Chattooga Headwaters – Draft EIS to be Mailed March 7 – revised March 13

  • By Don Kinser
March 7, 2003

The draft Environmental ImpactStatement (DEIS) for the new forest plan that affects the Chattooga River isbeing mailed out today according to Mike Crane, District Ranger of the AndrewPickens District. Interested AW members who had their name added to the USFSmailing list for the Forest Plan should be receiving the document in a week orso. You can download the DEIS here electronically..

Two of the alternatives evaluated in the DEIS include boating access on the Chattoogaheadwaters above the Highway 28 bridge. One alternative opens theheadwaters above Highway 28 year round without restriction. Another alternativeonly opens the river below Burrell’s Ford at certain water levels from Decemberto March. The “preferred alternative” continues the ban on boatingabove Highway 28. This is the first time the USFS has publicly evaluated theclosure of the headwaters, thanks in large part to the many dedicated AWmembers who submitted comments to the USFS on Amendment 14 during the past fewyears.

Following the release of the DEIS there will be a 90 day public comment periodalong with several public meetings.  Itwill take significant boater comment to achieve our goal of year round,unrestricted legal access above Highway 28.

Thisis our big chance to gain legal access to this wonderful whitewater resource.In fact this may be our only chance for the next 10 or 15 years. Once we havereceived and reviewed the DEIS we will post more information so please staytuned to learn how best to help!

 Click hereto read a newspaper article published Feb 27 by the Anderson Independent Mail

Click hereto read a newspaper article recently published March 13 by the Anderson Independent Mail

Here are the dates and times for the Public meetings for the Sumter NationalForest Land and Resource Management Plan Revision. If you are able to attendthese any of these meeting please do so. Visit back here prior to the meetingsfor more analysis once we have received and read the DEIS. All meetings arefrom 3:30 to 8 p.m.

April 8
Clemson Ramada Inn
U.S. 76 and U.S. 123
Clemson

April 10
Clemson Extension Service meeting facility
120 Kirby Street
Union

April 28
Savannah Lakes Resort and Marina
U.S. 378
McCormick

April 29
U.S. Forest Service Headquarters
4931 Broad River Road
Columbia

For more information regarding these meetings you can visit the forest servicewebsite at www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms.

 

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