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
C) A reasonable range of alternatives was developed and analyzed in the Environmental
Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic
River, including campsite designation in most of those alternatives. The intent behind
designating campsites is to mitigate environmental and social impacts. Existing campsites may
be selected for designation if not causing environmental impacts. Those that are not would be
reconstructed if possible, or permanently closed and rehabilitated. New campsites might be
constructed to replace campsites that would be closed and rehabilitated. Management actions
related to designated campsites would require site-specific decisions.
D) Same as the response to Public Concern 63A and C above.
E) A reasonable range of alternatives was developed and analyzed in the Environmental
Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic
River, including campsite designation in most of those alternatives. A reasonable range of
alternatives was developed and analyzed in the EA, including campsite designation in most of
those alternatives. The intent behind designating campsites is to mitigate environmental and
social impacts. Existing campsites may be selected for designation if not causing environmental
impacts. Those that are not would be reconstructed if possible, or permanently closed and
rehabilitated. New campsites might be constructed to replace campsites that would be closed and
rehabilitated. Management actions related to designated campsites would require site-specific
decisions. Regarding backcountry camping by boaters, this is not expected to be a big issue (see
the 5th bullet on page 49 and the last bullet on page 57 of the Capacity & Conflict on the Upper
Chattooga River (Whittaker and Shelby 2007)). Also refer to the Environmental Assessment,
Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River,
Chapter 3, Section 3.2.1 Recreation ORV. Additionally, in the public comments boaters have
shown relatively little interest in multi-day trips on the river. Most whitewater boaters in the
Southeast appear to focus on day trips, and the challenging rapids of the upper segment of the
Chattooga WSR are easier to negotiate in boats that do not carry camping gear and food.
F) The slight reduction in the number of campsites at the Burrells Ford walk-in campground is
not expected to cause over-use in other parts of the Chattooga corridor. In addition, there is
presently a higher supply of campsites than what is dictated by demand based on empirical
observations.
G) The Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor analyzed restricting campsite use to designated sites,
but did not analyze rotating campsite use - this management technique was not brought forward
in the EA.
H) The Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of the
Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor did not analyze banning camping within 1/2 mile of
all bridges and roads - this was not an issue brought forward in the scoping process. The Sumter
RLRMP does prohibit "dispersed" camping within 1/4 mile of a road.
I) In Appendix B – Implementation, under the “Designate Campsites” section, steps are
outlined for all three Forest to take in evaluating and designating campsites: Inventory and map
(GPS) all campsites; Develop criteria for recommending which campsites will be designated;
Scoping and NEPA; Close, rehabilitate, and sign closed sites; Monitoring and enforcement.
Projects are implemented based on available funding and decisions are informed by site-specific
analysis in accordance with agency rules and regulations.
Sample Public Comment(s) for PC 63:
Subconcern # A
151