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Formal Letter 1 Signature Logo Department Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information United States Forest National Forests in North Carolina 109 East Lawing Drive Department of Service Grandfather Ranger District Nebo, NC 28761 Agriculture 828-652-2144 Fax: 828-652-9511 File Code: 1950 Date: February 24, 2021 Dear Interested Public: The Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest is seeking public input on the Old Fort Trails project. This project implements a sustainable system of multi-use trails for mountain biking, hiking, and equestrian use connecting to the town of Old Fort in McDowell County, NC. The project area for this proposal covers the Curtis Creek, Newberry Creek, Jarrett Creek, Mill Creek, and Catawba Falls areas in the National Forests lands surrounding Old Fort, NC. Approximately 42 miles of new sustainably constructed trails are proposed to improve community connectivity, reduce barriers to access, and support environmental and social sustainability. The new trails will be supported by 2 new trailhead parking areas. Approximately 1 mile of trail relocations are proposed to increase maintainability of the existing trail system. The Old Fort Trails Project is a community driven proposal. The proposed action presented here reflects the contributions of local non-profit partners, community forums, and volunteer organizations. Planning for this project builds off the needs first identified by the public in the 2013 Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Non-motorized Trail Strategy. The proposal was shaped by the input of the Old Fort community of residents and users through hundreds of comments gathered during public engagements events in 2020. These trail improvements are possible because of the support of this planning effort, as well as current and future trail maintenance efforts, by the community and local partners. This official comment period is intended to provide those interested in or affected by this proposal an opportunity to comment on the proposed action before the final decision. Purpose and Need The National Forest is part of the community of Old Fort – it surrounds the town on three sides, coming within a mile of the Old Fort town limits. Mountain ranges rise over 3,500 feet in elevation from Old Fort at the western edge of the NC piedmont to the Blue Ridge Parkway at the base of Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the East. These mountains are home to the first track of National Forest land in the eastern United States, the birthplace of the Pisgah National Forest with a history of active forest management. Trails exist within this landscape, but most are disconnected, accessible to only the most experienced adventure seeker. Because of this, the community identified a need for a comprehensive planning effort for the National Forest lands surrounding Old Fort. Three key values guided the planning process: connectivity, accessibility, and sustainability. Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper 2 The purpose of this project is to: (1) Improve and increase connections – to the community of Old Fort, to other Forest Service trails and roads to create loop opportunities, and to the Fonta Flora State Trail. (2) Reduce barriers to access – creating gateways to the National Forest and a trail system that is inclusive of all users and abilities. (3) Develop an environmentally and socially sustainable system of trails – with purposeful design of new trails and relocations of unsustainable sections of existing trails. Proposal To meet the needs as described here, new trail construction will focus on purpose-built sustainably designed trails. Diverse trail experiences are designed for a diversity of users, building from the community of Old Fort out through the back country. Sustainable trail design, with proper layout, slope, and built in drainage features, will reduce long term maintenance needs. Comprehensive planning of connections within the system and experience goals will discourage off-trail travel or creation of user- created trails by providing a great user experiences while avoiding areas in need of protection. Purposeful design and construction considerations for the 42 miles of new trails, coupled with improvements to existing trails, will result in a sustainable system of over 70 miles of trails accessed from Old Fort. The proposed trails within this project support a variety of uses and abilities, summarized below and described in detail in the attached map and trail table. TRAIL PROPOSAL SUMMARY NEW TRAILS (TOTAL) – 42 MILES Hike Only 5 miles 12% TRAIL USES Mountain Bike / Hike 26.3 miles 62% Horse / Bike / Hike 10.7 miles 25% Less Difficult 6.5 miles 15% TRAIL DIFFICULTIES More Difficult 24 miles 57% Most Difficult 11.5 miles 28% TRAIL RELOCATIONS – 1 MILE Newberry Creek, Snooks Nose, and Hickory Branch Trails Newberry Creek Trail change from hike only to mountain bike & TRAIL USE CHANGE – 2 MILES hike downhill of intersection with proposed trail C1 Jarrett Creek – 7-acre trailhead parking area including horse trailer parking TRAILHEAD PARKING Bernard Mountain – 0.5-acre trailhead parking area for cars only 3 Proposed work falls within the following management areas as defined by the 1994 Amendment to the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests’ Land Management Plan: 2A, 2C, 4C, 4D, and 5. Public Involvement The Forest Service invites your involvement in determining the scope of this project and identifying potential issues (36 CFR 220). If you have questions about this project please contact Lisa Jennings, Recreation and Trails Program Manager at the Grandfather Ranger District, at 828-337-1359 or by email at [email protected]. To be most useful, please provide comments within 30 days of this notice. Comments may be submitted on the web at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=59242. Please use the provided link to submit electronic comments. Comments may also be mailed to: Grandfather Ranger District, USDA Forest Service, Attn: Lisa Jennings, 109 East Lawing Drive, Nebo, NC 28761. Comments will become part of the project record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. This project is not subject to administrative review and appeal. A preliminary assessment indicates there are no extraordinary circumstances, thus no significant effects for this proposal, and therefore the proposal may qualify under categorical exclusion 36 CFR 220.6 (e) (1) (Construction or reconstruction of trails). NICHOLAS LARSON District Ranger 4 5 .
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