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