AW Helps Protect the Chattooga's West Fork!

American Whitewater experienced a wonderful victory recently on the West Fork of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River. Regional Coordinator Don Kinser (our volunteer of the month) worked closely with the AW staff in filing lengthy comments in opposition of the development of a new horse camp in part of the headwaters known as the Nicholson Tract. Many of our comments were included in a Record of Decision that was just released.

Thanks to our efforts and those of other concerned citizens, and to ecologically sensitive decision making by the USFS's Tallulah Ranger Distict, the Nicholson Tract will now be restored to a much more natural condition and will reflect the spirit of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Restoration activities include road closures, stream bank restoration, and removal of unnatural debris.

American Whitewater would like to thank the decision makers at the Tallulah Ranger District for taking a strong position of environmental stewardship. We would also like to thank Don Kinser, Trout Unlimited, and all the others who are working to protect the headwaters of the Chattooga River.

American Whitewater, Protecting and Restoring our nations whitewater rivers!

Below is part of the Record of Decision:

Nicholson Tract Management Actions
Fiscal Years 2002-2004

USDA Forest Service - Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests - Tallulah Ranger District - Rabun County, Georgia

1. DECISION

I have decided to approve certain management actions on the Nicholson Tract. This area is located on the West Fork of the Chattooga River on both sides of Highway 28 in northeast Rabun County (see map.)

Existing Roads:

Many of the roads on the tract will be closed. Closing will include completing any needed erosion control measures by seeding, fertilizing and mulching of exposed soil. A berm or gate will be built to prevent motorized access along with moving material into the roadbeds to prevent illegal all-terrain vehicle (ATV) access. The roads will be signed as closed.

Horse Camp:

There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue. I understand both the desire for the site and the concern over that use of the site. Based on all considerations, I have decided to not dedicate any portion of this tract to a horse camp.

Structure Management:

The buildings and other structures will be offered to educational and nonprofit institutions such as Foxfire and other interpretive associations, as well as area schools, to facilitate moving any or all of the existing structures to a location for permanent protection and preservation. Structures that are not moved initially will be offered to other interested educational organizations. All remaining structures will be disposed of in compliance with recommendations received from the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Following removal, sites will be restored by planting native vegetation including the use of grass seed composed of big and little bluestem and indiangrass and the planting of native trees and shrubs.

Steambank Restoration:

Several small segments of streambank that are actively eroding will be stabilized. These areas range in length from 10-50 feet and involve minimal resloping (primarily using hand tools) of the streambank, planting with native vegetation (including use of willow cuttings and cane) and, where necessary, using biodegradable covers and deflection logs to stabilize the area until vegetation takes hold.

Trees, shrubs and grasses (including cane) will be planted along a majority of the east streambank near the openings (see map) to initiate the formation of a forested riparian area. Species planted may include flowering dogwood, red maple, white oak, southern red oak, scarlet oak, chestnut oak, yellow poplar, hemlock and others. No revetments are planned for in this decision.

Ford Rehabilitation:

The two old fords existing on the tract (see map below) will be seeded, mulched and blocked using boulders. Native shrubs may be planted in the streambanks of the fords. Hay bales will be used to temporarily filter overland flow into the river until vegetation is established.

Clean-up:

Cables across the West Fork will be taken down, old farm implements removed and trash picked up.

2. PURPOSE AND NEED

After acquisition of the Nicholson tract, I have wanted to take some immediate steps to move the area toward a condition that will meet some of the goals for National Forest System land on the Chattahoochee - Oconee National Forest. These goals include to "protect and improve the quality of renewable resources;" "conserve soil and water resources and not allow significant or permanent impairment of the productivity of the land;" "preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage;" and "provide for a diversity of plant and animal communities and tree species to meet multiple-use objectives" (Forest Plan, page 4-1 and 4-2.)
I also wanted to move the portion of the area within the Wild and Scenic River corridor (see map) toward a condition described in the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Plan (Appendix M of the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests Plan (called the "Chattooga River Plan," for short); Forest Plan, pages 4-79 To 4-82.) Objectives for this include improving the scenic attractiveness and maintaining high quality habitat for fish (page M-4, Objectives.)
The road treatments (obliteration, outsloping, dip/lead-off ditch installation, revegetation, closure, tree planting) will help meet the objective of erosion protection (Forest Plan, page 4-37) and move the area toward one where soil and water resources are conserved. The obliteration of Road #9 along with the revegetation and mitigation measures will improve scenic attractiveness to floaters on the West Fork of the Chattooga River and reduce the amount of sediment that enters the West Fork at this point.
The successful transfer of buildings to other less remote locations will preserve the historic value of the buildings while protecting Forest visitors from existing unsafe structural conditions and future vandalism of these buildings at their present location.
The stream bank restoration and ford rehabilitation actions will stabilize banks and begin the process of reforestation along the banks of the West Fork of the Chattooga River. The willow cuttings will sprout and help stabilize the sediment.

5. IMPLEMENTATION DATE

This decision may be implemented immediately.