are going to keep these trails open, we were going to have to do their jobs and take matters into our own hands.

We will be posting our study up on Southern's website (www.sfwda.org) as soon as we can too.

So it's time folks. Get ready...we'll report back as soon as we know anything.

[GSW]

We owe a big THANK YOU to the efforts of SFWDA during this ongoing battle for Tellico.

Get ready and spread the word!

[dlc]

So is the meeting Friday open to the public if we RSVP?

[Crawfords Campground]

Great!! Now the cat is out of the bag. As I have stated to many of you, SFWDA was not sitting on their hands. This is fight of fights to keep Tellico OHV open. We need everyone to band together to show that we will not just take it. Get your pens and paper ready, I mean literally. Lets flood them with actual snail mail, that they will have to actually read and file away. The impact will be much greater to feel the weight of the off road community in their hands.

[Southeast Offroad]

Excellent. I am hoping to see some good news. Danny, you have our support.

[k9crazy]

Originally Posted by dlc

So is the meeting Friday open to the public if we RSVP?

No, I don't think that is the case. I think that it is invitation only.

[GSW]

The Forest Service personnel in Asheville routinely attend Trout Unlimited meetings. I wonder when they will be able to attend meetings of the other stakeholders? This might be a good question to pose on Friday. In a polite way, of course.

[dlc]

Two more days!!! Everybody stay on this. We need a huge response!!!!!

[dlc]

Can anyone call in on the confrence line?

[k9crazy]

Originally Posted by dlc

Can anyone call in on the confrence line?

I think not. And honestly, I do not think that they intended on this information being public. This is a meeting for a small group of stakeholders. Think of it like a breifing. Once we have the info and the documents, you will have it.

[rredalty]

I have sat back idle for the last while seeing what will happen but it looks like there will be some action soon. I am looking forward to hearing the results good or bad. It is rediculus what the USFS has done with the whole situation but now that it's time to take serious action, I'm ready. Please make sure to post where to sent the response letters when the time comes.

[Tarbaby]

So just to be clear, is this the info that will tell us the future of tellico?

[GSW]

Originally Posted by Tarbaby

So just to be clear, is this the info that will tell us the future of tellico?

It is the Forest Service's final "proposal", which will include their preferred actions. Our job is to review the proposal and recommend changes as necessary. We only have 30 days for our voices to be heard and it's important that we have a strong showing in letters and emails.

[Nughuffer]

subscribed

[brimy311]

Originally Posted by Nughuffer

subscribed

x2

[Crawfords Campground]

I have been losing sleep all week over this week and can't wait to hear what the FS wants in their so called, preferred plan. They may be under funded, but they really should use the positive statistics to justify their jobs, instead of trying to get less money by attempting to close the most famous "Natural" Off Road park on the East Coast. Another huge factor, that has been proven in the UT economic study is that YOU guys and gals are extremely (over$8,500,000 annually) important to the local community. While the other user groups (also important) only bring in a little over $1,500,000 annually(mostly over in TN).
I will have paper, pens and envelopes at the Spring Fling. If you don't want to hand write, please type it out and bring it with you. I will make sure they get into the mail box. I really want to flood them with paper. The FS really needs to "feel" the weight of the off road community.

[McCracken]

I specifically wrote in my letters to the FS last time that I wanted a detailed list/explanation of what exactly was too much in the way of funding for maintenance and repair. If you remember in the last proposal they just said that they couldn't repair it because it costs too much. We'll see...

[Southeast Offroad]

I'm sweating over here! Is it Friday yet?

[krawler00]

x 2 on that!! I am getting my wife to write a letter as well, maybe even the kids! But we really need to show who we are with letters this time. Let's see what happens. Fingers crossed!!

[weedwacker]

Originally Posted by Southeast Offroad

I'm sweating over here! Is it Friday yet?

Yep, lets hear some good news!

[dlc]

When can we hope to find updates on this today and where?

[rredalty]

anxiously waiting...

[GSW]

http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/nepa/tu...co/tellico.htm

Lots of reading for this weekend.

[dlc]

This is the letter I got:


Dear Interested Party:
The USDA Forest Service is seeking comments on two proposals regarding management of the Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) System:

1. An Environmental Assessment (EA) for the long-term management of the Upper Tellico OHV System. You may download a copy of the EA and related graphics at http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/tellico. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the EA, please e-mail your request to: comments-southern-north-carolina@fs.fed.us or call (828) 257-4817, and one will be mailed to you. For questions concerning the project or the EA contact Candace Wyman, Project Coordinator, at 828-257-4816.

2. A temporary closure of the Upper Tellico OHV System for resource protection, effective April 1, 2009. This closure would prohibit possession or use of a motorized vehicle on a road or trail within the Upper Tellico OHV System, with the exception of highway-legal vehicles on 420-1 and certain other exceptions described in the closure order until a final project decision is implemented.The Upper Tellico OHV System is located on Tusquitee Ranger District, Nantahala National Forest, Cherokee County, NC. In June 2008, we publicized a proposal for long-term management of the System, designed to greatly reduce the amount of soil leaving the System and entering the Tellico River and its tributaries, while still providing an OHV trail system. This proposal is referred to as the “proposed action” or Alternative B and is described in detail in Chapter 1 of the EA. We received around 1,500 public comments on the proposed action. Alternatives to the proposed action were developed in response to the comments and environmental issues identified by the Agency. A wide range of comments was received, so six alternatives are analyzed in the EA, identified as Alternatives A through F. We would now like your review and comment on the alternatives and analysis before making a final decision on long-term management of the System.

The following is a brief description of the alternatives analyzed in detail in the EA. Please refer to the EA, Chapters 2 and 3, for more information about each alternative.

• Alternative A is the “no action” alternative that reflects the existing trail system with 2007 management and funding levels.
• Alternative B is the “proposed action” that was released in June 2008 for public comment. It was developed to address the problems initially identified in trail condition surveys conducted in 2007-2008.
• Alternative C closes the OHV System, but maintains over 10 miles of existing Forest system roads in the area, open year-round or seasonally, to provide for public highway-legal vehicle access for hunting, fishing and other recreation uses. It was developed in response to public concerns that the proposed action (Alternative B) did not go far enough in eliminating trails on sensitive soils and trails near water.
• Alternative D was developed in response to public concerns that the OHV Trail System should meet current trail density and challenge level standards, and not require a Forest Plan amendment.
• Alternative E was developed in response to public concerns that the proposed action (Alternative B) would eliminate too many high challenge OHV experiences.
• Alternative F was developed in response to public concerns that the proposed action (Alternative B) would eliminate too many OHV trail miles.

The environmental concerns that initiated the proposed management changes are described in the EA, as are the projected direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of each of these Alternatives.

The EA shows that the Upper Tellico OHV System has extensive damage and contributes unacceptable levels of sediment into the Tellico River and its tributaries. Sediment is leaving the OHV System from more than 2,000 locations along the trails. The Agency is in violation of North Carolina state water quality standards because of the conditions on Upper Tellico OHV System. Since the Upper Tellico River watershed is located in an area of steep terrain, highly erosive soils, and high rainfall, maintaining an OHV trail system without causing significant environmental damage is extremely difficult.

While I understand how important the Upper Tellico OHV System is to OHV users, the impacts to water quality are so significant that I cannot recommend keeping the System open at this time. 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. 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.

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 and provide us with any information that you think we have not considered adequately. Your comments need to be as specific as possible and you must provide the following information: 1) Your name and address; 2) Title of the project; 3) Specific substantive comments on the proposed action, along with supporting reasons that I should consider in reaching a decision; and 4) Your signature or other means of identification verification. For organizations, a signature or other means of identification verification must be provided for the individual authorized to represent your organization.

Comments must be postmarked or received within 30 days beginning the day after publication of this notice in The Asheville Citizen-Times. Comments may be mailed electronically, in a common digital format, to: comments-southern-north-carolina-nan...itee@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.

Thank you for your continued interest in management of the National Forests in North Carolina and the Tusquitee Ranger District.

Sincerely,



MARISUE HILLIARD
Forest Supervisor