Save Tellico...seriously

[WhiteD90]

OK, they shut down the trails until 2011. There is a legit lawsuit pending, your support is needed. I donated $100 for the fight, if you care about trails anywhere staying open help fight the fight. You can read up and/or donate here:

http://www.sfwda.org/

you can also read more info here:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=775388

This is happening in far more places that you realize, even if Tellico isn't near you this issue for your local trails will be at some point.

[cgalpin]

Yeah this is serious stuff - closures are happening everywhere.

charles

[woldd90]

We need the write our representatives, not that they care about us... Start working with the off-road parts manufactures, other brands, motorcycle and ATV manufactures and every product that touches dirt, trails and etc. This is starting to get silly.

If they really cared about water quality and erosion, no one would be allowed to boat, kayak or build golf courses and neighborhoods by any water source.

[kiefffff]

You said it Scott. Its not the mechanical equipment causing the water quality issues, its the land development approvals and unregulated farming practices. Watersheds everywhere are being impacted by sprawl. The governments don't want to limit their revenue opportunity so they turn their attention to an easy target, us.

[rover4x4]

We need the write our representatives, not that they care about us... Start working with the off-road parts manufactures, other brands, motorcycle and ATV manufactures and every product that touches dirt, trails and etc. This is starting to get silly.

If they really cared about water quality and erosion, no one would be allowed to boat, kayak or build golf courses and neighborhoods by any water source.


This keeps me in business. We like to fix fucked up streams and build wetlands. I may write my local members of the state and federal governments to plea my case.

[woldd90]

From John Craven – Public Relations Director For SFWDA



RECREATIONAL GROUPS DECRY TELLICO CLOSURE



October 15, 2009



Conservation groups dedicated to active and sustainable management of the Upper Tellico OHV Area expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Forest Service decision to permanently close the Tellico trails. The decision, which follows an earlier “temporary” closure, was announced in documents published by the USFS yesterday morning.



Gary Parsons, President of the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, reacted by saying, “the Forest Service is simply wrong in this decision. This public agency has ignored an independent study by Caliber Engineering and the recommendations of its own Trails Unlimited Team, which demonstrated effective management is attainable and offered specific suggestions to achieve that goal.”



The agency announcement by Forest Supervisor, Marisue Hillard again parroted the water quality issues long favored by preservationist special interests as the excuse for closure. Jay Bird, Chairman of the Rescue Tellico Committee noted, “the Tellico River is in excellent shape and complies with all legal requirements. Only through blatant modification of proper methodology, such as measuring turbidity levels during peak runoff, can the Forest Service claim there is legal basis to take any action, let alone closure.”



“Sadly, we are not surprised. It now appears the Forest Service knew it would close the Area years ago, and undertook the intervening “public process” to justify a decision already made,” said Greg Mumm, Executive Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition. “We are sorely disappointed that the Forest Service has determined it cannot effectively manage the Upper Tellico OHV Area that users have supported with millions of dollars in fees and thousands of hours of volunteer labor. With our recreational partners we will evaluate all options that may change that determination.”



# # #



The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org (http://www.sharetrails.org)



United Four Wheel Drive Associations is an international organization comprised of four wheel drive enthusiasts, clubs, associations, and businesses dedicated to providing community services around the world, education in responsible land use and safe vehicle operation, and protection of our natural resources through conservation practices. 1-800-448-3932. www.ufwda.org (http://www.ufwda.org)



Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA) was founded in 1987 to promote responsible land use and to keep public lands accessible for motorized recreation. For more information on the activities and accomplishments of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, please visit www.sfwda.org (http://www.sfwda.org) or contact us at 1483 N. Mt. Juliet Road , PMB # 222, Mt. Juliet , TN 37122

[WhiteD90]

This doesn't mean quit the fight. The appeal period needs a big push.

[woldd90]

For sure, we need to keep the pressure on... But, make sure to Thank everyone with a Trout Unlimited license plate or sticker.

[stevenr]

Have you been up there lately? There is new houses going up. Lower 2 is GONE! It looks like they have been waiting for the closure to happen so that they can make the place a high end community. I'm still with you on the fight though. In the last year I have sent at least 12 letters out.