“On August 18, 2000, Wilson Creek, From its headwaters below Calloway Peak to the confluence with the Johns River, Was designated a Wild and Scenic River.”
So begins the letter from the Pisgah National Forest that requests public input regarding how the Wilson Creek area should be managed to protect the qualities for which it was designated as Wild and Scenic.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers act is a wonderful legislative gift to river advocates, but does not equal absolute protection. The act prevents the building of dams and in some instances other extremely impactful actions, but the rest is up to the discretion of the land managers and the public.
If you feel that the designation should be used to prevent logging in the watershed, the viewshed, or the riparian area, you should take part in this process. If you feel that access should be improved to the upper watershed, or that old roads should be closed and obliterated, you should participate in this process. If you feel that the designation should protect as much land as possible, you should participate in this process. If you love Wilson Creek, you should participate in this process.
There is a meeting to obtain public comment at the Collettsville School in Caldwell County at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19th, 2002.
Written Comments can be sent by March 29th to:
Bonnie AmaralNational Forests in North CarolinaPO Box 2750Asheville, NC 28802
For more information, check out www.cs.unca/nfsnc or call Bonnie Amaral at 828-257-4253 or commissioner Ron Beane at 828-728-9609