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 />
as sediment. Routine road maintenance would be continued regardless of the alternative that is<br />
selected and would help control erosion and sedimentation from roadside parking.<br />
C) Motorized boating is outside the scope of this decision and not part of the appeal decision on<br />
the Sumter RLRMP (2004). The March 22, 1976 Federal Register also stated that motorized use<br />
is not appropriate, as does the Sumter LRMP. Wilderness designation for the Ellicott Rock<br />
Wilderness also precludes motorized use.<br />
D) Motorized boating is outside the scope of this decision and not part of the appeal decision on<br />
the Sumter RLRMP (2004). The March 22, 1976Federal Register also stated that motorized use<br />
is not appropriate, as does the Sumter RLRMP. Wilderness designation for the Ellicott Rock<br />
Wilderness also precludes motorized use.<br />
E) See the Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the<br />
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River, Chapter 3, the sections on Soils and Water Quality for a<br />
discussion of impacts from boaters accessing the river. Impacts to soils vary during the seasons.<br />
During the winter season, soils are usually moist for a longer duration and are subject to<br />
freeze/thaw processes than at other times during the year. These conditions make soils more<br />
sensitive to compaction and displacement. Soils that are finer in texture such as the silts and clays<br />
are more compacted than the sandy soils. An increase in the number of users, combined with<br />
more frequent use, increases soil compaction and displacement on the trail tread during the<br />
winter. Erosion and sediment would also increase from exposed soils during the winter due to an<br />
increase of rainfall and runoff.<br />
From Section 3.4.1 Soils, III Existing Impacts to the Environment, B Seasons, is a discussion<br />
on soil moisture and some of the findings include that during the spring, soil moisture begins to<br />
decrease when plants start to absorb water from the soil. Spring can be a time of intense<br />
precipitation and runoff can cause erosion and sediment to occur in areas with bare soil. These<br />
intense precipitation events can lead to high soil moisture which can cause soils to compact and<br />
displace more easily. Periods of high soil moisture content during the spring are not as long as the<br />
winter period. In the summer, soil moisture is usually low but localized thunderstorms create<br />
some intense rain events which can cause bare soil areas to erode. Overall, soils are more<br />
impacted during the summer months because this is the season with the most recreation use. The<br />
fall months are generally the driest months of the year and soils are generally impacted the least<br />
during this period than any other time of year. Leaf fall occurs this time of year which decreases<br />
rainfall impact and erosion by covering bare soil with a litter layer. The litter layer maybe<br />
removed from the soil surface in high use areas or areas on steep slopes after a heavy rain event.<br />
Effects to soils are minimized the longer the litter layer stays on bare soil areas.<br />
In Section 3.4.1 Soils, IV. Environmental Consequences, A. All Alternatives-Direct and<br />
Indirect Effects, 1. Season there is a discussion on the effects of closing unsustainable campsites<br />
and trails and the recovery of vegetation in critical riparian areas and along the riverbank. Closing<br />
unsustainable campsites and trails would reduce current recreational impacts that are causing soil<br />
erosion and compaction. Over all, recreation use during the different seasons would cause<br />
minimal soil disturbance.<br />
In Section 3.4.1 Soils, IV. Environmental Consequences, F. Alternative 8- Direct and<br />
Indirect Effects, 1. All Reaches, b. Effects from Adding Boaters, there is a discussion on the<br />
proper location of designated portage trails. Designated portage trail rather than allowing usercreated<br />
portage trails would minimize impacts to areas susceptible to soil erosion. The degree of<br />
disturbance within the trail tread would depend on the amount of use and maintenance level.<br />
Portage trails would have less time to recover from disturbance because of elevated use levels and<br />
more persons (up to four) per raft.<br />
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