USFS Releases Scoping Letter for Tellico - Trails to be Closed

[k9crazy]

I am starting a new thread here with the information folks need to take action as we continue the fight to keep Tellico open.

You may have never been to Tellico, you may never go to Tellico, but many of your fellow MUDders have and will again. We need your help NOW to keep this legendary area open!

Yesterday, the USFS announced their plans for "managment" of the Upper Tellico UHV Area. This plan includes closing or changing 15.5 out of the 39.5 miles of trails, including closing most of the challenging areas. The summary looks like this:

1) Schoolbus GONE
2) Slickrock GONE
3) Lower 2 GONE
4) If Helicopter Pad bypass cannot be successfully bypassed... GONE
5) The Ledge at Peckerwood GONE

Now, I am BEGGING you...on my hands and knees, to please get involved in this fight. This forum can be a huge influence on the outcome of this action. But to do that, we all need to get involved. Take this back to your clubs, your friends, your regional forums, whatever and whereever you need to go to get support. We need people to comment!

Here is a LINK to all the information you need to educate yourself on what is going on: LINK TO TELLICO INFO FROM THE USFS

If you don't want to read all that, then please consider sending a letter or an email to the USFS telling them that you oppose the closing of any trails at Tellico and that you think that they should give more effort and money to trying to maintain and keep the trails open.

Here is the info for sending comments:

"Your comments may be sent to Tusquitee District Ranger, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, NC28906. Comments may also be sent via email to comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahalatusquitee@fs.fed.us. We would appreciate receiving your comments by July 9, 2008."

Please, PLEASE...help us keep this area open!

[werd]

Thanks for the update Heather!

I got a chance to go to GSMTR this year and it was awesome. Tellico's beauty was much more than I had expected.

I even saw someone with a "Trout Unlimited" tag starting out on Trail 4 in a stock pickup. I should have taken a picture.

Anyway, I plan on writing a "professional" email/letter, however do you have a guideline that can be followed?

[k9crazy]

Originally Posted by werd

Thanks for the update Heather!

I got a chance to go to GSMTR this year and it was awesome. Tellico's beauty was much more than I had expected.

I even saw someone with a "Trout Unlimited" tag starting out on Trail 4 in a stock pickup. I should have taken a picture.

Anyway, I plan on writing a "professional" email/letter, however do you have a guideline that can be followed?

I do not have an outline, but I suggest that you read the scoping letter (follow the link I gave in my first post) and just jot down what you don't agree with and why as you read through it. Also, write down and suggestions you have for ways that things could be done better.

Keep things polite, short, and to the point. I am still working on what I am going to say too, so I don't have any hints. Write what you feel, it's always best that way.

[DSLTOY]

In addition to responding to the scoping letter, everyone needs to fill out the University of TN survey, this data will be used in the decision. The other side is filling them out and we need too. Here is the link to down load the survey, it must be mailed back: University of Tennessee OHV Survey
Thank you

[k9crazy]

The easiest way to write a letter...just click the link, fill out your info, mix and match your comments, add some personal comments, press send.

SO EASY!!! Please check this one out!

Comments on Upper Tellico OHV System - BlueRibbon Coalition

[werd]

Thanks again Heather!

I will make sure to pass this on to the various clubs I am involved in.

Howard

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

"Your Letter Has Been Sent!

Thank you for taking the time to complete your letter. Your participation is critical to our mission of perserving recreational access to public and private lands.

Feel free to explore our webpage using the navigation menu on the left."

Done, only took 5 minutes, so get on it people!