Capacity & Conflict on the Upper Chattooga River An integrated analysis of 2006-2007 reports June 2007 Prepared for USDA National Forest Service Sumter, Chattahoochee, and Nantahala National Forests Prepared by Doug Whittaker, Ph.D. & Bo Shelby, Ph.D. Confluence Research and Consulting Table of Contents Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................ii 1. Introduction................................................................................................................... 1 Report objectives and organization ......................................................................................... 4 Information sources................................................................................................................... 5 Report limitations and caveats................................................................................................. 6 2. The Upper Chattooga “Decision Environment”.......................................................... 7 2. The Upper Chattooga “Decision Environment”.......................................................... 7 Guiding legislation or other agency mandates........................................................................ 7 Wild & Scenic Rivers Act ..................................................................................................................... 7 Wilderness Act ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Other legislative guidance ..................................................................................................................... 9 Other management factors................................................................................................................... 10 Forest Service response to AW appeal ................................................................................................ 10 Lessons from other rivers .......................................................................................................12 Case study rivers.................................................................................................................................. 12 “Decision environment” findings from case studies............................................................................ 13 History of Chattooga River recreation management ........................................................... 14 “Decision environment” conclusions ..................................................................................... 16 3. Recreation Opportunities............................................................................................ 18 Existing opportunities ............................................................................................................. 18 General frontcountry recreation at four bridges................................................................................... 18 Frontcountry angling at four bridge areas............................................................................................ 18 Backcountry angling............................................................................................................................ 19 Day hiking ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Backpacking/camping.......................................................................................................................... 21 Hunting ................................................................................................................................................ 22 Potential opportunities............................................................................................................ 22 Whitewater-oriented boating ............................................................................................................... 22 Scenic-oriented boating / tubing.......................................................................................................... 23 Other potential opportunities ............................................................................................................... 24 Opportunity “importance”..................................................................................................... 24 Opportunities conclusions.......................................................................................................25 4. Use Information.......................................................................................................... 27 Concepts and methods ............................................................................................................27 Existing use .............................................................................................................................. 28 Grimshawes Bridge / Sliding Rock Area............................................................................................. 28 Chattooga Cliffs Segment.................................................................................................................... 29 Bull Pen Bridge Area........................................................................................................................... 29 Ellicott Rock Segment ......................................................................................................................... 29 Burrells Ford Area ............................................................................................................................... 30 Rock Gorge Segment........................................................................................................................... 31 Nicholson Fields / DH Segment .......................................................................................................... 32 Highway 28 Area................................................................................................................................. 32 Lower Chattooga Boating Use............................................................................................................. 32 Other Lower Chattooga Use ................................................................................................................ 33 Estimating potential whitewater boating use........................................................................ 34 Estimating potential scenic boating use................................................................................. 37 Future trends among existing and potential uses ................................................................. 37 Demographic and visitation trends ...................................................................................................... 38 Overall recreation participation trends................................................................................................. 38 Frontcountry recreation ....................................................................................................................... 38 Frontcountry and backcountry angling ................................................................................................ 38 Backpacking ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Day hiking ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Whitewater boating.............................................................................................................................. 39 Scenic boating...................................................................................................................................... 40 Future use conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 40 5. Biophysical Impacts .................................................................................................... 41 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 41 Trails and trail erosion............................................................................................................ 42 Existing impacts................................................................................................................................... 42 Potential indicators and standards........................................................................................................ 44 Addressing trail impacts ...................................................................................................................... 44 Litter on trails.......................................................................................................................... 45 Existing impacts................................................................................................................................... 45 Potential indicators and standards........................................................................................................ 46 Addressing trail litter impacts.............................................................................................................. 47 Camp impacts .........................................................................................................................