Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
Resource Name (Heading 1) - USDA Forest Service - US ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Summary of Public Comments - Managing Recreation Uses in the<br />
Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor EA<br />
interest of public transparency, especially with the analysis completed for all the alternatives<br />
listed in the EA. It affords the public an opportunity to focus their comments. It helps to inform<br />
the decision-maker’s final decision.<br />
B) Motorized boating is not permitted on the Chattooga River (2004 Revised Land and <strong>Resource</strong><br />
Management Plan, Sumter National <strong>Forest</strong>) page 3-9; 2.A.-3and is beyond the scope of this<br />
decision. Motorized boating is not listed as a compatible recreation use in the 1971 Designation<br />
Study.<br />
From the Capacity & Conflict on the Upper Chattooga River (Whittaker and Shelby 2007), subsection<br />
Guiding legislation or other agency mandates, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, on page 8,<br />
it notes the following on motorized boat use on the Chattooga WSR:<br />
WSR designation does not necessarily restrict any particular type of use<br />
in a corridor, including motorized boats, jet skis, hovercraft, or wheeled<br />
vehicles. However, such uses must be consistent with the desired<br />
conditions and experiences to be offered in a corridor, which link to OR<br />
values. In general, types of use and access routes within river corridors at<br />
the time of designation receive “grandfather rights” (continued use).<br />
However, if an access route or type of use adversely impacts an OR<br />
value, it may be closed or regulated. These issues are addressed through<br />
management planning that considers “factors such as impacts (positive or<br />
negative) on river values, user demand for such motorized recreation,<br />
health and safety to users, and acceptability with desired experiences and<br />
other values for which the river was designated.” (IWSRCC, 2002, pp. 4-<br />
6; IWSRCC, 2006 p. 49-50).<br />
The 1971 Designation Study report did not list motorized boating as a compatible recreation use.<br />
From the 1971 Wild and Scenic River Study Report, Chattooga River, Page 22 “Motorized boat<br />
use is impractical because of shallow water and rocks.” The 1971 Designation Study report<br />
identified allowed recreation uses on page 85 “Restriction in the Act limit types of recreation use,<br />
especially in the Wild and Scenic Sections. Compatible uses on the Chattooga River are floating<br />
(including rafting, canoeing and kayaking), hiking (including sightseeing, nature study and<br />
photography), hunting, fishing and primitive camping.”<br />
In the 1976 Federal Register Notice (Volume 41, No. 56, March 22, 1977), it mentions that<br />
kayaking, canoeing and rafting are “ideal” but notes that “Motorized boat use is impractical<br />
because of shallow water and rocks.” The scope of this decision is limited to the upper segment of<br />
the Chattooga WSR above Highway 28 Bridge.<br />
C) A reasonable range of alternatives has been considered that protect resources and the effects<br />
disclosed in the Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the Upper Segment of<br />
the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor reflect that range. Variations of the commenter’s<br />
proposed alternative have been considered in Alternative 8 and other alternatives that propose a<br />
season restriction during the low use time of year in the Ellicott Rock Reach. See the EA for<br />
discussion for the effects of allowing boating as suggested by the commenter. The decision maker<br />
can choose one of the alternatives fully developed in the EA or can blend alternatives in the<br />
decision, as long as it is within the current effects analyzed. The decision notice and rationale for<br />
the decision provide disclosure to the public.<br />
D) Alternatives presented in the Environmental Assessment, Managing Recreation Uses in the<br />
Upper Segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River use reach, season and flow as a means to<br />
manage recreation uses and reduce conflict. The permit system proposed would be similar to one<br />
that is used on the lower segment of the river.<br />
48