Please read the following information, one of the East of the Mississippi's best wheeling places is under attack. Please help and show your support.

http://www.sfwda.com/trails/tellico/index.html

Going into my sig on all my forums ^_^


~Lev

Thanks Lev

I'm going to move this to the general section to get more looks. This has been an ongoing issue for awhile now and it needs to be resolved in a favorable manner.

Bump, I don't want this to get lost in the mix. Is it possible to make this one a sticky?

I agree Taz. Pretty important issue to keep on the forefront. Thread has been stuck.

Thanks for the sticky, come on east coast wheelers, please check out the web site and donate time or cash to help the fight to keep tellico open.

Not a hijack but there is a work weekend the 20th and 21st at Tellico.
Another for March 8th.
This is one of the best ways to show we care about Tellico. I can't make the one this month but will be there in March.

Not a Hijack at all, important information vital to the trail.

Wish I lived close to a trail to clean it up. =(

~Lev

excellent cause
good luck
...........still missing Paragon

Hey everyone, it is the Christmas season, a time for giving, if you have $5, $10, or $100 in your pocket, sent it to the Save Tellico fund, we really want to keep these trails open, if this place goes....well you get the idea.

DECISION MEMO

Forest Supervisor’s Orders for the
Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle Area
USDA Forest Service Southern Region
Nantahala National Forest
Tusquitee Ranger District
Cherokee County, North Carolina


DECISION

I have decided to put into force two Forest Supervisor’s Orders for the Upper Tellico Off-Highway (OHV) Area on the Tusquitee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest. This decision is based on information gathered during a recent condition survey of high risk trail segments, and on public comments received during the scoping period. The Orders implement the following management measures:

1. A one-year closure of Lower Trail 2 (from the intersection with Road 420 west to Road 402), Trail 7, a portion of Trail 8 (from the intersection with Trail 9 to the intersection with Trail 10A), and Trail 9 in the Upper Tellico OHV area which prohibits operating motor vehicles on these trails during the closure period and sets penalties for violating the provisions of this Order.

2. A seasonal closure of the Upper Tellico OHV Area which prohibits operating motor vehicles on trails within the Area during the period between January 1 and March 31 each year and sets penalties for violating the provisions of this Order.

The following persons are exempted from these orders:

• Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission.
• Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
• Owners or lessees of land in the Closure Area are exempt from the prohibitions listed above to the extent necessary to gain access to their land.
• Residents in the Closure Area are exempt from the prohibitions to the extent necessary to gain access to their residences.


PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE ACTION

Direction in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Nantahala National Forest (Amendment 5, 1994) identifies the lands within the Upper Tellico OHV Area as existing in Management Areas 1B and 2C. The description for these management areas state “These lands are managed to provide opportunities for public enjoyment of the Forest through motorized recreation – driving for pleasure in conventional and four-wheel-drive vehicles as well as machines commonly classified as ORV’s. While these uses will be encouraged on appropriate roads and trails, use will not be allowed to damage the Forests’ environment.� (MA 1B, p. III-57). Also, “Provide opportunities for vehicles commonly classified as ORV’s on designated routes primarily within designated ORV areas... if such use does not adversely affect other resources.� (MA 2B, p. III-67). These actions are needed to correct ongoing impacts to area waters and aquatic resources caused by sediment from the Upper Tellico road and trail system.

In October and November of 2007, the Forest Service conducted an initial condition survey of Upper Tellico roads and trails identified as “high risk� for sedimentation due to steepness or close proximity to water (about 16.5 miles of trail were evaluated). Drainage features constructed to remove water from trails were assessed - 61 % of these drainage features were properly functioning during the assessment. All trail segments assessed were contributing sediment to nearby streams to some degree. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) computer model was used to compare trail management alternatives to the current condition (http://topsoil.nserl.purdue.edu/nserlweb/weppmain/). The sediment reductions projected to occur based on the closure of various trail segments (and the seasonal closure) were evaluated. These projections indicated that closing the proposed trail segments would maximize sediment reduction while also maintaining a viable trail system.

All trail bridges in the Upper Tellico system were also assessed for safety. Three trail bridges on Trail 8 were determined to be unsafe for OHV traffic and a portion of the trail was closed under an emergency order. Since it will not be possible to complete repairs to these bridges during the emergency closure period, this portion of Trail 8 was added to the year-long temporary trail closure order.

Scientific studies addressing the impacts of a winter seasonal closure were also reviewed. Multiple past studies have shown the degree of soil compaction and rutting, and therefore erosion potential, on a road surface is related to the number of freeze-thaw cycles, as well as the amount and type of traffic present. In areas where soil moisture is already high, there is increased potential for erosion (Halvorsen et al. 2001). Frequent freeze-thaw cycles typically occur during the winter months in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (Williams 1964). Also, during winter months, soil structure and function change (Sulkava and Huhta 2003) and most vegetation is dormant, which reduces natural buffer ability to assimilated eroded soil. And additionally, estimated increases in winter water yield resulting from the loss of hemlock from the forest (due to the effects of the hemlock wooly adelgid) approach 30% (Ford and Vose 2007). These known and potential increases in sedimentation of local streams during winter months affect aquatic habitat at a critical time for many aquatic species, including native brook trout (Schmitt et al. 1993).

Proposed Action 1, closure on Lower Trail 2 (from the intersection with Road 420 west to Road 402), Trail 7, a portion of Trail 8 (from the intersection with Trail 9 to the intersection with Trail 10A),and Trail 9, is needed to provide immediate resource protection measures. These trails have been identified as contributing to sedimentation in the Tellico River system. The closure will allow time for further evaluation of the resource condition associated with these trails, planning for long-term resource protection, and needed repairs to correct impacts to the area waters and aquatic resource.

Proposed Action 2, seasonal closure of the OHV Area, is needed for the purpose of preventing resource damage during a period when the area is most vulnerable to resource damage, and to allow for intensive maintenance of system trails. Seasonal closures have already been implemented at other all other mountain OHV areas on the National Forests in North Carolina.

The actions will be implemented pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (b) which states, “The Chief, each Regional Forester, each Experiment Station Director, the Administrator of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and each Forest Supervisor may issue orders which close or restrict the use of any National Forest System road or trail within the area over which he has jurisdiction.�

REASONS FOR CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDING THE DECISION

These actions do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment, and therefore, are categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The specific category, identified in Forest Service Handbook 1909.15 “Environmental Policy and Procedures� is Section 31.12 Category 1: Orders pursuant to 36 CFR Part 261 – Prohibitions to provide short-term resource protection or to protect public health and safety.

continuation from above:

FINDING OF NO EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

No extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. The District interdisciplinary team screened these actions for the presence of any one of the extraordinary circumstances identified in Amendment No. 1909.15-2007-1 to Forest Service Handbook 1909.15. Section 30.3 paragraph 2 lists the following resource conditions that were considered:

• Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species;
• Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds;
• Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas;
• Inventoried roadless areas;
• Research natural areas;
• American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites;
• Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas.

SCOPING AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The purpose of scoping is to determine the issues and concerns related to the proposal. Public involvement began on September 17, 2007 when a letter was mailed and emailed to groups and individuals known to be interested in management of the Upper Tellico OHV Area. The “scoping letter� requested comments on the proposed Forest Supervisor’s Orders. As a result, approximately 200 responses from individuals, groups, organizations and other government agencies were delivered to us by mail, emailed, phoned in or by personal visit to the District office. These responses conveyed numerous issues, and are summarized in the Response to Public Comments, in the project file.
Additionally, approximately 700 form letters were received by email from those people who supported any and all closures of the trail system. And approximately 400 form letters were received from people who favored trail repairs and reroutes, but not trail closures.
In the 30 day scoping period that began on September 17 newspaper articles were published in the Asheville Citizen-Times, The Cherokee Scout, and the Clay County Progress.

FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS

Forest Plan Consistency – The actions in this decision are consistent with the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests (Forest Plan) and all Amendments to the Forest Plan.

Endangered Species – Implementing the actions in this decision will not adversely affect threatened or endangered species, or result in loss of any other species’ viability, or create significant trends towards Federal listing of the species under the Endangered Species Act.

Cultural Resources – The actions in this decision will not adversely affect any sites listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places, nor will they cause the loss or destruction of significant scientific, cultural or historic resources.


NOTICE, COMMENT AND APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES

These actions are not subject to legal notice and opportunity to comment (36 CFR 215.4(a)). This decision is not appealable (36 CFR 215.12(f)).





/s/ Marisue Hilliard_____________ 12/18/07 __ ___

MARISUE HILLIARD DATE
Forest Supervisor
National Forests in North Carolina

In short, too little too late. Tellico is closed from January 1 to March 31st. Lower 2, 7, a portion of 8, and 9 are all closed for a period not to exceed 1 year. This seems to be how things get closed permanently. Let's all hope 4/1 Upper Tellico reopens and the Lower trails can reopen in a year.

I got an email today from BRC stating that between them and United they are putting the lawyers to work to help save Tellico. This is a good sign folks. Two national organizations working together for the same goal.

Hell yea!


~Lev

Sweet!!!!

Hey Jack, I think this is what you are talking about....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Greg Mumm 208-244-2112
Carla Boucher 757-546-7969
NATIONAL RECREATION ATTORNEYS TEAM UP FOR RESCUE TELLICO
BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) are teaming up with their nationally recognized attorneys in the fight for project "Rescue Tellico." This alliance amongst the groups and their attorneys, in cooperation with Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, is an historic undertaking. The groups will consolidate their efforts, bringing together their collective expertise, resources, and other strengths derived from their grassroots memberships. Collectively BRC and UFWDA represent over half a million recreationists committed to responsible and sustainable vehicle-based recreation on public lands.
"BRC and UFWDA have worked together on other access protection lawsuits in the past, but this effort combines our attorneys and resources into a single litigation team", stated Greg Mumm, BRC's Executive Director. "Unlike past efforts to support each other in various endeavors, this new alliance actually unifies the work of both law offices and the organizations of BRC and UFWDA into a single presence", stated Wayne Groom, President of UFWDA.
Rescue Tellico is a program to protect off-highway vehicle (OHV) access in the Upper Tellico OHV Area located in North Carolina, a premiere OHV destination throughout the Eastern Seaboard and Southern U.S.
# # # # #
UFWDA is the world's leading association of all-brand four wheel drive enthusiasts, protecting, promoting, and providing for 4x4 recreation opportunities across the globe. 1-800-44-UFWDA. www.ufwda.org.
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. www.sharetrails.org
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.orgor contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

Tellico Update, we are getting closer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT HEATHER SPIVY – (678) 463-7376
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) and
United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), will file suit against the U.S. Forest
Service to restore access to improperly closed off-highway recreation trails located in the
Upper Tellico Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) Area in North Carolina.
On December 18, 2007, the agency issued a closure order which UFWDA, BRC, and
Southern contend is based on outdated and incomplete science. The law suit will seek
to declare unlawful and set aside the closure order.
“Our organizations value their relationship with the Forest Service, however
management by closure does not address the issues we need to be surmounting
through collaborative and creative efforts,” observed Jay Bird, of Southern Four Wheel
Drive Associations. “There is no defensible scientific correlation between OHV use and
water quality, erosion, and sedimentation issues in this area, and our organizations have
long demonstrated their dedication to the environment and support of trout populations
in the area through user education, route maintenance and improvement. Active and
effective management of motorized recreation, not prohibition, is the only good answer
for protecting water quality and species habitat at the Upper Tellico OHV area,” Bird
concluded.
Further information about the plaintiff organizations, including information about
developments in this action and others, can be found as indicated below.
# # #
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. www.sharetrails.org
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. www.ufwda.org
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
www.ufwda.org
P.O. Box 15696
Chesapeake, VA 23328
(757) 546-7969
BlueRibbon Coalition
www.sharetrails.org
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 93202-1921
(208) 237-1008
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
www.sfwda.org
1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road
PMB #222
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote
responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since
the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to
promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized
recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern
Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt.
Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

It is not looking good, please help...