Chattooga Drainage Issues Overview
Posted: 04/02/2003
By: Jason Robertson, Don Kinser, Brad Roberts
ContentsHeadwaters Access (00, 0, 1)Permits Fees Sedimentation Commercial Use Section II Section III Section IV Stekoa Creek West Fork Overflow Creek Forest Service Help! |
American Whitewater is working on protecting your ability to access the Chattooga River. We
are working closely with the Forest Service on multiple fronts including: re-opening access
to the headwaters of the Chattooga, and deterring the Forest Service from implementing
mandatory restrictive permits for accessing Section III and Section IV. We need your help to
ensure the success of efforts.
Latest Update:Chattooga River Update - Comments Due by June 21, 2003 |
|
HeadwatersBack to Top |
On July 1, 1976 the Forest Service (USFS) banned legal boating access on the Chattooga River
above the Highway 28 Bridge. In November 1999, American Whitewater mobilized support and
submitted a proposal to the Forest Service requesting limited opportunities for whitewater
boating on the beautiful Class IV-VI headwaters of the Chattooga. More than 400 American
Whitewater members wrote letters supporting our proposal. In August 2001, the Forest Service
asked for more comments on river management issues under Amendment #14.
|
STORY: Running Section
O FOIA Explores Chattooga Headwaters Closure AW's Headwater's Access Proposal AW's Amendment 14 Comments USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) July 2001 Marked 25th Anniversary of Boating Ban AW Section I Chattooga (pg #1049) AW Section 0 Chattooga (pg #3446) AW Section 0 Chattooga (pg #3450) AW Section 00 Chattooga (pg #3101) |
PermitsBack to Top |
The USFS has proposed requiring restrictive permits on the Chattooga substantially limiting future private boater access. AW has serious reservations about the agency's proposals to restrict access. |
AW's Amendment 14 Comments
on Permits AW's Amendment 14 Comments on Allocation USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) |
FeesBack to Top |
The USFS on-again off-again policy towards parking fees on the Chattooga makes this a particularly hard issue to address. However AW is working in Washington Dc to modify the Fee Demo authority used to charge fees on the Chattooga. |
A Testimony on Fee
Demo AW's Amendment 14 Comments on Permits USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) |
SedimentationBack to Top |
American Whitewater is very concerned about increased sedimentation on the Chattooga as a result of development and erosion. Sedimentation reduces stream ecosystem health and macroivertebrte populations, reduces clarity of the water, reduces the health of the fishery, and is generally unsightly. |
AW Amendment 14 Comments
on Sedimentation USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) Horse Trails May Affect Chattooga Scenery AW Comments on Horse Trails (pdf) |
Commercial UseBack to Top |
AW sees no reason to change the current river management and operating plan relative to guided use under Amendment 14, Issue 8. The current river management regime for guided use on the river appears to work well and should not be revised to allow for more watercraft, which has been proposed in order to increase use. The proposal to increase commercial use appears to come at the expense of private boater access. |
AW's Amendment 14
Comments USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) Shuttle permits |
Section IIBack to Top |
Section II is a beautiful float trip suitable for novices with proper safety equipment. |
AW Section II Chattooga (pg
#477) AW Streamgage #876 |
Section IIIBack to Top |
Section III is one of the premier Class III-IV whitewater runs in the country. It is as
reknowned for its whitewater as it's beauty. 
|
AW Section III Chattooga (pg
#475) AW Streamgage #876 USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) |
Section IVBack to Top |
Section IV is the original Southeastern creek run. This is still one of the most magestic and
challenging whitewater runs in the country, and has not gotten any tamer with more than 30
years of steady use. 
|
AW Section IV Chattooga (pg
#476) AW Streamgage #876 STORY:To See or Not to Boat |
Stekoa CreekBack to Top |
AW's concern is that the pristine nature of the Chattooga River corridor is threatened by increased sedimentation, turbidity, and unprocessed sewage and urban runoff via Stekoa Creek. We have asked the USFS to address this in the planning process and work closely with the states of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina to develop and implement a plan for protecting the Chattooga's entire watershed from development and related water quality degradation. |
AW's Amendment 14
Comments USFS Amendment 14 (pdf) AW Stekoa Creek (pg #501) AW Stekoa Creek -Upper (pg #3577) AW Streamgage #876 |
West ForkBack to Top |
The West Fork is a great contrast to the headwaters of the Chattooga. This section is threatened by development and is the source of much sedimentation on the Wild and Scenic sections downstream. |
AW helps protect West Fork
of the Chattooga AW West Fork Chattooga (pg #2590) AW Streamgage #876 |
Overflow CreekBack to Top |
Overflow Creek is a beautiful stream in the upper West Fork of the Chattooga watershed. It is a difficult Class V(V+) stream with big drops and beautiful scenery. It provides a good point of comparison with the headwaters sections as boating is legal on this section. |
AW Overflow Creek (pg
#495) AW Streamgage #876 |
Forest ServiceBack to Top |
The USFS is revising the Sumter Forest Management Plan on the Chattooga. This plan directs river management actions over the next decade and addresses development and crowding issues on this most famous Wild & Scenic river. The specter of restrictive permits has been raised, even as fees have been increased. American Whitewater is working with the Forest Planning team and our volunteers to preserve non-restrictive opportunities for access on the Chattooga, and to protect the river corridor from crowding and development. |
Relationships between AW and
the USFS Applicable Regulations USFS Sumter National Forest Page Michael Crane, District Ranger Andrew Pickens Ranger District, 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC 29664. |
Help!Back to Top |
Our Goal by June 21, 2003
We want to mobilize significant public support supporting AW's comments and position regarding the proposed forest plan. Click here for an early outline and information on how to submit your official comments regarding the proposed plan. We continue to analyze the DEIS and proposed plan and will update our website on a regular basis so keep coming back and visiting to stay informed. We want to mobilize significant boater attendance at the April 8 Clemson and the April 29 Columbia public meetings. We view the April 8 Clemson meeting and the April 29 Columbia meeting as key meetings. We seek respectful comment and input to assert our position while maintaining a working relationship with the USFS and other stakeholders. We want the USFS to modify the preferred alternative in the Final EIS to include boating above Highway 28 and other key issues as we determined in our analysis. |
Join American Whitewater Make a Donation Volunteer to Help Become an AW Streamkeeper |
Regional Coordinator
Don Kinser, running Soc-em-dog on Section IV of the Chattooga.
