Help save Tellico and save some cash too. Read on:

Quick history:
In 2005 the environmental group “Trouts Unlimted,” threatened to sue the United States Forest Service over excessive sediment levels in the waterways located in and around the Tellico OHV area.  Because of this, the USFS began to investigate the causes of this claim.  This lawsuit is what brought on the temporary closing of Lower 2, Slickrock, Peckerwood Connection, and the 2007/2008 winter OHV area closure.

The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) filed a counter suit against the USFS for a formal assessment of the OHV area.  This suit was dropped when the USFS agreed to formally assess the area.

While the Tellico OHV Environmental Assessment (EA) released in Feb 2009 is a lengthy read, it’s important to understand all of the issues facing the likely changes in the Tellico OHV system. It can be found in its entirety here:
http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/nepa/tusquitee/tellico/tellico_ea.pdf

The SFWDA did an independent study; this was contracted to Caliber Engineering Consultants.  This report brings up many contradictory facts and figures when compared to the Forest Service report.  The full SFWDA report can be found:
http://www.sfwda.org/trails/tellico/study09/CaliberMain.pdf

We realize that these two reports are very lengthy reads, and while we would love for you to read them both, we have summarized the 6 Alternatives for the Tellico OHV system as given by the USFS.  It is very important that you understand these alternative before you voice your concerns.  Our summary can be found here:
http://www.jcrpics.com/misc/TellicoEAsummary.pdf

There are many other questions brought up by reading both the USFS report and SFWDA report in their entirety; here are few of those points summarized.

Questions:
TellicoRiver water quality - In the Forest Service’s Supervisor’s statement release, he states that the Agency is in violation of the North Carolina state water quality standards; however the SITA states that the Streams are healthy and have excellent water quality per North Carolina Standards and are capable of sustaining viable, reproducing native trout populations. Which results are correct? Do there need to be more tests? Can the FS provide a notice of violation from the State of North Carolina?

Trail repair/updates costs - According to the Alternative F on the EA, the cost for repairs and updates on trails at Upper Tellico OHV will cost more then $5,000,000. The Alternative F proposal also includes closure of all of Trail 2 and all of Trail 12. The SITA report covers repairing all the current trails, as well as repairing Trail 2 and Trail 12 but gives a total cost of repairs and updates at $2,200,000. Nearly 60% less then the EA estimated costs. Why are EA costs so high? Can the EA numbers be justified?

Estimated Net Expenses - On page 199 of the EA, it shows costs of operations for each Alternative. It shows the Net Expense of Alternative A as $236,178. While it shows the Net Expense of Alternative C as $221,056. So according to this report, it will actually only save $10,000 in annual expense from closing the park to keeping the park open. None of the numbers for keeping the park open seem to be out of line with current cost of operations or the estimated cost with the park being closed. In the SITA report, they state the Annual Operation and maintenance at approximately $100,000 per year. Why are the EA costs so high? Can the EA numbers be justified? Why would the park cost so much annually if it is closed?

Local Financial impact - The EA states that OHV users bring in nearly 4 times the amount of money as anglers; a yearly total of almost $4.5 million. After eliminating this amount of money from the local economy, does the Forest Services have any proposals to help local business or stimulate the area? Has the Forest Service done any studies on how many jobs will be lost, internally and externally? Can the local region sustain the loss of income?

Water Quality - The Forest Service EA says the water Quality does not meet NC standards but the SFWDA report does.  How can this be?

Soil Displacement - Most of the trails were dug out the way they are to help with water runoff when the area was used for logging. In the EA report, they discuss how 74,000 tons of soil has been displaced, but it does not address how much of this was originally dug out by the FS in an attempt to “help” Tellico with erosion and water runoff.

Causes – Both reports state that lack of maintenance and funds have contributed to the condition of the OHV area today.

Closure – As it stands the trails will not be re-opened as scheduled on April 1st.  At this point the trails are indefinitely.  This would directly contradict the previous proposal for certain trails to be closed "for a period not to exceed one year" (trails include: Slickrock, Lower 2, and Peckerwood Connection) and would contradict their temporary winter closure which should expire on April 1. How will local businesses be able to prepare for the wheeling season? How can the park be closed without a formal decision?

Trout – Most of the current trout population in this area is stocked. Trout in current numbers are not natural to the area.  Some people feel the newly stocked trout are causing the native trout to disappear, not silt contamination.

Letter writing guidelines

• Letter must include specific suggestions for improving specific aspects of the EA. Even if you just pick one aspect, give examples of how it could be done better.
• Recommend that the Forest Plan be amended to allow higher OHV trail density within the Upper Tellico OHV area specifically.
• Further recommend that the Forest Plan be amended to accomodate diversity among OHV users, specifically eliminating the following language: "providing trails with easy to moderate levels of challenge", which excludes the high challenge areas that we all drive several hours to enjoy.
• Provide alternatives for protecting the Brook Trout populations, including: fishing limitations, discontinuing the stocking of non-native species (rainbow & brown), follow-up analysis of populations after these measures are implemented.
• Be courteous and professional.

 

Your Letter E-mail us your letter to the USFS about this issue and we will snail mail it off individually for you. Please include your full name, mailing address, and any other contact info you wish. Send your letters to: savetellico@jcroffroad.com Upon Recept, we will respond with a coupon code good for 15% off anything on our website.