USFS Announces Tellico Closures

[k9crazy]

Contact: Terry Seyden 828-257-4202

December 19, 2007

For Immediate Release

Winter Closure for Upper Tellico OHV Area Announced
The U.S. Forest Service announced today a winter closure for the Upper Tellico Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area on the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, NC. “It is our goal to maintain a viable Upper Tellico OHV system while reducing sediment, meeting water quality standards and improving brook trout fisheries,” said Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard. “The purpose of this January 1 to March 31 closure is to protect water quality in the Upper Tellico River and allow the Forest Service to make repairs to the trail system.”
“Our specialists have identified the winter period as a time when trails are most at risk of damage primarily to the freeze-thaw cycle,” Hilliard added. “The winter closure will also allow for trail repairs and maintenance.”

The Upper Tellico seasonal closure is similar to winter closures already in place at the Wayehutta, Brown Mountain and Badin Lake OHV areas on the National Forests in North Carolina

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The Forest Service also announced a temporary, not to exceed one year, closure on 4.4 miles of the 38 mile Upper Tellico OHV system. This includes Trails 7 and 9 and sections of Trails 2 and 8 where field inspections showed sediment to be reaching the Upper Tellico River and several trail bridges were found to be unsafe for continued OHV use.

In addition to starting work on needed trail repairs, the Forest Service will be working this winter with stakeholders on long range planning for the Upper Tellico OHV area. Funding for the needed repairs will come from a combination of trail user fees, Forest Service appropriations and the volunteer efforts of local OHV organizations.

Forest Supervisor Hilliard noted that “this seasonal closure does not include Trail # 1 and the upper section of Trail # 2 which are also Forest system roads used to access private land.”

For more information, visit the National Forests in North Carolina website http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc or call the Tusquitee Ranger District in Murphy, NC at 828-837-5152.

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[Trollhole]

Very disappointed with the decision. I hope they understand what effect this will have on the community.

I hope the TU people can go to sleep at night knowing they have put people out of a job. Especially when we are so close to a recession and jobs are scarce. Couldn't have done it at a worse time.

[TRchieD]

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE US FOREST SERVICE:
SANTA DIDN'T BRING ROCK GARDEN, PECKERWOOD, OR SLICKROCK BUT HE DID LEAVE GUARDRAIL AND SCHOOL BUS. OH, AND GUESS WHAT?...WE'LL REMIND YA'LL OF THIS EVERY YEAR...BUT WE WON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU TIL APRIL BECAUSE YOUR NOT GOING TO USE ANY OF IT TIL THEN. REGARDING ALL THE KIDS AROUND MURPHY, ANDREWS, MARBLE, AND TELLICO PLAINS...SANTA DIDN'T BRING THEM GIFTS BUT WE'RE GONNA GIVE THEM A REAL NICE TROUT DINNER FOR CHRISTMAS...WE'RE SURE THEY'LL ENJOY IT! MAYBE NEXT YEAR THEY'LL GET FLY RODS SO THEY CAN CATCH THEIR OWN.

Sorry, I try not to be too stupid but after reading the explanation from Marisue Hilliard which says absolutely nothing nor justifies any closure at all I tend to get annoyed with mediocrity and complacency but even more so with peer pressure.

[Land Speeder]

This is terrible.
What's closed right now? Almost makes me want to make a quick trip before end of the year...

[k9crazy]

Lower 2, 7, part of 8, and 9 are closed (according to the order) as of now.

The whole area will close for the winter on January 1.

[BGarcia88FJ62]

So, I'm guessing there won't be an MLK weekend run this year?
I wonder if these genius's figured in the economic impact on Tellico Plains and Green Cove
My guess would be not.

[k9crazy]

Please keep an eye on the papers over the next few days and post up what you see...they are starting to call me for interviews...

[Land Speeder]

Heather, I know alot of people are doing alot on this front, but we all really appreciate everything you are doing for this. You are speaking for alot of people,

THANK YOU!

[Wayneraintree]

has anyone seen any sediment studies specifically on the upper tellico region? I have read all I can and cannot seem to find the info USFS used to substantiate the claim.... maybe some info TU has cited to qualify their claim?

[k9crazy]

They do have studies that the FS and a couple of state agencies have done. But nothing that they have is conclusive, scientifically speaking. In fact their own plan for future sampling eliminates all the current sampling stations and relocates them because they are not relevant.

[DSLTOY]

The results of their initial surveys and computer projections they presented to us at the Asheville meeting showed that trail 1 was just as likely to put silt in the river as the trails TU demanded be closed.
Roger

[Wayneraintree]

Did anyone notice a rhyme or reason TU chose trails they wanted closed? Proximity to the water runoffs/streams? Most popular trails to wheel?

It is hard to imagine any modeling or other methods showing results other than silt deposits considering the trails ARE the natural water run-offs in Tellico. I am not sure I understand the suspected outcome of TU or the USFS? no silting from natural run-offs?

[R.K.]

What does this do for the GSMTR?

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by R.K.

What does this do for the GSMTR?

We will have GSMTR at Tellico as planned. We need everyones help to show our continued support for the area and raise money for the battle to keep the area open. We are planning some rock crawling events at Crawford's for those that miss the challange of lower 2 and are planning to have a guided easy ride on a trail outside of the OHV area to help with the traffic on trail 4.
SFWDA has people working to get the trails reopen and will post the information once the efforts are finalized.
See you at GSMTR

[cruiseroutfit]

Catching up on this guys...

Having never been to Tellico, its hard to picture the terrain and issues accordingly. Am I to understand that there isn't alot of water running through these closure areas?

Is there a an Association/Organization formed specifically for protecting motorized access in Tellico? (ie. Freinds of the Rubicon, Freinds of Moab, etc).

Closures like this (seasonal) are somewhat common in Utah and I presume the West. I'd guess 10-20% of the trails in Utah have some sort of seasonal restrictions, be it a general wintertime closure or wildlife migration issues. To date we havn't had any that were really sketchy, though TU is active here in Utah too.

Keep us in the loop and let us know what we can do to help.

[informationjunky]

I wonder how much dredging effects the water sediments?
YouTube - Dredging for Gold in the Tellico River.

[reffug]

bummer, major bummer.

[k9crazy]

Sorry I haven't had an update for a while. But don't take the quiet as if nothing is going on. SFWDA and those of us involved in this have been hard at work behind the scenes raising funds, looking at the area, planning our next move, etc.

I hope to have an update soon.