Tellico Up Date

[DSLTOY]

The Fotert Service has announced they will release the EA on Friday Feb.27. The have set up a meeting with the intrested party
representatives on Friday morning in Murphy NC, I and several members of the SFWDA Rescue Tellico Committee will attend. The FS plans to discuss their preferred alternative and their plans for the OHV area until a final decision is made.

Late last year SFWDA contracted a private Environmental Engineering firm to do a study of Tellico and the trails. They did both scientific studies to check water quality , habitat and engineering studies to propose the required repairs to the trails. Their data shows that the streams are in good condition and they believe all the trails are repairable, We will present this report the FS on Friday and incorporate the findings in our response to the EA. The report will be available on the SFWDA website on Wednesday.

Once we have reviewed the report and decide on our best response we will be asking all of you to send letters the the FS.

[chattfj40]

I assume you're headed over thursday?

[DSLTOY]

Originally Posted by chattfj40

I assume you're headed over thursday?

No, the meeting is in Murphy so I'll go over Friday morning and come back Friday evening, need to work in shop this weekend.

[chattfj40]

Here's the study that SFWDA association commissioned on Tellico. It was release to the pubic today. Please take a few minutes to look it over. Its pretty in-depth and not a quick read, but there is an executive summary that begins on page 6.

Tellico Study

[chattfj40]

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions
responsible use of public lands and waters, and encourages individual
environmental stewardship. It represents of 10,000 individual, business,
and organizational members for a combined total of over 600,000
recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742 BlueRibbon Coalition: Preserving your recreational access to public lands.


BRC Critical Action Alert -- THEY WANT TO CLOSE TELLICO!

You MUST take action to save Tellico NOW!

Today the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) met with the USDA
Forest Service (USFS) and heard a presentation on what will be in their
Environmental Assessment (EA). While they have 7 alternatives that they are
considering, their preferred alternative is to CLOSE TELLICO. While we know
that this is completely unacceptable and will cause immediate and intense
emotional reaction, we are asking that everyone maintain a level head and
concentrate on what our task is now.

STEP 1: The USFS Forest Supervisor issued a TEMPORARY CLOSURE ORDER that
will keep Tellico closed until they decide what the fate of the area will
be. This means that TELLICO WILL NOT REOPEN ON APRIL 1ST! Please read the
order here:
http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/nepa/tu...ry_closure.pdf
and provide comments to the temporary closure. Be sure to talk about all
the plans you have to use the area and all the events that are already
scheduled and that you have paid to attend. We MUST NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!

STEP 2: We must, at all costs, provide as many SUBSTANTIVE comments about
the EA as humanly possible. And we are ready. SFWDA requests that you
download the study that we commissioned
(Recommended Trail System Repair and Maintenance Plan Upper Tellico OHV System ) and that you download the
USFS EA which is posted here
(Upper Tellico OHV Area ) and that
you compare the two side by side and start making comments. Our study will
give you the data that you need to make comments about the surveys that have
been done, the lack of maintenance they USFS has completed, the science, the
engineering, the economics, EVERYTHING.

We will work to have a letter generator up, but honestly, we need for you to
take pencil to paper and think this through. Copy this announcement and
send it to your friends, family, and everyone you know.

STEP 3: The other thing we need, and you know what it coming, is money. In
this tough economic time, it's hard to find a few dollars to support a
cause, but if you enjoy the Tellico area, or even the dying sport of OHV and
4X4 recreation, please consider a donation to Rescue Tellico so that we may
continue to fight for Tellico.
Rescue Tellico Fund

STEP 4: In an effort to show that we will not accept these actions,
Crawford's Campground is committing to continue on with the plans for Spring
Fling on April 4th. Please consider attending and showing your support and
helping to raise money for Rescue Tellico.

So you know, SFWDA is working very closely with United Four Wheel Drive
Associations (UFWDA) and the BlueRibbon Coalition to review these documents.
BE ASSURED that the lawyers will be reviewing all of these documents in
detail and that we are all ready to take whatever action is warranted to
further the fight to KEEP TELLICO OPEN!

Thanks you for your help,

SFWDA, UFWDA, and BRC

[DSLTOY]

February 27, 2009

TO: All Southern Four Wheel Drive Members and Supporters.

FROM: Gary Parsons, President Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

Today the USDA Forest Service released the Environmental Assessment concerning the Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle Area and are seeking comments on the actual Environmental Assessment and a temporary closure of the area effective April 1st, 2009 for resource protection.

The actual communication from the forest service is as follows:



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.

As you know Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and Blue Ribbon Coalition have spearheaded the Rescue Tellico effort and with your help as members have led the fight to keep the area open.

A joint announcement concerning the EA is in the process of being released for all three organizations, SFWDA, United and BRC but as president of Southern I wanted you to hear a message from me letting you know that while the news we received today is not want we wanted to hear, this is not the end. We are still in this fight!.

But we must do it with cool heads and not let our emotions take over.
Comments made to the forest service must be constructive in nature and relevant to the Environmental Assessment and the proposed April 1st temporary closure.

The contact information for the forest service for you to receive a copy of the EA is listed above but as taken from the forest service communication the alternatives being proposed are as follows:

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 forest service claims that the OHV area has extensive damage and contributes to unacceptable levels of sediment into the Tellico River. The Rescue Tellico's own independent scientific study reveals that these claims are not true and the OHV area is not, I repeat, not having adverse effect on the Tellico River. See Southern 4WD Association for that study. So the fight is on. We are gearing up to resume the lawsuit, but we must get through the comment period first, then see what the Forest Service concerning the area is. In other words we have to do it the right way.

We have 30 days from today February to get our comments in.

I cannot stress enough the need for your commenting to the forest service on these issues. We have said all along that it would be a tough fight but the continuance of being to enjoy Upper Tellico is more at risk that ever.

The first quarter meeting is Saturday March 7th at Golden Mountain near Sparta, TN. Details are on the web site. Please make your plans to attend. We will have more information on how to comment at the meeting.

We are disappointed in the forest services actions. But as I have already said, we are still in this fight! We are not giving up, we are not going away! We need your support but again, we must leave the emotion out and do it in the right manner.

My boss always tell me "if it was easy anyone could do it". Well it is not easy but Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and Blue Ribbon Coalition in this for the long haul!

Once again, I thank all of you for supporting Southern and the Rescue Tellico effort. SEE YOU AT GOLDEN MOUNTAIN

Gary

[DSLTOY]

We need everyone to contact their Congressman and Senators this week.

The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), Southern Four Wheel Drive
Association (SFWDA), and the United Four Wheel Drive Associations
(UFWDA) have teamed up to fight this and we are working as
aggressively as we can to get you the right information. We have
spent the last week "scrubbing" through the draft EA and developing a
plan and now WE NEED YOUR HELP AND HERE IS HOW YOU CAN BE MOST
HELPFUL:

STEP 1: The week of March 9th, THIS WEEK, we need you to call,
write or, even better, visit your congressman, senator, state and
local representatives. They need to know you feel angry, hurt and
betrayed by the Forest Service. They need to know that the Forest
Service is going to affect jobs and the economy in this difficult
time. They need to know the real science and that the water is not
bad. See for talking points. Feel free to
copy and paste the letter, but be sure to personalize it with a short
paragraph on why Tellico is important-what it represents to the OHV
community and to you. Help your representatives understand how
important Tellico is.


STEP 2: Beginning the week of March 16th, BRC, SFWDA, and UFWDA
will have a letter generator up with comments you can make to the
Forest Service about the EA. If you have already made comments, make
some more. Each time you find out some new information, send it to
the Forest Service. We need letters. We are currently refining our
comment bullet points and will send out and post more information to
help with your letters as we complete that process. But don't let
that stop you from doing background preparation and comments
yourself. WE NEED to have as much enthusiast involvement as we
possibly can muster from the OHV community.

BRC and UFWDA will be following through for us in Washington DC,
working from the top down. They will meet with the Forest Service as
well as other national organizations and some of those friendly
representatives.

Please read the Forest Service documents on their website at:
Upper Tellico OHV Area [2]

Then take the time to review the independent scientific study SFWDA
had commissioned at: Recommended Trail System Repair and Maintenance Plan Upper Tellico OHV System
[3].

If you see anything in the EA or Caliper report, or you have
information that you want to make sure we don't overlook, please
notify Heather Royston at Heather.Royston@sfwda.org

We each need to do our part to RESCUE TELLICO and YOUR INVOLVEMENT
IS CRITICAL!

A SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE CAN BE FOUND HERE FOR
COPY AND PASTE. OR THERE ARE GENERAL TALKING POINTS TO USE BELOW...
You can find out your representatives' contact information and where
to send your letter or email to by visiting the BRC Rapid Response
Center at Rapid Response Center - BlueRibbon Coalition [5]and simply
typing in your zip code.

Upper Tellico OHV Area
Proposed Closure Order
TALKING POINTS
*Congressional attention to this problem cannot wait.
*The USFS has issued a proposed temporary closure notice
prohibiting all use of the Upper Tellico OHV system effective April
1, 2009.
*REPAIRING THE AREA IS THE BEST SOLUTION:
o OHV enthusiasts spend 4 times more money on lodging, food, and
gas than other outdoor sportsmen
o $4.8 million annually in tourism revenues by OHV users
o Repairing contributes $1.5 - $2.6 million in OHV revenue
annually
o Repairing would create more than $1.4 million in local jobs
o Nearby streams are currently healthy
o Nearby streams have excellent water quality per North Carolina
standards
o Nearby streams are capable of sustaining viable, reproducing
native trout populations
o Nearby stream channels are very stable
o Nearby stream channels convey stream flows without streambed
erosion
o The trails are repairable and very much maintainable/sustainable
after repair
*CLOSURE IS A BAD SOLUTION:
o Closure creates ZERO OHV tourism revenue
o Degradation of water quality and degradation of aquatic habitat
in Upper Tellico is non-existent
o Historic clear-cutting of land in Upper Tellico has contributed
more to the off-site sediment transport than the trail system
o Closure of trails is neither warranted nor recommended by USFS
trails experts!
Get BRC's Latest News & Alerts via RSS!
BlueRibbon Coalition News and Alerts [6]
To be removed from further mailings from our list, please click the
unsubscribe [7] link

Links:
------
[2] Upper Tellico OHV Area
[3] Recommended Trail System Repair and Maintenance Plan Upper Tellico OHV System
[5] Rapid Response Center - BlueRibbon Coalition
[6] BlueRibbon Coalition News and Alerts

[DSLTOY]

I have sent a 2 page e-mail to Senators Alexander and Corker and to my congressman, what have you all done. If the answer is nothin then get off your sorry butts and get to communicating with our elected officals. This is our best chance to keep Tellico and other areas open.

[BillRiley]

Originally Posted by DSLTOY

I have sent a 2 page e-mail to Senators Alexander and Corker and to my congressman, what have you all done. If the answer is nothin then get off your sorry butts and get to communicating with our elected officals. This is our best chance to keep Tellico and other areas open.

I had an after hours meeting tonight with Alexander's staff.

[DSLTOY]

Well done Todd, the rest of you we need calls or e-mails.

[Goode]

My letters/emails have been sent to the following...

Sen. Lamar Alexander
Sen. Bob Corker
Sen. Jamie Woodson
Sen. Tim Burchett
Rep. John Duncan
Rep. Harry Tindell
Rep. Joe Armstrong

Recently I have learned that I am the 3rd generation of my dad's family to experience Tellico. The 4th generation is sitting in daycare right now, waiting for his turn to experience this great place. I may not have exp. it with my dad or his dad. But I thank God I found it on my own with my friends. And have made many more friends over the years while camping and Cruising Tellico and attending the Great Smokey Mountain Trail Ride. We can't let it end here. We can't let it end now.

Please help. Send letters, emails, phone calls. The facts are layed out for us to use. All we have to do is act.

[DSLTOY]

Good job Andy, spread the word. I have wheeled and worked on the trails with my son and my Grand Daughter has ridden most of the trails in a car seat and I hope when she is old enough we can have 3 generations wheeling together.

[JBC0217]

I am almost finished with my letter to the FS and will be sending in the morning. I will follow that up with Corker, Wamp and Alexander. Anyone else I should add to my list?

[LDowney]

Roger,
I sent my comments to the FS sometime back, but just finished my letters to
Secretary Vilsack (Sec of Ag which the FS reports to)
Sen Chanbliss
Sen Isakson
Rep Gingrey

If I was a better writer, my letters might have passed review by my editor sooner but so be it.

[DSLTOY]

Jay Bird is the Rescue Tellico Committee Chairman

Mr. Bird goes to Washington



On Monday and Tuesday of this week, I meet up with Greg Mumm Executive Director of the Blue Ribbon Coalition to go to Washington DC and talk to some of our elected officials.



Our first meeting was with Perrin Cooke, the Legislative Assistant to Senator Key Hagan from North Carolina. The meeting went well. They were engaged and had heard from many people about the issue. We went over the economics and the alternate science and gave them a copy of the Caliper report.



Next we went to Representative Tom Price’s Office of Georgia. He is my representative. We met with Legislative Correspondent Courtney Austin. Again she was aware of the issue. They had received calls and letters from many people. We gave them the Caliper reports and asked for help to keep the area open.



We then meet up with Brian Duggan. He is the Director, Congressional Affairs for SEMA. We went with him to Senator John Testers Office of Montana and met with Jason Rosenburg. This was more a SEMA call on another matter than a Tellico call but we did share our plight.



Our last meeting that day was with the Forest Service. We gave them a copy of the Caliper Report. We talked about the process and let them know why we were in town. Meeting with our congressional leaders to see what we could do to keep Tellico open.



Tuesday we were up bright an early for a meeting with Margaret Brooks of Senator Richard Burr from North Carolina’s Office. Again we spent time going over the economics and gave them the report. They are engaged and have been hearing from folks.



We had some time before our next meeting and we were not able to schedule a meeting with Rep Duncan’s office from Tennessee. So we decided to just drop by. They still were not able to see us but we did drop a copy of the Caliper report off for them.



We meet back up with Brian from SEMA and we went to visit Representative Heath Shuler’s office. This meeting was the main reason we were in DC. They had called and asked to meet with us. Unfortunately, the person we were to meet had a death in the family, so Ryan Fitzpatrick, Legislative Assistant met with us. He told us that he personally called Marisue Hilliard, Forest Supervisor, and gave her a copy of the Caliper report and asked her for a report on the difference between the science from the EA and the Caliper report. We talked about the economics and solutions. Tellico being in Rep Shuler’s district, they are taking a very keen interest.



All in all, I think it was a trip well worth it. The office got a visit and not just Letters and Phone calls. They have the report in hand.



On a side note, don’t every let Greg Mumm pick the hotel. When you have to check in and pass money though a 3 inch bullet proof glass you know what kind of place we are staying at. Brian Duggan from SEMA was a great help. I had never done this kind of thing before and he had good tips. He also volunteered to follow up with anything we might need.



We have got about a week left. Get those comments in to the Forest Service. Continue to write or call your representatives. We are working the process and we need your help to make sure people hear our voice.



Keep writing and calling and see below for a message from Gary Parsons.



Jay Bird



To all Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Members and Supporters:

Thanks to all of you for your support as we continue our efforts to keep the Upper Tellico OHV Area open. The letters and calls to our elected officials are having a positive effect as you can see from the information from Jay. We must not let the pressure up however. Use the letter generators or write your own letters to the Forest Service to voice your comments. Remember, they are looking for substantive comments but any comment opposing the proposed April 1st closure and on the Environmental Assessment is a comment they would not have had if not sent. Also, continue your calls to your congressmen and representatives. Even though they have heard the message and are responding, it still needs to be ringing loud and clear in front of them.

Gary Parsons
President
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association

[JBC0217]

I have a question. If the FS goes ahead with plans to keep Tellico closed after the comment period has expired......What is the next step?

[DSLTOY]

After the comment period the FS will consider the comments then in a month or more they will issue their decision, then we have 45 days to appeal the decision in the FS system then the decision becomes final and if we disagree with the final decision we file suit in Federal court which can take several years to get a ruling.

The more immediate issue is if the FS continues with the plan they announced and do a temporary closure starting 1 April until a final decision is made then we will be in court requesting a court order to keep thew area open until a final decision is made.

[JBC0217]

Originally Posted by DSLTOY

The more immediate issue is if the FS continues with the plan they announced and do a temporary closure starting 1 April until a final decision is made then we will be in court requesting a court order to keep thew area open until a final decision is made.

Is Southern already working on getting an order or do you have to wait and see what the FS will do first?

[chattfj40]

yes

[JBC0217]

Originally Posted by chattfj40

yes

Great!!

[DSLTOY]

Yes, but we can not file until after the FS issues the the closure order and they most likely will wait until March 31.

[DSLTOY]

The Forest Service issued a 2 year temporary closure order for Tellico. SFWDA will have a news release out soon followed by legal action. The comment period on the EA is up, but we still need everyone to keep the pressure on their elected officals.

Spring Fling is still on.

[chattfj40]

Here's the info
Upper Tellico OHV Area

[werd]

I guess since they aren't maintaining the trail system anymore , they don't need that money allocated in their annual budget either.

[DSLTOY]

Quote k9crazy
Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Rescue Tellico Update 7-1-09
Posted: Today at 7:38am
The waiting time for us to file suit has expired (it was a bit extended because we needed to address a few additional agencies and this set us back 2 weeks), so we can file at any time we wish.

As of now, the FS has not responded to SFWDA's NOI to sue under the CWA. We are not discouraged by this, and in fact do not want the FS to rush their analysis. The best thing that can happen (short of a complete change in heart and reopening the area with no changes) is that they decide that they need to do more research based on our work.

We believe that the work that our members and donors paid for in the Caliber Report and EA Comments is helping us to solidify our stance that the area can be maintained and should be reopened.

On the advice of our legal team, we are not filing suit right now and will wait until we hear from the FS. This could either be with a decision or some other communication in response to our NOI. We will, however, continue to travel to DC to talk with our elected officials. We will also continue to work with our attorneys, BRC, and United on the strategy we will follow when the time comes and a decision is made.

In addition, we are in the process of requesting some additional information from the FS to further explore the actions the FS has taken at Tellico. This is done through a Freedom of Information Act Request and is a formal way to make sure that the government is giving us all the information we need to build our case.

As far as funding goes, so far we’ve raised about 16% of the money we anticipate needing to fight this fight. Funds have been spent on the Caliber Report, fronting money for T-shirts and other fundraising items and paying the lawyers.

Finally, we now have a PR person within the organization that is going to be publishing updates to our members on the SFWDA forum (and I will cross post on other forums) on a regular basis. While things are slow, it will be every 2 weeks to a month. When we hear from the FS and activities pick up, it will be more often.

I hope that this answers many of the questions that are out there, but if not, please feel free to ask questions on this thread and I will do what I can to answer or find the answers. As always, your support is appreciated!

[LDowney]

Roger,
Do you have any info what is really going regarding logging activities at Tellico? I was told that crews and heavy equipment are already at Tellico prep'ing the trails and cutting new roads to support logging.

Thanks

[DSLTOY]

There is one timber sale in progress, it is on the Murphy side of the mountain and not in an area we have been wheeling.

[DSLTOY]

Well folks the Forest Service announced their final decesion yesterday, complete closure. We have 45 days to file an appeal, which we will, then they have 45 days to answer the appeal.
Here is Southern's press release:

RECREATIONAL GROUPS DECRY TELLICO CLOSURE

October 15, 2009

Conservation groups dedicated to active and sustainable management of the Upper Tellico OHV Area expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Forest Service decision to permanently close the Tellico trails. The decision, which follows an earlier “temporary” closure, was announced in documents published by the USFS yesterday morning.

Gary Parsons, President of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, reacted by saying, “the Forest Service is simply wrong in this decision. This public agency has ignored an independent study by Caliber Engineering and the recommendations of its own Trails Unlimited Team, which demonstrated effective management is attainable and offered specific suggestions to achieve that goal.”

The agency announcement by Forest Supervisor, Marisue Hillard again parroted the water quality issues long favored by preservationist special interests as the excuse for closure. Jay Bird, Chairman of the Rescue Tellico Committee noted, “the Tellico River is in excellent shape and complies with all legal requirements. Only through blatant modification of proper methodology, such as measuring turbidity levels during peak runoff, can the Forest Service claim there is legal basis to take any action, let alone closure.”

“Sadly, we are not surprised. It now appears the Forest Service knew it would close the Area years ago, and undertook the intervening “public process” to justify a decision already made,” said Greg Mumm, Executive Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition. “We are sorely disappointed that the Forest Service has determined it cannot effectively manage the Upper Tellico OHV Area that users have supported with millions of dollars in fees and thousands of hours of volunteer labor. With our recreational partners we will evaluate all options that may change that determination.”

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. BlueRibbon Coalition: Preserving your recreational access to public lands.

United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. United Four Wheel Drive Associations Official Site - United Online - An International Organization

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit Southern 4WD Association or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

[DavidW]

Sorry to hear that Roger. I know you and others have pured your hearts and souls into trying to save Telico.

[DSLTOY]

We are not done yet, We have just begun to fight, we will be filing an appeal and if that does not work, there is still the court system.