Help Determine the Future for Rivers in the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest

Nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest spans 1.1 million acres of lush forested mountains. The Forest is revising their Forest Plan and we need your input today to make sure it's the strongest plan it can be! This is our opportunity to make sure popular runs like the Nantahala are managed to improve whitewater recreation, that Wild and Scenic Rivers like the Chattooga are open to boaters, and that steep adventure runs like the Thompson River receive the protections they deserve. It's up to us to help determine how the Forest Service will govern not only these streams, but also the trails and other recreation sites in the Nantahala-Pisgah, for the next 15-20 years. Check out the Forest Plan and see what you think for yourself. The deadline for comments is June 29th.

Send your comments today to the Forest Service using our super simple easy-action form below, and if you've spent any time on these rivers and appreciate the recreational value they've provided you, please take an extra few moments to personalize your letter. It makes a big difference for the Forest Service to hear about your personal connection to these streams. Thank you!

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I’m writing to provide comments on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Plan Revision.  I ask that the North Fork of the French Broad be found eligible for Wild and Scenic designation, as well as the Panthertown Valley streams (Panthertown Creek, Greenland Creek, Upper Tuck), Fires Creek, and the forks of Overflow Creek. These streams are rare, unique, and exemplary from a recreational, biological, and scenic perspective. I want to thank the Forest Service for finding nine new eligible streams in the Draft Plan, many of which are whitewater gems: the Cullasaja, Fires, Flat Laurel, Overflow, Santeetlah, South Toe, Thompson, West Fork Pigeon, and Whitewater.

I’d also like to ask for season, flow, upstream reach, and tributary prohibitions to be removed from the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Management portions of the Plan. Limited paddling use was allowed in 2012, and the past 8 years of monitoring have shown paddling use to be very small and without issue. For water quality improvements and protection, I ask that the Forest Service more ambitiously address the road maintenance backlog to reduce sedimentation into streams and improve public access. The Plan should also contain direction to consider additional flow releases on the Cheoah River. The Forest Service can and should provide valuable leadership in this process as the Cheaoh is an incredibly valuable whitewater recreation resource.

I want to make sure that recreation access needs are protected and enhanced when work is done on the Forest like bridge replacements, stream restoration projects, and timber sales,, and this should be expressly spelled out. I support the proposed Craggy-Big Ivy National Scenic Area, and support Wilderness recommendations for important headwater areas around Overflow Creek, the Black Mountains, the Joyce Kilmer extension, the Southern Nantahala extension, the Ellicott Rock extension, and the Shining Rock extension. In addition, the new Forest Plan includes significantly more active management on the Forest for timber harvest, ecological restoration, and wildlife habitat. I support these interests, and believe the new Forest Plan should ensure that this work is done in the right places and the right ways, and be broadly supported.

Sincerely, [Your information here]