Management Plan for
North Chickamauga Creek Gorge Natural Area
Comments in regards to the proposed management plan
Mssrs. Corser and Bowen,
This letter is to state:
We oppose the classification of North
Chickamauga Creek Gorge Natural Area as a Class II, natural-scientific area.
We support the classification of North
Chickamauga Creek Gorge Natural Area as a Class I, scenic-recreational area.
We oppose the prohibition of bicycling
in North Chickamauga Creek Gorge Natural Area, and we suggest alternatives to trail
closure and prohibition.
Cyclists have been riding the trails in
the North Chickamauga Creek watershed for over a decade, and they are among our favorite
trails in this area. With proper trail design, construction and maintenance, mountain
biking is a sustainable, low-impact, passive recreational use for natural areas. Cyclists
are dedicated enthusiasts who are willing to put time and effort into developing trails
that will be open to responsible trail users.
We are aware of the conflicts and
problems that can be caused by unregulated bicycle traffic. We also understand that
bicycling is currently prohibited in the Flipper Bend area.
Although some trails in the Flipper Bend
area have impacted the recovering ecosystem, we suggest that this is because they were
blazed without proper design and construction techniques. For example, many of the current
trails follow the fall line, not the contour. Properly constructed, contoured trails would
eliminate the type of damage that has occurred at Clear Branch, and would route trail
users away from potentially sensitive areas. Much of the serious damage reported in the
management plan has been caused by motorized vehicles, not by bicycles. We agree that
motorized vehicles should be prohibited from the natural area.
We agree with segregation of some trails
for particular user groups. We do not agree with the closure of any area that has been
previously used by bicyclists, nor are we in agreement with a comprehensive ban on
non-motorized vehicles in wilderness and natural areas.
Closures and prohibitions do not solve
trail use problems... they move the problems to other areas. If there is a high demand for
trail use in an area, users will either "poach" the closed trails or begin
riding other trails in the area that are not on the enforcement list. In my experience,
offensive and restrictive measures create ill will toward the authorities that impose
them, and users will continue to behave irresponsibly, unless they are given constructive
options.
Threatened closures can become wonderful
opportunities for dialogue and cooperation among user groups and land managers. As an
example, we cite the work of the Cherokee National Forest's many talented employees, who
have built a strong fellowship with recreational user groups and have found volunteer
involvement to be a major deciding factor in budget allocations for the development of
recreational facilities. We urge you to consider the fact that the cyclists who currently
ride in the North Chickamauga Creek area represent a large base of trail users who can be
mobilized to help care for the area.
Bicyclists can and do assist land
managers with the following:
- Design, maintenance and construction of
new sustainable, low impact trails
- Education and motivation of fellow
trail users to become responsible for the areas they use
- Securing grants and funds for
construction of recreational facilities
Many of us have done volunteer trail
construction and maintenance with the Cherokee National Forest and Lula Lake Land Trust
(Lookout Mtn., Georgia). We are firmly convinced that local bicyclists can take an active
role in responsibly developing and maintaining trails in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge
Natural Area.
We welcome any dialogue with you, and
would like to discuss alternatives to the prohibition of bicycling proposed for North
Chickamauga Creek Gorge Natural Area.
Thank you.
Chris Gilligan
(Visit www.state.tn.us/environment/epo/natarea/nchickmanageplan.html
to see the actual plan)
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