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