Tellico decision

k9crazy · 10-14-09, 09:14 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.

Trollhole · 10-14-09, 11:18 AM

It's out.

Upper Tellico OHV Area

So basically they took half of all the OHV 4x4 trails away in NC.

I'm curious to see what they plan on doing with the money they would have spent on maintaining the Tellico trails.

I seriously doubt they will ever open a new 4x4 area.

boombapslappy · 10-14-09, 01:12 PM

Heather, I'm going to make this a stickie until/unless you suggest otherwise.

delta21 · 10-14-09, 01:18 PM

I gleaned some interesting info about Utah land grabs by the NFS, If the trail is actualy a road it makes it a lot harder for the NFS to close the area this is why the "Holy land" is still open, the county says that it is their's, they dont have to maintain it but it is on their map as a raod so the NFS cant just go in and erase it with a fat pen, so if the town of Tellico could annex the area (which would require a popular vote).........

k9crazy · 10-14-09, 03:49 PM

October 14, 2009

To All Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Members and Supporters:

The long awaited Forest Service decision concerning the fate of the Upper Tellico OHV Area is now known. In a conversation with Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard I was informed of agency’s decision to permanently close this beautiful area. I don’t think anyone is surprised by the decision based on Forest Service’s past comments and published preferred alternative. We are however extremely disappointed in this decision and as I told Marisue during our conversation we believe that they are wrong in making this decision.

From an association stand point, we will handle this professionally and along with Blue Ribbon Coalition and United Four Wheel Drive Associations move forward with the battle to get this area back open. While not the decision we wanted, it is the decision we have been handed and we now know the direction we must follow. More information will be shared over the next few days but I wanted to get this message out to everyone today.

Let RESCUE TELLICO be the battle cry! We have only begun to fight.

Thanks for your support,

Gary Parsons
President
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

Carp · 10-15-09, 05:33 AM

Thanks for the info. Keep us posted and I'll do all that I can to help.

pillguy · 10-15-09, 09:56 AM

From what I understand, a county can decommission a road as they did here in GA. Not sure if it is the same in NC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by delta21

I gleaned some interesting info about Utah land grabs by the NFS, If the trail is actualy a road it makes it a lot harder for the NFS to close the area this is why the "Holy land" is still open, the county says that it is their's, they dont have to maintain it but it is on their map as a raod so the NFS cant just go in and erase it with a fat pen, so if the town of Tellico could annex the area (which would require a popular vote).........

3pits · 10-20-09, 10:51 PM

where are thiese areas Ms. Hilliard describes? ..."the existence of over 1,000 other miles of OHV opportunities within an 8-hour drive of the Upper Tellico area, some of which contain high challenge opportunities."

is this the lady we are up against? just curious...

Login | Facebook

k9crazy · 10-21-09, 05:24 AM

In her imagination...and yes, that's her.

Carp · 10-21-09, 08:36 PM

The impact of this article will likely be nil, but every little bit helps.

Seem the Cherokee Scout ran an article regarding the trail closures. There is an online poll on the lower left hand corner of the page. Vote "NO" to the question "Do you agree with the U.S. Forest Service's decision to close the Upper Tellico ORV Trail System?"

Tellico trails closed - The Cherokee Scout - Cherokee County, N.C.'s local newspaper - News

3pits · 10-21-09, 10:46 PM

is it true they are releasing non native trout in to the tellico basin? does anyone know if steve hilliard in athens (also a LC afficianato) is related to this lady? she has a lot of hilliards in athens as her friends,, not that it would really matter..

her decision seems awfully suspicious and her opinion is one sided... has trout unlimited sued the forest service?

3pits · 10-21-09, 11:12 PM

I read the above mentioned article... apparently trout unlimited has filed suit and is the impetus for the assesment and closing...

"Lohr said the Forest Service is allowing one logging operation in the Upper Tellico area. Called the Farmer Branch project, it affects about 240 acres, although all of that acreage won’t be logged.

Logging is accomplished in all but two areas using an overhead cable logging system in which logs never touch the ground. In the other two areas, logging can be accomplished using a conventional ground-based system that skids the logs on the ground to a designated landing
Wyman said the Forest Service has a detailed contract with loggers in which they must comply with on-site water quality best management practices." who is policing this?

this sounds like a bunch of bunk,, who is going to go out there and take pictures showing the erosion from the logging?? the logged trees are rarely picked up off the ground 100% pm me if we need to set up a road trip, I am available on sundays and mondays..

the laws are supposed to be applied evenly and equally to all persons, they cannot apply the laws to the off roaders but not the trout people or in favor of the trout fishing population (if they are inserting non native trout that are hurting the native brook trout population that would seem to be in violation of their own rules) or not the loggers (if what they are doing is causing run off problems) the law goes both ways it is there to keep the gov from doing too much,,,, somewhere on the docs I saw a line that said the "us forest service was supposed to serve people".... why are we not being served? and why is the trout population which has been in natural decline for years (or else why would they have to restock them regularly) more important than the users and local human population?

what is feasible in a feasibility study? parameters have to be set, for an organization to say something is not feasible, they had to have had a benchmark, the USFS must have said, can we save tellico for the OHV x number of dollars? who set that number? what is that number? how can that number be increased? have they thought of limiting travel like hunting IE a lottery of who can ride the trails?

more later...

jleeFJ62 · 10-22-09, 11:11 AM

Local newspaper

Our View - The Cherokee Scout - Cherokee County, N.C.'s local newspaper - Opinions

Theres a poll at the bottom left of the page.