Land Use Info:
Land Use Information
The Upper Tellico ORV Area is located between Murphy, NC and Tellico Plains, TN and is considered by many the premier trail system east of the Mississippi. Members of Southern 4WD Association take great pride to be the only trail maintenance volunteer group for the last 15+ years. We have worked hard with the dedicated staff from the Forest Service's Tusquitee Ranger District in the Nantahala National Forest to provide a challenging trail system for enjoyment by the public.
Proposed Tellico Rules
In early July 2002, we received a letter from District Ranger Charles Miller asking for public input on a set of new rules and trail regulations for Upper Tellico ORV Area. The public is invited to mail their opinions and comments to the Forest Service. The deadline for comments is August 7, 2002, but the Forest Service will accept comments past the deadline.
We have been involved with the Rangers for many years and many of the proposed rules have come up for discussion at Southern 4WD Association quarterly meetings over the last couple of years.
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Forest Service Letter
The original letter can be read by clicking on the filename: TellicoScopingLtr0207.pdf
Tellico Overuse
Probably very few people like more rules and regulations, but the reality is that Tellico is getting more and more use every year. Tellico is extremely popular and well-known. Go there during the summer and even on a weekday and you'll see 4WD groups from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Michigan, Florida, and virtually every state up and down the east coast. It's to the point where Tellico is getting over used. The daily use fee has been a big help, as it gives the Forest Service a yearly budget to perform regularly scheduled maintenance on top of the volunteer work provided by us. Still, some measures may need to be put in place to prevent some problems. Some problems could be addressed with new rules, but there are already many existing rules and laws that must be more strongly enforced. Otherwise, we won't be able to keep Tellico open even with our extensive volunteer work and the Forest Service's strong dedication. Please read the letter and think about the issues.
Comments on the Rules
July 20, 2002
The proposed rules try to address either safety issues or environmental
issues. Speeding and unsafe driving are safety issues. The possibility
of excessive silt run-off is an environmental issue and could be caused
when a vehicle goes off the legal trail or unnecessarily disturbs the
trail surface. When it rains, the silt could run into the rivers. The
silt concentration in the Tellico River is continually monitored at many
stations and if it were to rise too high, it can be used as an argument
to close down the area. We are fortunate in that the trail maintenance
work keeps the silt run-off to low levels and we want to keep it that
way.
Below are the comments and recommendations of the Board of Directors of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association on these issues. The Forest Service's proposed rules are in green. Our comments are in black.
For the protection of public users and natural resources within the Upper Tellico OHV Area a number of regulations and closure orders are being considered. Prohibitions and restrictions being considered are as follows:
- Prohibit possession or use of alcoholic beverages
on the trails, in camping or parking areas or while visiting recreation
facilities within the Upper Tellico OHV Area.
Most of this has been the rule already.
Recommendation: We strongly favor this rule.
Note: By law, Rangers can search your vehicle (including coolers, etc.) anytime they want without probable cause. Therefore, do not carry alcohol in your vehicle! The same is true in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest. - Operating a motorized vehicle on Trail # 1 (which
is also Forest Road # 420) in excess of 20 miles per hour.
Recommendation: Considering the amount of speeding, the sharpness of the curves, and the number of vehicles that have driven off the side of the mountain, this rule is long overdue. However, this rule must be strongly enforced! - Overnight camping along Trail #1 from the Tennessee
State Line to 100 yards past the Tipton Creek Bridge, and from the intersection
of Trail #5 and Trail # 1 up to the Tellico River crossing (know as
the "rough crossing"). Within this area no overnight camping
would be allowed between the road and the Tellico River, between the
road and Tipton Creek, or within 100 yards of any live stream or bog
area. Also prohibited would be overnight camping in all parking areas
within this area as well as any overnight camping in the Allen Gap Parking
lot at the east entrance to the OHV Area.
Pro: This would prohibit camping in areas that are really close to the rivers. Campers sometimes chew up the soil (for example when they drive their vehicles off the road illegally), which then gets washed into the adjacent river, causing complaints about silt run-off. Muddy water is a reason that groups try to close down Tellico.
Con: Many people have been camping in these areas for decades. Many of our own members camp in these popular and convenient places and would not be happy with this proposed rule. Since we installed the metal railings along the trails over the last year, campers have kept their vehicles on the trails and the amount of camping has actually gone down. The vegetation is clearly regrowning and the soil has stabilized.. Perhaps there is no longer a need to close these camping areas. We feel if so many camping opportunities were to be closed, alternate opportunities with direct access to the ORV area must be made available. There are already not enough camping sites.
Recommendation: We favor to continue to allow camping in these areas. - Being on the trail system with a motorized vehicle
from January 1 through March 15 of each year with the exception of Trail
# 1 (Forest Road # 420).
The seasonal winter closure has been talked about for several years. It's the most controversial issue.
Pro: During the winter freeze and thaw cycles, the soil may be unstable. During snow, the soil stays wet for extended periods of time. All this makes it prone to easy disturbance by vehicles. Winter usage of the area used to be minimal, but it has seen a significant increase in recent years. Most other ORV areas have a winter closure already.
Con: We feel that a seasonal closure sets a bad precedent of closing the area, even temporarily. Once the area is closed, it's very easy to leave it closed for an extended period of time. This has been the case with two other areas (Beasley Knob and Uwharrie) when they opened months later than planned. There is too much discretion left to the Ranger once it's closed and we cannot assume that the current leadership will always be in charge. Tellico has been the poster child of how an OHV area can work correctly. We need to maintain trails, work on water quality, and ticket and prosecute the violators that get off the trail. We support the bridges at Rough Crossing and Fain's Ford. However, seasonal closing is not the answer. In addition to sending the wrong message about the Upper Tellico ORV area, there is also an economic issue. In Murphy, the motel business, campground business, restaurant business, and gas business are all impacted by Tellico. Seasonal closings will definitely have a negative effect on these local businesses.
Recommendation: We oppose seasonal closure of Tellico. - Being on Trail # 2 and Trail # 9 with any ATV
(four wheelers etc.) or motorcycle. Only 4 wheel drive jeeps, trucks,
and similar large vehicles would be allowed on these two trails.
Pro: The vast majority of ATV and motorcycles cannot make it up on trails 2 and 9 because the trails are so difficult. ATVs and motorcycles almost always drive off the trail and take illegal bypasses (or ghost trails) through the woods on trails 2 and 9. This is illegal and causes excessive silt run-off into the rivers. We've tried for years to prevent the illegal trails, but to no avail.
Con: Once you close an area to one group, it sometimes gets closed to the rest. The problem in these areas are ATVs and motorcycles not staying on the trail. People do this kind of stuff because they know there is no one enforcing the rules that already exist. The bottom of trail 2 is really easy for law enforcement to get to from the top road. The problem here is lack of law enforcement. They need to set up there and start writing tickets.
Recommendation: We prefer much more law enforcement, but if this is not adequate or successful, then trail 2 and 9 should be closed to ATVs and motorcycles. - Being on Trail # 10 with any large type vehicles
(Jeeps, Trucks, and similar large vehicles). Only ATVŐs (motorcycles
and 4 wheelers, etc.) would be allowed on Trail # 10.
Note: This trail is not wide enough for large vehicles.
Recommendation: It is already restricted to use by ATVs and motorcycles only. - Using any type of vehicle on any trail that
is not capable of 4 wheel drive operation and failure to have the vehicle
"locked in" four wheel drive. This would not apply to motorcycles
and ATVŐs (four wheelers, etc.). This would only apply to jeeps, trucks,
"hybrids", "rails", dune buggies, etc.
Pro: Too many people go on the trails, use 2-wheel drive, and spin their tires excessively trying to make it up hills and over obstacles. They may wind up digging their tires into the dirt, causing silt run-off during the next rain. During our work weekends, we have to fix their damage.
Con: Just as hikers may disagree with our type of OHV recreation, we may disagree with the 2WD vehicles. However, we do believe public lands should be open to everyone, not whom we pick and choose. We would like to see some other approach to limit the destruction of two wheel drive and excessive wheel spin. In addition, the blanket requirement for 4WD on all trails is excessive, as there are many trails (# 1 and long parts of # 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8) that have very easy sections that can and should be done in 2WD.
Note: The term "locked in" probably needs to be revised or defined. Does this refer to the hubs or to the transfer case? What about vehicles that have transfer cases with 2/4 WD and locked/unlocked modes?
Recommendation: We have not been able to reach a consensus on the 4WD-only issue. We do opposed the requirement to be locked in 4WD all the time. - Possession or use of any vehicle with studded
tires.
Studded tires dig down into the trail surface and chew it up and we don't need the excessive damage.
Note: Studs in studded tires are very small pieces of steel "inserts" put in small holes in the tire tread for "winter use only." They stick out of the tire about 1/8th of an inch. Bolted tires have large bolts through the tire that can be over 1/2 inch in diameter and stick out 2 to 3 or more inches.
Recommendation: We do agree that studded tires should not be allowed along with the bolted tires that are already banned.
Law Enforcement
An important observation about these proposed rules is that many of them try to address problems where people already break one rule or another. The problem isn't necessarily lack of rules, it's the fact that there is still an inadequate law enforcement presence in the area.
If illegal trails are made or used, then an officer needs to be at that spot on the weekends to write tickets. If people are camping in an illegal manner (such as taking their vehicle off the trail and into the woods), then a law enforcement officer should write tickets.
If the existing rules were fully enforced, the area would not need any additional rules. If more rules are made, they won't be enforced either. When you write your letter to the Forest Service, ask politely and strongly for more law enforcement!
Thank the Forest Service
As part of your letter, please thank the Forest Service for having an ORV area like Tellico. The Forest Service employees in Murphy are a hardworking group of people dedicated to keeping Tellico a success. By showing our appreciation, we make a good example for keeping it open and getting other areas. Tell the Forest Service how you and your family enjoy the challenging 4-wheeling!!! You might also tell them how you are a proud member of Southern 4WD Association and your local club and that these volunteer groups do a great job of helping the Forest Service keep Tellico open.
Write the Letter
Please think about these issues and write a letter. Clearly state your views and opinions. Thoughtful comments and ideas are encouraged. If you disagree with some of the proposed rules, please try to suggest alternate ways to address the issue. Keep a photocopy of your letter for your files! Send your comments to:
US Forest Service
District Ranger Charles N. Miller
123 Woodland Drive
Murphy, NC 28906
phone: (828) 837-5152.
If you submit comments during the scoping period, July 9, 2002 to August 7, 2002, you will receive a copy of the Environmental Assessment. All comments should be received prior to the ending date for the scoping period.