Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...

Summary of Public Comments - Managing Recreation Uses in the
Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor EA
E) Boating opportunities are adequate and accessible;
F) There are few pristine waters for fishing and other non-invasive activities;
G) It is the reason why it was approved by congress as a Wild and Scenic
River;
H) It protects habitat diversity and a variety of visitor preferences;
I) It averts user conflict;
J) New access points and portage trails are not suitable;
K) New parking areas are limited and a long distance from the Chattooga
River;
L) It averts trespassing on private land; and
M) Expansion of the trailhead facilities on Green Creek Cemetery Road would
be inconsistent with the purpose for which the land was donated.
Response to PC 1
The Decision Notice discusses the rationale for the selected alternative. A range of alternatives
including Alternative 1 (No Action) are discussed in Chapter 2, Section 2.2 of the
Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga
Wild and Scenic River Corridor (EA). Key issues and their possible resolution by the alternatives
are discussed in Chapter 1, Section 1.6 of the EA. Alternatives considered and the rationale for
not developing them in detail is discussed in Chapter 2, Section 2.4. See EA Chapter 1,
Section 1.2 Need for the Proposed Action.
A) See Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Chapter 3.
B) No further response is necessary.
C) No further response is necessary.
D) The effects on wilderness character for all the alternatives are discussed in Environmental
Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic
River Corridor, Chapter 3 Section 3.7.
E) No further response is necessary.
F) See Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Chapter 3 Section 3.2.2 Biology ORV and Section
3.2.1 Recreation ORV. March 22, 1976 Federal Register, Volume 41, Number 56, Fishing
(page 11849) states “Since this river is located in the lower portion of trout habitat it isn’t as
productive as those streams in the North and West portions of the nation.”
G) See Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Chapter 1, Section 1.2 Need for the Proposed
Action which states “Congress designated the 57-mile Chattooga River (and its 15,432-acre
corridor) as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1974 to preserve the river’s
free-flowing condition, protect its water quality and protect and enhance the river’s ORVs—
biology, geology, recreation, scenery and history.”
H) The alternatives evaluated the effects of adding boating to other recreation opportunities (i.e.
hiking, fishing and etc.). See Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the
Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.1
Recreation ORV for the effects of the alternatives on habitat diversity and recreational visitors.
I) Potential Recreation Use Conflict is evaluated in the Environmental Assessment, Managing
Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor,
Chapter 3, Section 3.2.1 Recreation ORV for all alternatives.
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