Problems with Riparian Protection in Draft Plans

Problem: All five of these Management Plans allow logging in the areas that protect our water quality.  

The quality of land around rivers, lakes, streams and temporary (ephemeral) streams determines the quality of our fish habitat and drinking water.   The drafted Management Plans fail to protect our water quality, diminish the role of ephemeral streams and allow salvage and “forest health” logging in areas they do recommend for riparian areas.

Solution: Tell the Forest Service to increase protection for the areas that protect our water quality. They need to increase the size and protection of all Riparian areas along lakes, rivers and streams, include ephemeral stream (streams active in times of high water) and outline precise provisions around “Forest Health” logging so that it does not become a loophole for the timber industry to log these areas.

Substantiating arguments:

•  Southern Appalachia relies on these lands for clean drinking water!   2200 communities, serving at least 10 million people in our region receive their drinking water from National Forest Lands.  

•  Our Wildlife suffers.   Many of our native trout streams suffer from excessive sedimentation caused by erosion form logging and associated activities.   

•  Scientist show that higher protection is needed.   A University of Georgia study calls for greater protection than is found in the draft plans.