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Fires Creek Rim Trail in jeopardy Hikers call it a wilderness wonderland. Twenty-six miles of rambling trail that winds its way through some of the most pristine forests in the world. A bear sanctuary. A watershed with crystal clear streams and water so pure the state has classified it as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), the highest possible designation. But all that could change. Recent owners of a 50-acre enclave of private property between Big Stamp and Big Peachtree Bald are proposing to build a new road as well as using existing forest service roads (currently closed to the public) to access their property for housing development. Ten days ago, the Tusquittee Ranger District of the Nantahala National Forest posted a letter to some forest users advising that it was conducting an environmental analysis regarding a proposal to access private land across National Forest System lands in Clay County. The analysis is said to address potential environmental impacts of construction and use of a road to provide adequate access to this private tract surrounded by NFS lands. The letter asked for comments concerning the activities. The Forest Plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests describes lands emphasizing visually pleasing scenery, favoring wildlife species which prefer older forests. All new road construction would take place in lands so classified. John Ray, an outdoorsman and frequent hiker, said the Rim Trail is the only backpacking loop in Clay County. "As a recreation area, there is nothing quite like it," he said. "If this development is allowed to take place, the Rim Trail will be destroyed as a 1200 ft. section will be covered with houses and the Forest Service will not have money for an expensive reroute. It will be a terrible loss for Clay County and for the state." Susan Martin, a Clay resident who frequents Fires Creek recreational area, said, "My husband and I recently rode our horses through this exact area. It is so beautifully landscaped by God for the public to use and keep naturally. If this development goes through, it will inflict serious damage to the surrounding forest land, creeks and wild animals that live and survive there." The Forest Service letter noted that some issues have already been identified including: potential impacts on water quality, impacts to the visual landscape, impacts on wildlife preferring older forests and impacts on the Fires Creek Rim Trail. The letter cites a section of a 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that it says guarantees access to landowners that are surrounded by federally owned land; however, entitlement is not without qualification. "The access is that 'as the Secretary deems adequate to secure to the owner the reasonable use and enjoyment' of the land and such must comply with our regulations applicable to ingress and egress to or from NFS lands." Interested parties may write expressing their concerns to : Steve Lohr, District Ranger, Tusquittee District Ranger, 123 Woodland Drive, Murphy, NC 28906 and to Marisue Hilliard, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina at 160 Zillicoa Street, Suite A, Asheville, NC 28801-1082.
Copies of letters may also be sent to the Sentinel, PO Box 870, Hayesville, NC, 28904 for publication. Comments to the Forest Service must be provided by May 23, 2008 to be considered.
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