Project News

Earlier this week the US Forest Service cancelled their plans to allow a paltry six days of paddling on one small section of the upper Chattooga River (NC/SC/GA) this winter. As it has been for 33 years, the entire Upper Chattooga River now remains banned to all canoeing and kayaking, while all other existing uses have no limits. Conservation-oriented paddlers have challenged the overarching agency decision to ban paddling on the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River in court and in the administrative appeals process over the past two weeks.

Conservation-oriented kayakers and canoeists sought protection in federal court on Wednesday from an illegal decision by the United States Forest Service involving the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River. The USFS decision, which was the culmination of a 2004 administrative appeal by American Whitewater, makes it a federal crime for paddlers to float the northernmost 21 miles of the River and its tributaries except on a limited seven-mile section during 6 or fewer days per year.

American Whitewater and our attorneys have been in contact with US Forest Service officials at the local, regional, and National level asking for prompt resolution of the mismanagement of the Chattooga, which has now been delayed over 2 years. The USFS has not set a new deadline for releasing their long overdue decision, nor shared a reason for the delays.

The Sumter National Forest announced today that the final decision on recreation uses on the upper Wild and Scenic Chattooga River is under internal review and will not be released this month as planned. The decision is now scheduled to be released "next year." It has been over 3.5 years since the highest office of the Forest Service ruled that the Upper Chattooga boating ban violates the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Like many paddlers, American Whitewater yesterday submitted comments on the Forest Service's environmental assessment (EA) of recreation on the Chattooga River. We would like to thank all the paddlers that filed comments in support of responsible management on the Chattooga. As a community we have daylighted a national treasure being mismanaged by a small group of people for a small group of people. AW remains committed to bringing responsible river management to the Chattooga on behalf of all backcountry recreationists.

Today the US Forest Service announced that they will grant the public another 2 weeks to submit comments on their "environmental assessment" of recreational use in the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River corridor. The new comment period ends August 18th.

AW has finished our initial review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding recreation on the Chattooga River and we will be filing detailed comments on the EA prior to the August 1st deadline [extended to August 18th]. We encourage paddlers nationwide concerned with river management and protection to submit comments. The proposed management action on the Chattooga is a damaging and politically motivated precedent that would impact rivers, managers, and recreationists across the country.

Today the United States Forest Service released their new proposal for management of the upper Chattooga River, and an environmental assessment of their alternatives. There will be a 30 day public comment period. The USFS proposes to essentially maintain their ban on boating while allowing other uses unlimited access - again without any basis whatsoever.

The USFS has announced another 6-month delay in deciding on a new plan for managing recreation on the Wild and Scenic upper Chattooga River. The announcement came in a certified letter to AW, in response to a letter AW sent the Chief of the USFS requesting an update and swift equitable resolution of this protracted issue.