Chattooga Headwaters – Draft EIS has arrived

The draft Environmental ImpactStatement (DEIS) for the new forest plan that affects the Chattooga River was mailedlast Friday March 7 and most Interested AW members who had their name added tothe USFS mailing list for the Forest Plan received the documents today. Forthose who aren’t on the mailing list or haven’t received the documents yet youcan download the DEIS here electronically. Be forewarned though these arelarge documents.

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 boating aboveHighway 28.

This is the first time the USFShas publicly evaluated the closure of the headwaters, thanks in large part tothe many dedicated AW members who submitted comments to the USFS on Amendment14 during the past few years. This fact alone is a large step forward.

Many AW members have expressed concernthat the two Alternatives that include access to the headwaters (Alternatives Aand E) lump boating above highway 28 with other less environmentally desirableuses. Do not despair! The alternatives are never adopted or rejectedin their entirety. There is still much to be optimistic about.

The release of the DEIS starts theclock on a 90 day public comment period that will end in the second week ofJune 2003. It will take significant boater comment to achieve our goal of yearround, 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. AW iscurrently reviewing the proposed forest plan and the DEIS. We will have ourcomments regarding the plan, along with information on how to comment postedhere on the website by April 4. Please stay tuned to learn how best to help!

There will be a series of 4public meetings in addition to the 90 day public comment period. AW views theApril 8 Clemson meeting and the April 29 Columbia meeting as the key meetings forboater participation. If you are able to attend these any of these meetingplease do so. Visit back here prior to the meetings for more analysis once wehave prepared our comments.

Here are the dates and times forthe Public meetings for the Sumter National Forest Land and Resource ManagementPlan Revision, all meetings are from 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.

Click hereto read a newspaper article about the Chattooga aspects of the proposed forestplan published Feb 27 by the Anderson Independent Mail

Click hereto read a newspaper article about the Chattooga aspects of the proposed forestplan published March 13 by the Anderson Independent Mail