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Upper Chattooga Rules Shared - Paddling to Start Soon!

11/27/2012 - by Kevin Colburn

The first season of legal paddling on portions of the Wild and Scenic upper Chattooga River since 1976 is nearly upon us.  The Forest Service will begin allowing paddling on December 1, 2012, through April 30, 2013, under various restrictions.  This article will help you jump through all the hoops and enjoy the river!

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Paddlers Secure Chattooga Conservation Outcomes, But Remain Severely Limited

07/15/2011 - by Kevin Colburn

Earlier today the US Forest Service released a Draft Environmental Assessment that proposes to continue denying the American public the simple right to float in canoes and kayaks down the Wild and Scenic Upper Chattooga River for most or all of the year depending on the section of river.  While successful in advancing some of the paddling community’s conservation goals, paddlers remain singled out for inequitable and harsh limits based solely on the Agency’s unfounded belief that user conflicts would occur if boating were allowed. 

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Yet Another Chattooga Delay, Again...

12/19/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

The Sumter National Forest announced today that the final decision on recreation uses on the upper Wild and Scenic Chattooga River is under internal review and will not be released this month as planned.  The decision is now scheduled to be released "next year."  It has been over 3.5 years since the highest office of the Forest Service ruled that the Upper Chattooga boating ban violates the Wilderness Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

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Chattooga Comments In, Questions Remain

08/19/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

Like many paddlers, American Whitewater yesterday submitted comments on the Forest Service's environmental assessment (EA) of recreation on the Chattooga River.  We would like to thank all the paddlers that filed comments in support of responsible management on the Chattooga.  As a community we have daylighted a national treasure being mismanaged by a small group of people for a small group of people.  AW remains committed to bringing responsible river management to the Chattooga on behalf of all backcountry recreationists.  

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Forest Service Extends Chattooga Comment Period

07/30/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

Today the US Forest Service announced that they will grant the public another 2 weeks to submit comments on their "environmental assessment" of recreational use in the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River corridor.  The new comment period ends August 18th.

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Nationwide Chattooga Comments Needed

07/09/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

AW has finished our initial review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding recreation on the Chattooga River and we will be filing detailed comments on the EA prior to the August 1st deadline [extended to August 18th]. We encourage paddlers nationwide concerned with river management and protection to submit comments.  The proposed management action on the Chattooga is a damaging and politically motivated precedent that would impact rivers, managers, and recreationists across the country.

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USFS Chattooga River Proposal Released

07/02/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

Today the United States Forest Service released their new proposal for management of the upper Chattooga River, and an environmental assessment of their alternatives.  There will be a 30 day public comment period.  The USFS proposes to essentially maintain their ban on boating while allowing other uses unlimited access - again without any basis whatsoever. 

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USFS Announces More Chattooga Delays (Again)

06/26/2008 - by Kevin Colburn

The USFS has announced another 6-month delay in deciding on a new plan for managing recreation on the Wild and Scenic upper Chattooga River.  The announcement came in a certified letter to AW, in response to a letter AW sent the Chief of the USFS requesting an update and swift equitable resolution of this protracted issue.

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Chattooga Meeting this Saturday, 9/29

09/25/2007 - by Kevin Colburn

The next US Forest Service workshop relating to the management of the Chattooga River will be held Saturday, September 29th.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the development of alternatives for the USFS to analyze in the coming month. 

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No Boats in Wilderness?

09/06/2007 - by Kevin Colburn

No matter where you live, if you love getting out in the backcountry in your canoe, kayak, or raft on any river, recent comments made to the US Forest Service will make you cringe.  If they weren’t serious – and the US Forest Service wasn’t taking them seriously – these anti-boating comments would be hilarious!   We are asking paddlers everywhere to respond in writing that the Forest Service has an obligation to protect the Chattooga River - and its enjoyment by paddlers.  

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Chattooga Process Determined, Meetings Scheduled

05/29/2007 - by Kevin Colburn

On Friday, May 25th, the USFS released their plan for wrapping up the user capacity analysis and updating their management of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The USFS stated that they have completed the data collection phase of the user capacity analysis, and that the full findings will be released later this week.  A series of meetings are scheduled throughout the summer and fall to involve the public in the decision making process. 

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Chattooga Analysis Partial Results Published

05/11/2007 - by Kevin Colburn

The US Forest Service has begun releasing the reports that make up their User Capacity Analysis based on the upper Chattooga.  Several more reports are expected shortly, as well as an overarching report that ties all the individual elements together.  As the reports come in, AW is reviewing them and filing technical comments on them which are now posted online.