Tellico decision

k9crazy · 10-14-09, 09:20 AM

SFWDA participated in a conference call today with the USFS and learned that they intend on permanently closing the Upper Tellico OHV System.

The decision will be posted on the North Carolina USFS website soon (National Forests in North Carolina). When it is posted, there will be some detail from the agency about the decision, how it was reached, and what we can do to protest.
My understanding is that there will be a 45 day appeal period, followed by a 45 day period for USFS review. Once that review is complete, the decision will either be upheld or overturned. If upheld, we go into the courts.

SFWDA, BRC and United will have a news release out ASAP detailing our reactions to the decision and our next steps. We will also be asking for everyone to help us with the appeal and to step up the communications to the USFS about the decision (more letter writing, calling elected officials, peaceful protests, etc.).

Sorry this isn't a lot of information, but I haven't seen the documents yet. When I do, I'll post up more about what we need to do.

Mtbcoach · 10-14-09, 10:12 AM

Here is the link to the press release from the USFS...

http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/press/t...ws_release.pdf

And the sh!t continues to roll against us...

GarnerFJ40 · 10-14-09, 12:13 PM

"While I realize that our OHV recreationists are understandably disappointed with this decision on Tellico, I want to reassure our OHV users that we are committed to maintaining other OHV trail opportunities on the National Forests in North Carolina which are located on more suitable sites" said Hilliard.
Other national forest OHV trail systems in North Carolina include:
Wayehutta, Nantahala NF, 21 miles (21 miles ATV and motorcycle),
Brown Mountain, Pisgah NF, 34 miles (6 miles 4WD, 27 miles ATV, 34 miles motorcycle)
Badin Lake, Uwharrie NF, 16 miles (16 miles 4WD, ATV and motorcycle)

Black Swamp, Croatan NF, 8 miles (8 miles 4WD, ATV and motorcycle)

Thousands of miles of roads in NC, and we get 30 miles of OHV trails!

mtweller · 10-14-09, 02:03 PM

Total horse$hit!! I honestly regret never getting to Tellico to a degree I can't really express. It reminds me of missing the DC Grateful Dead show summer of '95 thinking I would catch them that fall...

I will not let Rubicon slip me by!

R

lt1fire · 10-14-09, 02:06 PM

"While I realize that our OHV recreationists are understandably disappointed with this decision on Tellico, I want to reassure our OHV users that we are committed to maintaining other OHV trail opportunities on the National Forests in North Carolina which are located on more suitable sites" said Hilliard.
Other national forest OHV trail systems in North Carolina include:
Wayehutta, Nantahala NF, 21 miles (21 miles ATV and motorcycle),
Brown Mountain, Pisgah NF, 34 miles (6 miles 4WD, 27 miles ATV, 34 miles motorcycle)
Badin Lake, Uwharrie NF, 16 miles (16 miles 4WD, ATV and motorcycle)

Black Swamp, Croatan NF, 8 miles (8 miles 4WD, ATV and motorcycle)

This is the same crap they pulled when asked about the cullowhee trails.

They don't seem to care that boats in water puts all kinds of chemicals into the lake. But drive a truck off a paved road and it is the reason for everything bad in the world from dead fish to starving kids in Africa to the start of WWI

lt1fire · 10-14-09, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtweller

Total horse$hit!! I honestly regret never getting to Tellico to a degree I can't really express. It reminds me of missing the DC Grateful Dead show summer of '95 thinking I would catch them that fall...

I will not let Rubicon slip me by!

R

Well not that it is in direct danger right now there are quite a few bills trying to work its way through to close the rubicon. I remember hearing about them all the time when I was back home. Hell even Pismo beach and Moab are now under attack. The more we lose the more this snowballs everywhere around the country.

Mtbcoach · 10-14-09, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lt1fire

Well not that it is in direct danger right now there are quite a few bills trying to work its way through to close the rubicon. I remember hearing about them all the time when I was back home. Hell even Pismo beach and Moab are now under attack. The more we lose the more this snowballs everywhere around the country.

Rubicon did just go through a similar thing this past year but it went the other way, in favor of keeping it open. One of the reasons why all this is so frustrating in that there is no consistency, local individuals make decisions based on bad data as in the case with Tellico. There is no accountability for those making the decisions, they can't be voted out or reviewed in any way.

I'm making my '10 summer plans to hit both Moab and Rubicon again and would love the company of any of my fellow ONSC'ers to join me. It is worth every minute of the drive to and from IMHO...

Fort Knox · 10-14-09, 04:11 PM

Feels like losing an old friend. I know there is more process ahead, and I try to be hopeful, but I don't have a good feeling about it.

addicted56 · 10-14-09, 04:41 PM

If that BIOTCH could sue McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on her lap then we should be able to sue the HELL ouf of the NFS for closing down the trails.

Again you all know where I stand but I'll keep my filthy mouth closed before I go to far.

krzyabncanuck · 10-15-09, 03:15 AM

Guess its a good thing we id not find a house out there then. We had planned from the day i retired to move out there. Kinda glad we never made it. Granted it is still great country out there.

southerncruiser62 · 10-15-09, 03:11 PM

We, as a club, need to make every effort to enhance the "Adopt a trail" system in many areas not just the parks we are hearing about, if there is one avenue the individuals could go on for Tellico is that there was little maintenance done by outside sources such as those using the trails etc. at last that I had heard of. While many are saying they feel hopeful in the future it's tough. We as a club will do everything we can to assist in the pursuit to maintain and keep open any trail systems possible.