Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Action Alert

In 1974, the Chattooga River was designated as a National Wild and Scenic River because of its biodiversity, largely unimpacted watershed, and beautiful scenery. The river and surrounding area provides places for fishing, hiking, swimming, hunting, wildlife viewing, and whitewater boating. It starts in North Carolina on the Macon and Jackson County line and flows southward on the Georgia and South Carolina border. The Chattooga North Fork is listed in Trout Unlimited 100 Best Trout Rivers in America and is prime undisturbed habitat for black bear, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey.

The original 1976 Chattooga Management Plan instituted a zoning policy that balanced use between potential competing recreational activities. The lower 36 miles of the designated river were open to boating while the upper 21 miles were preserved for anglers, birders and hikers. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources eliminated fish stocking in lower sections of the river and the US Forest Service (USFS) restricted all boating above Hwy 28.

Most of the earlier conflicts on the river disappeared, and growth in outdoor recreation activities was significant. The policy transformed the lower Chattooga into a world-class whitewater resource while the upper Chattooga remained a haven for anglers, hikers and wildlife. The balanced policy is an exemplary model for river management that has resulted in high visitor satisfaction by offering a broad spectrum of recreational opportunities while protecting the resource from overuse. This balanced policy was continued under the 1985 and 2004 revised management plans.

American Whitewater, a paddling access lobby organization, appealed the 2004 Sumter Forest Service Management Plan that continued boat limitations in the upper river section. The association demanded year-round unrestricted access for the entire Wild and Scenic Corridor, which includes National Forest land and private properties. Fortunately, the 2004 plan continued restrictions on kayaks, motorized boats, horses, mountain bikes and ATVs, which were restricted under the original 1976 management plan.

The geographical area offers hundreds of alternate boatable streams including thirty miles of the lower Chattooga and both flanking creeks: Overflow Creek and the Whitewater River. The Chattooga headwater contains the last section of public creek in Southern Appalachia protected against the escalating growth of whitewater boating. It currently offers the only alternative to boat-filled creeks during high-water times.

Currently, the USFS is asking for comments on alternatives for managing recreation uses on the upper Chattooga River. This is another important opportunity to maintain the current management plan that protects the upper Chattooga River.

Please write the USFS and let them know that the best policy for the Chattooga River would be NO changes to the current management policy of boating below Highway 28 and angling above. In addition, you are invited to attend a workshop on the alternatives September 29, 2007. Time and location information will soon be posted on the USFS website. In order for your comments to be adequately considered prior to the workshop, please send them in by September 13, 2007.

Below are talking points and information about where to submit your public comment.

Comments on the preliminary alternatives may be e-mailed to comments-southern-francismarion-sumter@fs.fed.us or mailed to John Cleeves, U.S. Forest Service, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.

US Forest Service website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/

Talking points:
· The entire Chattooga watershed remains one of the largest wilderness areas in theEastern US. It is one of the largest free flowing trout streams in southern Appalachia that supports healthy trout reproduction.

· The Upper Chattooga is the last boat-free creek for a quiet angling experience especially during the higher water periods when other creeks are filled with kayaks.

· Any policy for the Upper Chattooga should consider opportunities on the entire river so that no one particular activity would dominate the corridor.

· Boats enjoy 96% of the watershed without restrictions; only 4% of the watershed is protected from creek boating to protect anglers and fish habitat.

· Current Chattooga management policy is a balanced model that should be utilized elsewhere, minor limits on boating will ensure anglers, birders and wildlife enthusiasts have a section to also enjoy their respective outdoor hobby.

· Every visitor incrementally and invariably increases the impact on a resource. Each activity impact is distinctive and alters an ecosystem’s natural character. For hikers it is a trail system, for ATVs it is roads, for boaters it is turning a small mountain stream into a trail for travel. Boat impacts may include displacement of wildlife, riparian corridor degradation, and potential user conflicts with regards to habitat management e.g. woody removal.

· The lower river and many feeder creeks already offer ample whitewater opportunity. Angling values have been in decline within the entire watershed because of growth in boating.

· Adding new restrictions to boating on the West Fork and lower Chattooga would improve angling throughout the corridor.

· The current Upper Chattooga restrictions should be applied to the West Fork. For the Ellicott Wilderness, restricting all access from 1/4-mile segments for one year every ten years will allow for some recovery from overuse.

For more information click here