Boating has been illegal on the Chattooga headwaters since the early
70's, but after years of tireless efforts American Whitewater has
pushed the forest service to accept comments and consider change.
For years, a very few vocal fisherman have blocked efforts to allow
boating on this stretch. I have nothing against fishing, but when a
few elitist anglers start whinning about how someone boating or
boarding down the river while they are fishing from shore is going
to ruin their fishing experience, well that's a load of horse crap.
There are plenty of other streams that don't have enough flow to
float down that they can go to if they want a serene experience.
Since when did they start thinking that they had exclusive rights to
the rivers? Don't let them win, make your voice heard.


Your letters & e-mails are needed!

It has been illegal to paddle the Chattooga Headwaters since 1976,
not long after Deliverance was made on that river. A group of
paddlers, canoe clubs, and American Whitewater have been battling
the U.S. Forest Service since the late 1990s to open those waters to
boating. It has been a protracted battle, but we have arrived at a
critical moment in the process. There will be two more comment
periods before the USFS renders a decision. We need your help now
for the first of those comment sessions.

There is more on the table here that just the boating ban. A number
of other non-boating management actions are also in the plans.

If you value the Chattooga's wildness or if you want to be able to
paddle the headwaters one day, please make your comments known.

The USFS document and request for comments is here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/documents/Chattoogascopingpackagefinal081
42007.pdf

American Whitewater's position is here:
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article_view_articleid_2980
2_display_full_

The USFS values thoughtful letters more than form letters. Please
review the material and consider the best option. Tell the USFS if
you think their mix of actions is inappropriate. Suggest other
actions if you think you should. You do not need to agree with the
AW position! Write your conscience.