Forest Service Proposes Closure of Damaging ORV Area

A little over a week ago, the Forest Service came out with their draft Environmental Assessment evaluating the Tellico Off Road Vehicle area and I was pleased to see that their preferred action alternative calls for closing the ORV trails in the area due to water quality problems. 

Here's a prime quote from the Forest Supervisor in the letter introducing the draft EA: "the impacts to water quality are so significant that I cannot recommend keeping the System open at this time."  Ths Superviors was also quoted in this article as saying "Our analysis indicates that on-the-ground conditions are worse than we first thought."  

Comments on the proposal are being accepted until the end of this month.  You can find more information, including how to submit your comments supporting the FS proposed action and some vivid pictures of the damage, on the North Carolina Forests website.