ForestWatch request granted

Georgia ForestWatch is gratified that the U.S. Forest Service wisely has granted Georgia ForestWatch’s request to stay implementation of any boating on the headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River pending resolution of the five administrative appeals filed in that matter.

We urge all interested hikers, picnickers, bird watchers, photographers, anglers, hunters, and lovers of this wild, backcountry area to urge the Forest Service to now closely review the ForestWatch appeal and consider granting its proposal to continue current “zoning” on the Upper Chattooga.

Everyone should understand that this administrative battle over these 21 miles of wild, backcountry river is far from over.  Of the five parties appealing the Forest Service decision to try to open the area to boating, only Georgia ForestWatch steadfastly has stuck to the position that the agency should continue its 30-plus-year prohibition on boating in this pristine area of national forestlands.  Three of the appellant groups are willing to accept some boating in this area.  The fourth, the American Whitewater lobby group, which engendered the 4.5 years of study of this issue, still wants it all – boating anytime on the 21 miles of the Upper Chattooga.

For more information see:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/sumter/resources/Chattooga.php