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Chattooga River Recreational Use
In 2005, the USDA Forest Service initiated a visitor use capacity analysis in response to an appeal of the Sumter National Forest’s Revised Land and Resource Management Plan by advocates of whitewater boating. The capacity analysis provided data for evaluating the management decision and adjusting or amending the Forest Plan as appropriate. Since 1976, the upper 
portion of the Chattooga River, from the headwaters to State Highway 28 bridge, has been closed to whitewater boating as a recreational use. The Forest Service requested assistance to determine how collaboration among stakeholders could best occur throughout the remaining stages of reassessing the current management decision on boating in the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River.
The Natural Resources Leaderhsip Institute's role in this project was twofold. First, we conducted an issue assessment to determine how a broadly represented subset of river users perceived the use of collaborative approaches for developing decisions for managing recreational use on the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River. In the second phase, the Insitute assisted the Forest Service to design and conduct two citizen forums for identifying and evaluating potential management actions that reflect the desired resource and social conditions for the upper Chattooga River.
Chattooga River Situation Assessment
The situation assessment involved three major tasks: (1) gathering data through interviews
and secondary sources (2) analyzing the data based on the public involvement literature and
professional experience, and (3) making recommendations on how best to structure and conduct a
public involvement process during the pre-NEPA and NEPA processes.
Highlights of the assessment revealed that:
- All of the respondents shared one important value: that protection of the Chattooga River
now and in the future is of great importance. Another value shared by many is maintenance
of community, whether they are residents in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia.
- A significant subset of respondents reported a willingness to try collaboration. Many saw collaboration as a means to meet their interests. Another subset of respondents remained skeptical that collaboration would promote their interests, but were willing to accept science-supported changes in river use if closely monitored. A third subset of respondents reported an unwillingness to engage in collaboration. Their preference was to maintain the status quo believing that additional use will result in significant environmental degradation.
Click here for a full copy of the Chattooga River Situation Assessment
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