- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
Tellico OHV USFS Environmental Assessment Alternatives Summary
Alternative A is the “No Action” alternative.
The OHV System would remain as is, with 39.3 miles of trails, existing high challenge opportunities, current use restrictions, current fees, current levels of maintenance and monitoring.
Alternative B
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 24 miles. It:
• Reduces the number of challenge areas;
• Has a winter closure and storm-event closure;
• Restricts camping adjacent to the trail system;
• Requires 4WD vehicles to lock in 4WD.
• A Forest Plan amendment would be issued to modify the OHV density standard and the OHV trail difficulty level standard.
• Recommends an increase in user fees (amount unspecified).
Trails that will be closed with Alternative B include:
Trail 12 – Schoolbus
Trail 10 – ATV only trail
Trail 7 – Peckerwood Connection (currently closed)
Trail 4 – Fain Ford
Trail 8 & 9 - Bob Creek & Mistoe Connector (contains Slickrock)
Trail 2 – Tipton Knob contains Upper and Lower 2 (lower 2 currently closed)
Alternative C – The recommended option by the Forest Service Supervisor - Eliminates the OHV System.
This alternative was developed to achieve a very low level of risk of sedimentation from the trail system and low long-term maintenance costs. Trails would be either converted for other use or closed and rehabilitated. The area remains completely open for foot travel.
In this alternative:
• Trail 1 would be paved and kept open as a through route for highway legal vehicles;
• Most of Trail 2, all of Trail 6, and parts of Trails 4, 5, and 7 become forest roads for
various uses;
• Portions of Trails 4, 5, and 6 would be open seasonally for public access
• Requires a Forest Plan amendment to de-list Tellico as one of the OHV trail systems.
Alternative D
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 17.6 miles. This alternative was developed to meet the current OHV standards in the Forest Plan while still retaining an OHV system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Closing Trail 10A (ATV trail)
• Closing Trail 11 (Helicopter pad, Guardrail)
• Eliminating all the challenge areas;
• Requiring the trail be closed until repairs are completed;
• Not requiring a Forest Plan amendment.
Alternative E
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 30.2 miles. It was developed to better meet the demand for OHV opportunities than does the Proposed Action, while still reducing sediment from the trail system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Rerouting Trail 9 while retaining access to the challenge area (Slickrock);
• Constructing an additional challenge area on Trail 11;
• Reconstructing Trail 10 (including a partial reroute) for full-sized OHV use;
• Adding a new parking lot at the intersection of Trails 4 and 11 and reconstructing a piece
of Trail 4 from its intersection with Trail 1 to this new parking lot (to provide OHV and
ATV-UTV access from the southern end of the trail system);
• Eliminating the storm-event closure;
• Eliminating new camping restrictions;
• Eliminating 4WD lock-in.
Alternative F
The miles of trail change from 39.5 to 37.5, but it actually provides new trail opportunities for all types of OHVs. It was developed to provide a trail system with opportunities similar to what they are today, but with repairs, relocations, and with new or replacement construction that would alleviate many of the current sedimentation concerns. It is similar to Alternative E, except with the addition of a new ATV trail at the southern end of the system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Constructing 7.3 miles of new ATV-UTV trail (Trail 13);
• Rerouting Trail 9 while retaining access to the challenge area (Slickrock);
• Adding an additional challenge area on Trail 11;
• Reconstructing Trail 10 (including a partial reroute) for full-sized OHV use;
• Adding a new parking lot at the intersection of Trails 4 and 11 and reconstructing
a piece of Trail 4 from its intersection with Trail 1 to this new parking lot (to
provide OHV and ATV-UTV access from the southern end of the trail system);
• Eliminating the storm-event closure;
• Eliminating additional camping restrictions;
• Eliminating 4WD lock-in
Alternative A is the “No Action” alternative.
The OHV System would remain as is, with 39.3 miles of trails, existing high challenge opportunities, current use restrictions, current fees, current levels of maintenance and monitoring.
Alternative B
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 24 miles. It:
• Reduces the number of challenge areas;
• Has a winter closure and storm-event closure;
• Restricts camping adjacent to the trail system;
• Requires 4WD vehicles to lock in 4WD.
• A Forest Plan amendment would be issued to modify the OHV density standard and the OHV trail difficulty level standard.
• Recommends an increase in user fees (amount unspecified).
Trails that will be closed with Alternative B include:
Trail 12 – Schoolbus
Trail 10 – ATV only trail
Trail 7 – Peckerwood Connection (currently closed)
Trail 4 – Fain Ford
Trail 8 & 9 - Bob Creek & Mistoe Connector (contains Slickrock)
Trail 2 – Tipton Knob contains Upper and Lower 2 (lower 2 currently closed)
Alternative C – The recommended option by the Forest Service Supervisor - Eliminates the OHV System.
This alternative was developed to achieve a very low level of risk of sedimentation from the trail system and low long-term maintenance costs. Trails would be either converted for other use or closed and rehabilitated. The area remains completely open for foot travel.
In this alternative:
• Trail 1 would be paved and kept open as a through route for highway legal vehicles;
• Most of Trail 2, all of Trail 6, and parts of Trails 4, 5, and 7 become forest roads for
various uses;
• Portions of Trails 4, 5, and 6 would be open seasonally for public access
• Requires a Forest Plan amendment to de-list Tellico as one of the OHV trail systems.
Alternative D
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 17.6 miles. This alternative was developed to meet the current OHV standards in the Forest Plan while still retaining an OHV system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Closing Trail 10A (ATV trail)
• Closing Trail 11 (Helicopter pad, Guardrail)
• Eliminating all the challenge areas;
• Requiring the trail be closed until repairs are completed;
• Not requiring a Forest Plan amendment.
Alternative E
Reduces the trail system from 39.3 miles to 30.2 miles. It was developed to better meet the demand for OHV opportunities than does the Proposed Action, while still reducing sediment from the trail system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Rerouting Trail 9 while retaining access to the challenge area (Slickrock);
• Constructing an additional challenge area on Trail 11;
• Reconstructing Trail 10 (including a partial reroute) for full-sized OHV use;
• Adding a new parking lot at the intersection of Trails 4 and 11 and reconstructing a piece
of Trail 4 from its intersection with Trail 1 to this new parking lot (to provide OHV and
ATV-UTV access from the southern end of the trail system);
• Eliminating the storm-event closure;
• Eliminating new camping restrictions;
• Eliminating 4WD lock-in.
Alternative F
The miles of trail change from 39.5 to 37.5, but it actually provides new trail opportunities for all types of OHVs. It was developed to provide a trail system with opportunities similar to what they are today, but with repairs, relocations, and with new or replacement construction that would alleviate many of the current sedimentation concerns. It is similar to Alternative E, except with the addition of a new ATV trail at the southern end of the system.
It modifies Alternative B by:
• Constructing 7.3 miles of new ATV-UTV trail (Trail 13);
• Rerouting Trail 9 while retaining access to the challenge area (Slickrock);
• Adding an additional challenge area on Trail 11;
• Reconstructing Trail 10 (including a partial reroute) for full-sized OHV use;
• Adding a new parking lot at the intersection of Trails 4 and 11 and reconstructing
a piece of Trail 4 from its intersection with Trail 1 to this new parking lot (to
provide OHV and ATV-UTV access from the southern end of the trail system);
• Eliminating the storm-event closure;
• Eliminating additional camping restrictions;
• Eliminating 4WD lock-in
