Tellico Issues

[CD]

another memo.

Contact: Terry Seyden 828-257-4202
December 19, 2007

For Immediate Release

Winter Closure for Upper Tellico OHV Area Announced

The U.S. Forest Service announced today a winter closure for the Upper Tellico Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) area on the Nantahala National Forest near Murphy, NC.  “It is our goal to maintain a viable Upper Tellico OHV system while reducing sediment, meeting water quality standards and improving brook trout fisheries,” said Forest Supervisor Marisue Hilliard.  “The purpose of this January 1 to March 31 closure is to protect water quality in the Upper Tellico River and allow the Forest Service to make repairs to the trail system.” 

“Our specialists have identified the winter period as a time when trails are most at risk of damage primarily to the freeze-thaw cycle,” Hilliard added.  “The winter closure will also allow for trail repairs and maintenance.”

The Upper Tellico seasonal closure is similar to winter closures already in place at the Wayehutta, Brown Mountain and Badin Lake OHV areas on the National Forests in North Carolina 
-more-
 
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The Forest Service also announced a temporary, not to exceed one year, closure on 4.4 miles of the 38 mile Upper Tellico OHV system. This includes Trails 7 and 9 and sections of Trails 2 and 8 where field inspections showed sediment to be reaching the Upper Tellico River and several trail bridges were found to be unsafe for continued OHV use.

In addition to starting work on needed trail repairs, the Forest Service will be working this winter with stakeholders on long range planning for the Upper Tellico OHV area.  Funding for the needed repairs will come from a combination of trail user fees, Forest Service appropriations and the volunteer efforts of local OHV organizations.

Forest Supervisor Hilliard noted that “this seasonal closure does not include Trail # 1 and the upper section of Trail # 2 which are also Forest system roads used to access private land.”

For more information, visit the National Forests in North Carolina website http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc or call the Tusquitee Ranger District in Murphy, NC at 828-837-5152

[Speeding]

So,  in short...

1. A one-year closure of Lower Trail 2 (from the intersection with Road 420 west to Road 402), Trail 7, a portion of Trail 8 (from the intersection with Trail 9 to the intersection with Trail 10A), and Trail 9 in the Upper Tellico OHV area which prohibits operating motor vehicles on these trails during the closure period and sets penalties for violating the provisions of this Order.

2. A seasonal closure of the Upper Tellico OHV Area which prohibits operating motor vehicles on trails within the Area during the period between January 1 and March 31 each year and sets penalties for violating the provisions of this Order.

SFWDA in cooperation with UFWDA and BlueRibbon is evaluating these orders and will be responding accordingly.

 

[Jonica]

Check out the Rescue Tellico site at Cafepress:
http://www.cafepress.com/rescuetellico/
 
Buy T-shirts, mugs, bags, bumper stickers etc.  All proceeds go to the
Rescue Tellico legal defense fund which is preparing to fight the Southern
Environmental Law Center lawsuit against the USFS to close Tellico OHV Area.
Tellico trails 8, 9, 7 and lower 2 are already closed, and my personal
opinion is they will never re-open.  If you haven't already run Slickrock,
legally you may never have the chance to do so.  The USFS closure order is
here:
http://www.sfwda.org/trails/tellico/tellico20071218.html
 
The world is run by those who show up.  Get angry, get involved, or get
another hobby.  The enviro-nazis are going to close you out of your own
National Forest if you dont do something to fight them.
 
 
Herndon Elliott, Madison Alabama
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
Trailfest Coordinator
http://www.sfwda.org/
trailfest@sfwda.org

[CD]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Greg Mumm 208-244-2112
Carla Boucher 757-546-7969

NATIONAL RECREATION ATTORNEYS TEAM UP FOR RESCUE TELLICO

BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) are teaming up with their nationally recognized attorneys in the fight for project “Rescue Tellico.” This alliance amongst the groups and their attorneys, in cooperation with Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, is an historic undertaking. The groups will consolidate their efforts, bringing together their collective expertise, resources, and other strengths derived from their grassroots memberships. Collectively BRC and UFWDA represent over half a million recreationists committed to responsible and sustainable vehicle-based recreation on public lands.

“BRC and UFWDA have worked together on other access protection lawsuits in the past, but this effort combines our attorneys and resources into a single litigation team”, stated Greg Mumm, BRC’s Executive Director. “Unlike past efforts to support each other in various endeavors, this new alliance actually unifies the work of both law offices and the organizations of BRC and UFWDA into a single presence”, stated Wayne Groom, President of UFWDA.

Rescue Tellico is a program to protect off-highway vehicle (OHV) access in the Upper Tellico OHV Area located in North Carolina, a premiere OHV destination throughout the Eastern Seaboard and Southern U.S.

# # # # #

UFWDA is the world’s leading association of all-brand four wheel drive enthusiasts, protecting, promoting, and providing for 4x4 recreation opportunities across the globe. 1- 800-44-UFWDA. www.ufwda.org. An International Organization, P.O. Box 15696, Chesapeake, VA 23328, (757) 546-7969

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258- 3742. www.sharetrails.org, 4555 Burley Drive, Suite A, Pocatello, ID 83202-1921 (208) 237-1008

Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, the focus and mission is to promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands open for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

[Jonica]

TELLICO LAWSUIT DISMISSED - FOREST SERVICE TO RELEASE NEW PLAN
October 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Greg Mumm 208-244-2112
Carla Boucher 757-546-7969
Court papers filed today indicate that the lawsuit brought by motorized recreation advocates
against the U.S. Forest Service over the Upper Tellico Off-Highway Vehicle Area will be
voluntarily dismissed. The case was filed by the BlueRibbon Coalition, United Four Wheel Drive
Associations, and Southern Four Wheel Drive Association and challenged temporary closure
orders issued by the Forest Service in December, 2007. According to a stipulation entered by all
parties to the case, it is the Forest Service’s “stated intention to complete a public planning
process and announce a new decision in the near future which will likely substantially impact or
change the interim orders referenced in the complaint….” The Forest has provided proposed
management alternatives and received comments through July, 2008, on the new plan from the
recreation organizations and many others interested in Tellico management.
“We are pleased that the Forest Service has made active management of Tellico a high priority,
and that this planning process seems to have avoided some of the diversions that have delayed
similar decisions in other areas,” observed Jay Bird, immediate Past President of Southern Four
Wheel Drive Association. “Under these circumstances, and mindful of the desire for both Forest
Service personnel and recreational enthusiasts to focus on the new decision and future
management, we agreed that dismissing this action was the right thing to do,” Bird concluded.
The dismissal is without prejudice, meaning that these same organizations or other interested
parties could file administrative appeals or lawsuits challenging the ultimate outcome of the new
planning process. Further information about the plaintiff organizations, including information
about the ongoing planning process at Tellico and developments in other matters, can be found as
indicated below.
# # #
The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and
private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual
members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists
nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive
enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
www.ufwda.org
P.O. Box 15696
Chesapeake, VA 23328
(757) 546-7969
BlueRibbon Coalition
www.sharetrails.org
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 93202-1921
(208) 237-1008
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association
www.sfwda.org
1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road
PMB #222
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources
through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org
Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use
and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. Since the formation of Southern Four Wheel
Drive Association, the focus and mission is to promote responsible land use and to help keep public lands
open for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern
Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road, PMB
# 222, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

[alabamatoy]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9480128

detailed report is here: http://www.sfwda.org/trails/tellico/study09/

Executive summary from the report:

A. Tellico is a valuable resource to the local community and to regional and national OHV users. Unique site obstacles that draw notoriety across the nation include Slickrock, Helicopter Pad, Guardrail, Schoolbus and Rock Garden. Historically, trail users have contributed significantly to the local economy including lodging (hotels, campgrounds and cabins), restaurants, grocery stores, repair facilities, and other businesses. Users also support trail operations though payment of daily and yearly user fees.

B. Streams are healthy and have excellent water quality per North Carolina standards and are capable of sustaining viable, reproducing native trout populations. Degradation of water quality and aquatic habitat in Upper Tellico is non-existent. Stream channels are very stable and aptly convey stream flows without streambed erosion. Historic clear-cutting of land in Upper Tellico has contributed more to the off-site sediment transport than the trail system.

C. The current deteriorated trail conditions are largely the result of too many years of neglected maintenance by the USFS due to budget constraints. However, the trails and site obstacles are repairable and very much maintainable/sustainable after repair. We concur with the USFS Trails Unlimited conclusion that closure of any of the trails is neither warranted nor recommended. Costs of needed repairs total approximately $2.2 million. Annual cost of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) after repairs totals approximately $100,000 per year.