Update: May 24, 2008
Re: Closure Letter (received from FS)
Dear Forest User: District Ranger Alan Polk has made a decision to implement Alternative 2 of the Anderson Creek OHV Trail System Project. Alternative 2 of the Anderson Creek OHV Trail System Project will accomplish the following: close all trails within, and connected with, the Anderson Creek OHV Trail System, including approximately six miles of authorized trails and several miles of unsigned and undesignated trails; prevent illegal access from adjacent private ownerships and enforce closures through placement of physical barriers such as gates or fallen trees; decommission the trail system and promote rehabilitation through natural re-growth, earth reshaping, earthen blockades, fallen trees or any combination thereof; install erosion control measures; maintain Forest Development Road 357 as a system road. The Decision Notice is available for your review by opening the attached pdf document. It will soon be available on-line, as well, at http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/sopa/recreation-nepa.htm. This decision is subject to appeal, pursuant to the USFS regulations 36 CFR 215.11 by those who provided comments or otherwise expressed interest in this particular proposal during the 30-day public comment period. Written Notice of Appeal of this decision must be fully consistent with 36 CFR 215.14, “Content in Notice of Appeal,” including the reasons for appeal. Appeals must be postmarked or received in duplicate within 45 days after the legal notice publication date in The North Georgia News,expected to be Wednesday, May 28, 2008. The appeal should be sent to: Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, ATTN: Appeals Deciding Officer, 1755 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville, Georgia, 30501. Additional information can be obtained by calling Alison Koopman at the Blue Ridge Ranger District at (706) 745-6928. Thank you for your interest in management activities on the Blue Ridge Ranger District, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.See also: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/sopa/recreation-nepa.htm
Currently, the entire Anderson Creek OHV trail system is closed to the public. The trail system has been closed since November, 2003 and was expected re-open and be available to the public in 2005.
Through this website, we hope to create awareness of the need to preserve the dwindling recreational opportunities still left in the Chattahoochee Oconee National Forest.
Anderson Creek Timeline
January 2008 (Updated 1/7/2008)
Hi folks,As you know the Forest Service has published the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Anderson Creek trail system and prefers Alternative 2, which is complete and permanent closure of the whole trail system. Needless to say that's not what we want.
Alternative 3 is actually pretty good and is the result of our discussions with the Forest Service since 2003. Thanks to Stefan Roth, Heather Spivey, Curtis Barnhart and others for taking their vacation days to meet with the Forest Service.
Here is the letter requesting Comments Letters. The deadline is January 30th.
Request for Public Comment Letters:
http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/sopa/documents/2007_Anderson_EA_Letter_for_Comments.pdf
Note: If you have trouble viewing this file from the FS Website, you can download a copy by right-clicking here and select Save target as....
Anderson Creek Environmental Assessment:
http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/sopa/documents/2007_30day_AndersonCreekEA.pdf
Note: If you have trouble viewing this file from the FS Website, you can download a copy by right-clicking here and select Save target as...
Please post the request letter and the FoAC response on your forums and web sites. This will make it easy for people to write their letters. They need to give their name and address for the letters to count. They can be Emailed or sent via snail mail.
Please update people at your next monthly Club meeting. Many have never ridden these trails. Imagine having 9 miles of LEGAL trails within one hour of Atlanta.
While this is not a popularity contest, your letters will give the Forest Service an indication of how much we care.
Few letters = Little support.
Lots of letters = Much support.
Thanks for taking the time to help!
Dave Logan
President, Friends of Anderson Creek
Here are a few old photos from the area...
June 2006
District Ranger Polk was expected to issue a Decision Memo late in 2005, but hasn't as of this time.July 2005
District Ranger Polk issued a Scoping Letter proposing to close all Anderson Creek OHV trails because they threaten soil productivity and water quality within the forest environment. A 60 day Public Comment period began July 5th and closed on September 7th, 2005. View Anderson Creek Scoping Letter issued by District Ranger Polk, July 5, 2005.June 2004
The Friends of Anderson Creek non-profit organization is founded to offer OHV expertise, volunteer labor, and equipment to assist the USDA Forest Service in their trail repair efforts. Our organization offers decades of experience gained from working with the Forest Service on similar OHV trail systems in the region.October 2003
District Ranger Cash issued the following Press Release:October 28, 2003
Contact: Cassius Cash
Toccoa Ranger District
6050 Appalachian Highway
The U.S. Forest Service is temporarily closing Anderson Creek Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Trail System on November 14, 2003, for repairs that may take up to two years to complete. Anderson Creek, located near Ellijay, Georgia, on the Chattahoochee National Forest, offers 5 (five) miles of trails for off road enthusiasts including trail bikes, all terrain vehicles, jeeps, foot travel and any other user group.
"Although we realize that this is a popular trail system for off road users and that we will be impacting the public with this closure, the area has severe problems with erosion and soil compaction that must be corrected," explained District Ranger Cassius Cash. He continued, "The only way we can successfully address these problems is to completely close the area while the rehabilitation work is being done." During the temporary closure, plans are being made to designate and redesign the Anderson Creek trail system to better meet the needs of the off road vehicle user, to improve safety, and to prevent future unacceptable damage to the natural resources in the area. "Our long-term goal is to provide a location that the public can enjoy in a safe manner while protecting the soil and water resources of our national forest," Cash stated.
Spring 2003
The Atlanta-area 4WD and Off road clubs joined together for a huge Spring Clean-up at Anderson Creek.
|
Officers
Dave Logan, President Stefan Roth, Secretary Robb Sundmaker, Treasurer Jay Bird, Director Milt Webb, Director |
Delegates
Curtis Barnhart, Georgia Bounty Runners (GBR) Mike Hinderleider, Georgia Cruisers David Russell, Southern Land Rover Society (SOLAROS) Milt Webb, Southern Jeeps Mark 'Grizz' Webb, Georgia 4X4 Club Mike Boler, Renegades 4WD Club |
For more information about FoAC, please contact us via email at friends@andersoncreek.org.
The mission of the Friends of Anderson Creek is to create and preserve recreational trails within the Anderson Creek OHV area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. We use environmentally responsible trail planning, construction, management, and user education to allow trails to be enjoyed by a wide range of users with little or no impact to the environment.
By working toward our goals, we hope to give many future generations access to the same land, plants and animals that we have been lucky enough to enjoy.
A Domestic Nonprofit Corporation located in the State of Georgia
This Corporation is organized as a non profit entity dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the ecological balance, utility, accessibility, study and beauty of Anderson Creek in Gilmer County, Georgia and its tributaries, and for related charitable, educational, scientific, and educational purposes.