Upper Tellico ORV Trail System Permanently Closed
By Sarah Peters
October 14, 2009
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The Forest Service announced today that it will be permanently closing the Upper Tellico OHV System to off road vehicle use. This decision comes after over two years of study and heated debate. Managers of the Forest finally admitted that the area is simply unsuitable for off road recreational use. You can access the decision documents and Forest Service press release here.
“Our analysis has shown the problems to be worse than we first thought,â€
11/28 Christmas Tree Run
Truck run leaving Dayton fairgrounds at 10 am Tucannon/Camp Wootton
Tree hunting, camp fire and snacks
Truck run leaving Dayton fairgrounds at 10 am Tucannon/Camp Wootton
Tree hunting, camp fire and snacks
Upper Tellico Closed
Moderator: Grumpy
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Grumpy
- Peak Putters' Land-Use Coordinator
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- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:38 am
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Upper Tellico Closed
Dave
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
-
Grumpy
- Peak Putters' Land-Use Coordinator
- Posts: 6049
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:38 am
- Location: Kennewick, WA
Forest Service to permanently close Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle trail system
Staff Reports • October 14, 2009 11:21 AM
The agency announced its decision after two years of analysis of the 39-mile trail system about 11 miles west of Murphy in the Nantahala National Forest.
The agency first began looking at runoff problems in the area after several environmental groups threatened to sue the agency in July 2007, alleging the Forest Service violated laws by failing to prevent mud from eroded trails from polluting streams.
Since then, there has been intense debate between four-wheel-drive advocates and environmental groups over how to manage the area, and the Forest Service has temporarily closed some trails in the area.
Marisue Hilliard, National Forests in North Carolina supervisor, said that the agency hoped that it could make repairs and modifications to the exisiting trail system to correct water quality problems while still allowing some OHV use in the area.
But, she said that repairing existing problems and maintaining the trails in the future would be much more difficult than expected.
"Simply put, the Uppert Tellico OHV system is not sustainable," Hilliard said. "It is not the place for an OHV system."
Hilliard said it will cost $2.3 million to correct the erosion problems that are currently occuring and that are in voilation of the forest service's land management plan and state water quality standards.
The agency plans to keep 13 miles of forest service roads in the area open year-round or seasonally for highway legal vehicles to provide access for hunting, fishing and other recreation activities in the area. They will also be paving and reconstructing a portion of Highway 420 that serves as a through route from Tennessee to North Carolina.
*************************************************************
From Ashville Citizen-Times
Staff Reports • October 14, 2009 11:21 AM
The agency announced its decision after two years of analysis of the 39-mile trail system about 11 miles west of Murphy in the Nantahala National Forest.
The agency first began looking at runoff problems in the area after several environmental groups threatened to sue the agency in July 2007, alleging the Forest Service violated laws by failing to prevent mud from eroded trails from polluting streams.
Since then, there has been intense debate between four-wheel-drive advocates and environmental groups over how to manage the area, and the Forest Service has temporarily closed some trails in the area.
Marisue Hilliard, National Forests in North Carolina supervisor, said that the agency hoped that it could make repairs and modifications to the exisiting trail system to correct water quality problems while still allowing some OHV use in the area.
But, she said that repairing existing problems and maintaining the trails in the future would be much more difficult than expected.
"Simply put, the Uppert Tellico OHV system is not sustainable," Hilliard said. "It is not the place for an OHV system."
Hilliard said it will cost $2.3 million to correct the erosion problems that are currently occuring and that are in voilation of the forest service's land management plan and state water quality standards.
The agency plans to keep 13 miles of forest service roads in the area open year-round or seasonally for highway legal vehicles to provide access for hunting, fishing and other recreation activities in the area. They will also be paving and reconstructing a portion of Highway 420 that serves as a through route from Tennessee to North Carolina.
*************************************************************
From Ashville Citizen-Times
Dave
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
Yup Dave, fraid so. Wheeling is heading out the door unfortunately. The wheeling community just can't get together to get any credible defense going and thus the wheelers are losing more and more wheeling areas at an accelerating rate. Now with the funding issues in this state added to the already dismal picture, things appear to be going downhill fast. Defeatist??? Nope, just a realist.
90 MJ, 5.5" RE Long arm
88 yota p/u
88 yota p/u
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Grumpy
- Peak Putters' Land-Use Coordinator
- Posts: 6049
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:38 am
- Location: Kennewick, WA
New Beginning at Tellico ORV Area
Author: Sarah Peters, with assistance from Southern Environmental Law Center
The Tellico River flows from its headwaters in Cherokee County, North Carolina on into Tennessee. As it does, it supports a self-sustaining population of wild native brook trout. Valued for their beauty, their delicious taste, and their sport-fish qualities, they are also indicators of the broader health of the watersheds where they live.
Sadly, despite its classification as “Wild Trout Watersâ€
Author: Sarah Peters, with assistance from Southern Environmental Law Center
The Tellico River flows from its headwaters in Cherokee County, North Carolina on into Tennessee. As it does, it supports a self-sustaining population of wild native brook trout. Valued for their beauty, their delicious taste, and their sport-fish qualities, they are also indicators of the broader health of the watersheds where they live.
Sadly, despite its classification as “Wild Trout Watersâ€
Dave
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
-
Grumpy
- Peak Putters' Land-Use Coordinator
- Posts: 6049
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:38 am
- Location: Kennewick, WA
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tellico Lawsuit Filed by OHV Groups
Tellico is a huge issue for access advocates and OHV folks. We are filing suit and taking the issue to court. We want Tellico BACK! Spread the word.
Del
BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Roger Theurer, Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
(931) 841-0672
Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Coalition
(208) 244-2112
Date: May 18, 2010
TELLICO LAWSUIT FILED
POCATELLO, ID (May 18)--The next chapter in the Save Tellico saga began today as suit was filed to stop agency efforts to eliminate long-existing routes at the Upper Tellico OHV System. The suit was filed by Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and BlueRibbon Coalition in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
"This is a logical and necessary action in our effort to restore some form of meaningful OHV access to the System," said Roger Theurer, President of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. "The entire premise behind this closure- that water quality is uniquely flawed in the Tellico River- is simply untrue. We hope through this suit for an opportunity to present the full story," Theurer concluded.
On April 19, 2010, the Forest Service posted a solicitation for bids, seeking contractors to perform various tasks to rehabilitate, obliterate, or otherwise decommission the bulk of existing roads on the OHV System. According to the complaint, routes historically used for vehicle travel may be fundamental to other forms of recreation, and possible impacts on non-motorized recreation activities have not been analyzed by the Forest.
"We prefer to work collaboratively with the Forest to provide appropriate vehicle-based recreation opportunities in the area," observed Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Executive Director. "We remain committed to such prospects, but faced little option short of filing suit to preserve reasonable alternatives involving the System. These roads are literally on the verge of being removed from the landscape," Mumm concluded.
A copy of the complaint may be viewed at: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Comp ... -18-10.pdf
# # #
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
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 www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
(From Del Albright's Blog on BRC site)
Tellico Lawsuit Filed by OHV Groups
Tellico is a huge issue for access advocates and OHV folks. We are filing suit and taking the issue to court. We want Tellico BACK! Spread the word.
Del
BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Roger Theurer, Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
(931) 841-0672
Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Coalition
(208) 244-2112
Date: May 18, 2010
TELLICO LAWSUIT FILED
POCATELLO, ID (May 18)--The next chapter in the Save Tellico saga began today as suit was filed to stop agency efforts to eliminate long-existing routes at the Upper Tellico OHV System. The suit was filed by Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, United Four Wheel Drive Associations, and BlueRibbon Coalition in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
"This is a logical and necessary action in our effort to restore some form of meaningful OHV access to the System," said Roger Theurer, President of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. "The entire premise behind this closure- that water quality is uniquely flawed in the Tellico River- is simply untrue. We hope through this suit for an opportunity to present the full story," Theurer concluded.
On April 19, 2010, the Forest Service posted a solicitation for bids, seeking contractors to perform various tasks to rehabilitate, obliterate, or otherwise decommission the bulk of existing roads on the OHV System. According to the complaint, routes historically used for vehicle travel may be fundamental to other forms of recreation, and possible impacts on non-motorized recreation activities have not been analyzed by the Forest.
"We prefer to work collaboratively with the Forest to provide appropriate vehicle-based recreation opportunities in the area," observed Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Executive Director. "We remain committed to such prospects, but faced little option short of filing suit to preserve reasonable alternatives involving the System. These roads are literally on the verge of being removed from the landscape," Mumm concluded.
A copy of the complaint may be viewed at: http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Comp ... -18-10.pdf
# # #
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
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 www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
(From Del Albright's Blog on BRC site)
Dave
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
Have Scout, will wheel...Someday...Maybe
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon80
-By driving a Scout, you my friend have recycled, which is more than those pansy Prius owners can say.
-I love driving a piece of history that was nearly lost.
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