Be Careful What You Ask For!
Log Cabin Building Work Shop
Impaired Waterways in the Watershed
Horse Trail Issues on Both Sides of the River
Lawsuit Shuts Down Chattahoochee NF

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR!

One of the predominant arguments for de-emphasizing timber harvesting on our national forests has been that public lands are more suited to provide recreation opportunities for the American public, while the demand for timber can be met on private lands managed by timber corporations. Now that the Forest Service has nearly exhausted our national forests for their "corporate give-away" timber program, they are looking for a new "cash cow." User Fee Demonstration Projects are in place on all three national forests in the Chattooga River watershed, where citizens must pay to use the Bull Sluice, Thrift's Ferry, Woodall Shoals and Whitesides Mountain parking lots. Recreation facility expansions are proposed for the Willis Knob Horse Camp (GA), citing the "need" for electricity, showers, and additional campsites-even though private lands nearby are being developed for the same purpose.

Forest Service Chief Dombeck's "recreation boom" agenda is definitely taking hold in the agency. Recently, 70 federal employees met with members of the American Recreation Coalition at Disney World, where they learned the Disney philosophy of "pricing your product in a way that allows your customer to rate the product highly, and feel that they received good value for their money." Members of the American Recreation Coalition include: Walt Disney Company; International Association for Amusement Parks Attractions; Yamaha Motor Corporation; Gaylord Entertainment Company; United Four Wheel Drive Assoc.; Specialty Vehicle Institute of America; National Rifle Association; National Hot Rod Assoc.; Motorcycle Industry Council; International Snowmobile Manufacturers Assoc.; Exxon Company USA; Chevron Corporation; American Power Boat Association; American Resort and Residential Development Association; American Hotel and Motel Association; American Bus Association; American Association for Nude Recreation, Inc.; and, America Outdoors.

Please write your Members of Congress and tell them that you do not want to see our national forests overrun and further exploited by private recreation industries. The Chattooga River watershed's national forests should be managed to provide a backcountry experience, not a Mickey Mouse entertainment spectacle. Also request that the User Fee Demonstration Program be abandoned, and tell the Forest Service you oppose user fees. We already pay taxes for the right to recreate on our public land; it's not the taxpayer's fault that the Forest Service lost all our money on roads and timber give-aways! Please write today.

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LOG CABIN BUILDING WORK SHOP

July 12th through the 19th, the CRWC will be conducting a log cabin building workshop. The 5-day workshop will involve constructing a small log cabin, using the traditional Southern Appalachian half-dovetail notch. Intermediate carpentry skills are required, and basic tools. The cost is $150 per person (which does not include housing or food). CRWC Executive Director Buzz Williams will teach the workshop. The site location is at the Billingsly Farm, near the intersection of Hwy. 28 and Warwoman Rd. in Georgia. If you are interested, please call the CRWC at 706-782-6097.

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IMPAIRED WATERWAYS IN THE WATERSHED

The US Environmental Protection Agency's Water Management Division has proposed to add eight new streams to Georgia's 303(d) list, which identifies "waters and pollutants of concern." Locally, Stekoa Creek, Scott Creek, Saddle Gap Creek, Chechero Creek, Pool Creek, Warwoman Creek and Law Ground Creek have been added to the list due to their excessive sedimentation. Stekoa and Chechero Creeks were already on the list for biota and fecal coliform. Roach Mill Creek is proposed to be added to the list for biological community and habitat impairment.

Much of the sedimentation that threatens our streams comes from indiscriminate development on steep slopes, commercial sprawl and road building on private lands. Enforcement of strong erosion and sedimentation laws, and support for reasonable zoning ordinances could mitigate these problems. On public lands, excessive road building continues to be the greatest threat to the aquatic health of our streams and rivers. Please contact your Members of Congress and support a moratorium on road building in our national forests.

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HORSE TRAIL ISSUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER

The Tallulah Ranger District (GA) is proposing to expand the Willis Knob Horse Camp, and develop it by installing showers and electricity. We oppose this proposal because: 1) horse trails in the area already receive heavy use, and enlarging the current facility would further increase the resource damage occurring on these horse trails. 2) The type of upgrades proposed are already being developed in the same general area by private landowners. Please write to the Tallulah Ranger District (809 Highway 441 South, Clayton, GA 30525) and oppose this development.

The Andrew Pickens District (SC) is proposing to close a section of the Rocky Gap Horse Trail north of Big Island due to the well known "mudhole," and re-route the horse trail in the river for 100 yards to detour this problem. We are in favor of closing this section due to its excessive erosion; however, we feel that establishing a horse trail in the river is a bad idea. Horses traveling in the river would inevitably cause user conflicts, as well as safety problems due to various river depths and fluctuating water levels. We're also concerned about creating new erosion problems from horses' ingress and egress to the river. A better option would be closing that portion of the trail from the "steep hill with the mudhole" to Adline Ford. This would be only a minor inconvenience until the former trail could be rerouted to appropriate terrain. Please write to District Ranger Mike Crane (112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC 29664) and express your opinion.

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LAWSUIT SHUTS DOWN CHATTAHOOCHEE NF

Recently, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Sierra Club in Sierra Club vs. Martin and found that the Forest Service was not in compliance with Forest Plan requirements to inventory and monitor Threatened, Endangered, and Management Indicator Species on the Chattahoochee National Forest. This national forest has suspended all timber sales and/or projects that deal with the substantial modification of vegetation and habitats.

Meanwhile, the Chattooga River Watershed Coalition's lawsuit against the Forest Service regarding a proposed timber sale in Compartment 32 (off of Warwoman Road in Rabun County, GA) is now pending in Federal Court. Our case seeks to prevent this timber sale, which would convert a native hardwood forest to a pine plantation. The Sierra Club vs. Martin ruling is tantamount to a temporary restraining order until a Federal Judge in Gainesville, Georgia renders a decision on our case.

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