Blue Valley Areas of the Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests (Bryan C
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Contents INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………1 A REEVALUATION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE THREE FORKS – BLUE VALLEY AREAS OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE AND NANTAHALA NATIONAL FORESTS (BRYAN C. WEST)…………………………………………………………………………………3 SOUTHERN PERIMETER TRAIL PLAN FOR PANTHERTOWN VALLEY (LUKE WORSHAM)………………………………………………………………………………24 THE HIGHLANDS GREENWAY: AN EXAMINATION AND REINTRODUCTION INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE (EMILY WALGATE)……………………………………………………………………………..44 LAND USE PLANNING FOR A CLEANER WATERSHED (KATRINA CHMIELECKI)……………………………………………………………………….65 POPULATION TRENDS ON THE HIGHLANDS PLATEAU: ASSIGNING CONFIDENCE LIMITS TO GROWTH TRAJECTORIES (CARLA M. FRISCH)……………………………………………………………………………84 AN ASSESSMENT OF CONSERVATION PRIORITIES ON THE HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS PLATEAU USING GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ANDREW ROE)………………………………………………………………………………121 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………………142 Introduction Throughout the course of the semester, six interns at the Highlands Biological Station have had the opportunity to have hands-on experience researching how biodiversity is affected by wilderness areas, trail systems, zoning policy, population dynamics, and land conservation. Each intern was mentored by a community member affiliated with that student’s particular area of study. After typically working two days a week, each project culminated in a capstone report that includes the student’s results, recommendations, and assessment of affects of land use change on biodiversity in the Highlands area. The first three students focus on specific areas, using hands-on techniques to rework plans affecting biodiversity. Bryan West concentrates on the different USDA Forest Service management areas in the vast area of wilderness along the North Carolina-Georgia border. Wilderness areas preserve habitat for animal and plant species, and the preservation of these areas ensures minimal human interaction with the biodiversity of the area. Luke Worsham researches and implements a new trail plan for the Panthertown Valley region east of Cashiers. While flagging new trails for construction, he took care to minimally affect biodiversity in the area. Emily Walgate assesses reasons for lack of public involvement with the Highlands Greenway Trail and works to improve the publicity about the trail. Greenways help connect wildlife habitats and provide an opportunity for local residents to learn about nature. The next three students emphasize policy and recommendations surrounding more broad locations. Katrina Chmielecki considers zoning laws and development on steep slopes. Soil erosion from unregulated construction can cause sedimentation, a serious problem for stream ecosystems. Carla Frisch focuses on reevaluating and establishing population projections for the vacationer, seasonal, and permanent populations in the Highlands area. Population growth can increase the affects of interaction between humans and the environment. Andrew Roe made myriad masterful maps measuring miscellaneous mechanisms and outlining conservation priorities based on a variety of factors. He combines GIS technology and scientific research, a necessary step in prioritizing land parcels for preservation of biodiversity. Often, there is a gap between completing scientific research and enacting public policy. This lack of contact can be a problem for biodiversity preservation, because policy makers may 1 be uninformed as to what decisions are best for local ecosystems. Members of the social science team sought to bridge this gap. The reports are grouped according to their type of study, beginning with specific focus areas and moving toward topics encompassing broader principles. Hopefully the work presented here will become an integral part of public policy and will be valuable to the preservation of biodiversity on the Highlands Plateau. 2 A Reevaluation of Forest Management in the Three Forks – Blue Valley Areas of the Chattahoochee and Nantahala National Forests Bryan C. West The purpose of this study is to provide an unbiased reevaluation of USDA Forest Service management of a large tract of national forest between Highlands, North Carolina and Pine Mountain, Georgia. Portions of this area have been evaluated previously for Wilderness designation (a legal designation that only the U.S. Congress can grant) but rejected. These rejections followed decades of disputes between Wilderness advocates and opponents and are framed by the current reluctance of the Forest Service to recommend new Wilderness areas in the southern Appalachians. Referring to the issue of Wilderness, Highlands District Forester Jeff Owenby stated that “it’s a lightning rod” that triggers divergent views and is a hotly debated topic in the community. Here I report my own findings, following many hikes into this remote study area and extensive interviews with forest users, advocates, and managers. I also present possible options for future management, including whether or not the study area could meet specific Wilderness requirements. The research involved personal interviews with officials from different conservation groups and the USDA Forest Service, with each generally being questioned in accordance with an interview guide (see Appendix C). The author also observed the area on the ground to ascertain whether criteria for Wilderness, such as solitude, were being fulfilled. Additionally, numerous documents and scientific papers were examined and analyzed to assess the uniqueness of the biodiversity of the area and to inform the final list of management options. What is Wilderness? By definition, Wilderness is an area designated by Congress that “is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain…retaining its primeval character and influence (Handbook, Wilderness Act of 1964).” The law imposes the following requirements: 3 • (5000) The area generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable. • (5001) There are exceptional opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfirmed type of recreation. • (5002) It has to be at least 5,000 acres or have a sufficient size so that preservation is practicable and use in an unimpaired condition is feasible. (There are about 100 Wilderness areas that are smaller than 5,000 acres.) • (5003) The area may exhibit features of scientific, educational, historic, or scenic value. Three Forks – Blue Valley Study Area The Three Forks – Blue Valley study area in southwestern North Carolina and northeastern Georgia spans more than 12,000 acres (see Appendix A). The area cuts across two national forests: the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. It ranges from approximately 2,000 feet in elevation at Three Forks to approximately 4,000 feet at Chinquapin Mountain. This land harbors rich biodiversity and pristine streams such as the West Fork, East Fork, and main stem of Overflow Creek, Holcomb Creek, part of Big Creek, the west fork of the Chattooga River, and numerous other waterways. Forest Service roads crisscross Blue Valley and both private property and public property surround it. The general boundaries of the study area consist of NC 106 to the north and GA 28 to the east. Billingsley Creek and Hale Ridge Roads and adjacent private property essentially form the western boundary of Blue Valley; the West Fork of the Chattooga River forms the southern boundary (see Appendix A). Forest ecosystems in the study area consist of upland oaks and other upland hardwoods. There are also cove hardwood and white pine stands. Most of these timber stands are 60- to 80- years-old (USFS: N.C. Plan 1994), and came in following historical logging. Both the Overflow part of the forest and the Blue Valley Experimental Forest were extensively logged in the last century, and tramways were used to remove the timber (Sluder 1964). The Experimental Forest is still being logged today (Loftis: interview). The Three Forks 4 watershed in both Georgia and North Carolina was logged using splash dams to carry the timber downstream. Although the forest was logged years ago, much of the area looks more like a mature forest today. Included in the study area are stands of old-growth forest. In an old-growth forest assessment, Carlson (1994) reported “a significant cluster of mapped old-growth lies at mid- elevation (2,200’ – 2,900’) at the junction of Overflow and Clear Creeks (Carlson 1995).” The Three Forks – Blue Valley study area includes historical and recreational areas. The overall study area also contains the remains of old amethyst mines, a splash dam, and old residences. Despite historical development, the area appears to be returning to nature in many spots and many of the old structures are difficult to distinguish. Numerous hiking trails and trail networks, including the Hurrah Ridge Trail, part of the Bartram Trail, and the hiking trail network to Three Forks can be found here; many of the old logging roads have been converted into trails. Marked hiking trails also make their way to Holcomb Creek Falls and Ammons Falls. These trails, as well as roads going through the forest, provide opportunities for recreation. The author visited the area approximately a dozen times between August and November 2004 and has experienced its beauty and scenic value firsthand. The area does not appear to be heavily used, and visitors are mainly