Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
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Summary of Public Comments - Managing Recreation Uses in the<br />
Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor EA<br />
issues such as access, user conflict, campsites, trails, large woody debris, group<br />
sizes, parking and user registration in the purpose and need to outline the major<br />
needs by describing the existing conditions that need to be changed, list the<br />
major objectives for each need identified, link each object to a source especially<br />
any federal laws, focus listed objectives on achievable tasks, choose one or more<br />
indicators for measuring achievements, and link all analysis steps and the final<br />
agency decision to both achievement of objectives and the resolution of resource<br />
issues.<br />
Response to PC 42<br />
The Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the<br />
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor addresses all of these points raised in addition to<br />
information contained in the project record. In addition, the August 25, 2009 Managing<br />
Recreation Uses on the Chattooga River – Responses to Public Comments provides additional<br />
response information relative to this concern statement.<br />
Sample Public Comment(s) for PC 42:<br />
We do support management practices that would limit group sizes for hikers and anglers, reduce<br />
environmentally damaging, user-created campsites along the River, limit access to designated trails only,<br />
close and/or re-route trails that threaten water quality and/or rare, sensitive plant life, or that create<br />
conflict and unneeded encounters. We especially support the aim of the EA to restore and preserve the<br />
sense of solitude that the <strong>Forest</strong> <strong>Service</strong> rightfully agrees is the key and outstandingly remarkable value of<br />
this river. We also agree with the goal of the EA to coordinate and combine monitoring and enforcement<br />
efforts to prevent the unnecessary and unauthorized removal of Large Woody Debris from the River, which<br />
is so crucial to the aquatic food chain. Finally, Georgia <strong>Forest</strong> Watch and Wilderness Watch applaud the<br />
Environmental Assessment’s proposals that would require the three involved National <strong>Forest</strong>s to work<br />
together to assess and address existing resource concerns. This has been and continues to be a critical<br />
need for effective management of all uses of the National <strong>Forest</strong>s. It is essential for the three <strong>Forest</strong>s to<br />
have closer and more efficient relationships, including more uniform regulation and enforcement. As such,<br />
we support the Agency’s proposals to “provide consistent management on issues such as encounters,<br />
campsites, trails, Large Woody Debris, group sizes, parking and user registration.” (Ltr# 166, Cmt# 2)<br />
#154- Although “balancing competing activities” is the responsibility of the <strong>US</strong>FS, a comprehensive and<br />
transparent comparative-analysis against current policy is legally required to fairly assess the effects of a<br />
proposed agency action on the quality of the visitor experiences. The EA must transparently compare<br />
proposed policy against current policy. (Ltr# 193, Cmt# 147)<br />
#156- The Final EA should make clear to the public which hypothesis must be assessed before expanding<br />
kayaking upriver. Although some elements within the EA allude to comparison against the current policy<br />
the draft does not explain the assessment mandates clearly nor does the assessment prove boats will not<br />
significantly impact the social environment. Each section of the final assessment should comply with these<br />
NEPA and planning guidelines. (Ltr# 193, Cmt# 149)<br />
#401- 1) Specific management directives and planning are included in the LRMP for each <strong>Forest</strong>;<br />
2) Uniformity of management, education, monitoring, and enforcement throughout the Wild and Scenic<br />
River Corridor is achieved through coordination of the three National <strong>Forest</strong>s;<br />
3) The <strong>Forest</strong> <strong>Service</strong> engages with other government agencies and private partners to overcome its budget<br />
and personnel limitations;<br />
4) Natural resources and wilderness values are protected as first priority;<br />
5) All visitor use is kept to sustainable levels through limitations on access, not access fees<br />
a) Solitude is guarded so that the exceptional and unique hiking, fishing, heritage and nature study,<br />
hunting, camping, picnicking, swimming, birding, and botanizing activities are protected;<br />
b) There is no expansion of boating in the Chattooga Corridor, boating is prohibited on all tributaries in<br />
the Upper Chattooga, and boating is limited to sustainable levels in the Lower Chattooga;<br />
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