EVERYONE MUST READ THIS *** If you want to continue to Wheel at Tellico

[BRUISER]

Hello Board Members,

I am writing this Post in hopes that we as a Group of Commited 4x4'ers and outdoor enthusiasts can Step up to the plate and let our voice be heard.

If Not Know, When?

I know some people hear read the NC Land Issues and Updates Section, and I know some have never even clicked on that section.

So I am bringing this topic to Everyone's attention

Please read this Post by "GSW"
"It is in regards to Closing TELLICO"
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showpost...2&postcount=11

Link to entire post is:
http://www.nc4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28615

If you have been or have never been to tellico it does not matter we need the help of everyone to assist us in keeping one of the BEST OHV Trail systems open.

What do you need to do?
you need to read the entire article and then read the second link in the post and send them your comments on the Closing of Tellico.

But PLEASE think about what your are saying before you send it. We need as many letters as possible, and they need to written well.

Thank you

[Dylan W.]

x 10000000 for sure!

[BIGWOODY]

we asked the rangers there about this when we were there a couple of weeks ago..they said lower2 would be gone, but hadn't heard of any other closures...who knows.

[orangecherokee]

wrote mine this morning and was going to post this up too but I got busy at work. thanks

everyone please read. it literally will take you 5 minutes.

[kcarroll]

sent an email

[mbalbritton]

As a trout fisherman, there's one point that many may not be aware of, (and I'd like to see results of a comparison study on this) when it comes to sediment in Trout waters. As Fishermen wade through these silt and rock bottom rivers, we disrupt the ground. This sends CLOUDS of muddy water down stream. Have you ever been fishing with someone and try walking downstream of them. It's like driving thru heavy fog. How is it that My Jeep up on the mountain could cause more muddy water that chokes off brook trout than a wading fisherman directly in the water?

Something stinks and it's not dead fish.

Food for thought?

[Caver Dave]

Can someone post the email addy for responses? I sent to the addy listed in the first (PDF) link and got:

This is a delivery status notification, automatically generated by MTA svatlsmtp001.r8.fs.fed.us on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:33:55 -0400
Regarding recipient(s) : comments-southern-north-carolina-nan...itee@fs.fed.us
Delivery status : Failed. Message could not be delivered to domain <fs.fed.us> .Failed while initiating the protocol. <[('comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahalatusquitee@fs.fed.us', 550, 'comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahalatusquitee@fs.fed.us... No such user')]>
MTA Response :550

[BigRedB2]

there are more wheelers than trout killers...why dont we have a stronger lobby representation? It sounds to me that the fishermen are complaining that there arent enough trout to kill and they are looking for some one to blame so they dont have to stop killing them!

[mbalbritton]

Originally Posted by BigRedB2

there are more wheelers than trout killers...

oh, don't be so sure about that. ever been to any given river on opening day?

[BRUISER]

Originally Posted by BigRedB2

there are more wheelers than trout killers...why dont we have a stronger lobby representation? It sounds to me that the fishermen are complaining that there arent enough trout to kill and they are looking for some one to blame so they dont have to stop killing them!

I am sorry to say but we the wheelers do not have more a stronger group then the trout fisherman.. they have huge amounts of dollars and large numbers of people.

The question I still have is why is are there no Large corporations like Skyjacker, super lift, tera flex, rubicon express, BFG, etc stepping up to support the Sport that keeps them in business..

I know they sell to others and other industries but damn giving tires, winches, parts, etc at off road events does not help keep us all in the sport..

[SkyHiK5]

Originally Posted by mbalbritton

As a trout fisherman, there's one point that many may not be aware of, (and I'd like to see results of a comparison study on this) when it comes to sediment in Trout waters. As Fishermen wade through these silt and rock bottom rivers, we disrupt the ground. This sends CLOUDS of muddy water down stream. Have you ever been fishing with someone and try walking downstream of them. It's like driving thru heavy fog. How is it that My Jeep up on the mountain could cause more muddy water that chokes off brook trout than a wading fisherman directly in the water?

Something stinks and it's not dead fish.

Food for thought?

Im very hesitant to post this, but...

Walking in the streams does in fact stir the sediment, and disrupt it. But it does not change the overall stream depth or sediment load.

Run-off/erosion does add to the sediment load. Decrease overall stream volume, reduce O2 content, etc. etc. etc.

HOWEVER.....
the real argument is whether or not our activities actually increase erosion rates.

Originally Posted by BigRedB2

there are more wheelers than trout killers...why dont we have a stronger lobby representation? It sounds to me that the fishermen are complaining that there arent enough trout to kill and they are looking for some one to blame so they dont have to stop killing them!

2 terribly wrong points here guys.
#1 Trout Fishermen outnumber wheelers easily 20:1 We dont compare in the scope, volume or history.
#2 This is not an argument about creel volumes. The vast majority (estimates range in the 1500:1) of NC harvested trout are stocked. This stocking is paid fully by the licensing and trout stamps paid for by the fishermen. This argument is about the impact to NATIVE populations.

not trying to rain on anyone's parade or discourage any help, but it is CRITICAL to our efforts that we combat them with not only courtesy and professionalism but also ACCURACY. Sadly 1 inaccurate statement in a 500 word letter, can discredit all the other thoughts inside.

[SkyHiK5]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I am sorry to say but we the wheelers do not have more a stronger group then the trout fisherman.. they have huge amounts of dollars and large numbers of people.
The question I still have is why is are there no Large corporations like Skyjacker, super lift, tera flex, rubicon express, BFG, etc stepping up to support the Sport that keeps them in business..
I know they sell to others and other industries but damn giving tires, winches, parts, etc at off road events does not help keep us all in the sport..

Also I had this same conversation with the Regional VP of sales and marketing for BFGoodrich less than 2 months ago.

Turns out there were serious discussion among BFG, Warn, and at least 1 other company about starting a full forced campaign to "Save Tellico" however thee almighty dollar apparently won out. It turns out that in their opinion there are more consumers who are not wheelers than those that are, and there was strong sentiment that they would be seen as ecologically irresponsible to defend the "anti-environment" stance.

Which despite my disagreement I can at least understand the business decision at play from BFG, WARN on the other hand?
I am very disappointed that WARN, Rancho, ProComp, INTERCO and other off road exclusive companies have not provided support resources.

[BigRedB2]

warn and interco should be on top of this situation. if we cant wheel...we dont need either of them! The new trend is privatly (or even corperatly) owned orvs. im okay with that, but there needs to be more. wish i had the money to invest in 100 acres of worthless real estate somewhere.

[mbalbritton]

one last point, but I don't know how to make it hold water in our favor. There are hundreds of streams and rivers through out NC and the Appalchians. Brook trout populations in the Apps isn't deteriorating due to a select few trails (or all of them) at Tellico. I know many rivers that are stocked with bows and browns yet you can't help but catch brookies. In N.Ga. I caught nothing but Bows and browns. when I moved to NC, it was a long time before I saw another bow or brown. they were all brookies.

Now to my point. We all have rights to our public lands. As Off-road enthusiasts, we have been relegated like the American indian to a select few public location that we can legally wheel. Ther are HUNDREDS of streams and rivers I can go fish, AND catch Brook Trout. Since when are Fishermans Right more important than that of the Off-Road enthusiats.

[rant]I'll tell you when. When they bring more MONEY to the table, and I'll bet a buffalo nickle that somebodies pocket is getting heavier over this.

Find that person, find that money, and we'll have our trails.[/rant]

[ghost]

Just curious but isn't there a lot of new construction on a lot of the streems that lead into the Tellico river? Isn't that also a contributing factor? I have seen more and more houses and cabins since I first went there 5 years ago.