Phase 1: The Recreation Trails Collaborative Management Project
The USDA Forest Service started a collaborative process with the public to develop a strategy to better manage the trails in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests. The main goal of this effort is to provide a diverse, quality trail system that is maintainable and ecologically sustainable.
Three principles were initially drafted to guide the process.
Diverse Quality Trail Experience: A diverse, quality trail experience that meets the expectations of a range of users, is safe within those expectations, has a variety of terrain and routes, and is located in a natural setting. The trails include appropriate infrastructure that provides users access to a range of opportunities.
Economically Sustainable: A maintainable trail system is properly designed and has the long-term financial commitment from the public and Agency. Financial resources are available to provide needed funds for management while protecting the natural and cultural resources.
Ecologically Sustainable: An ecologically sustainable trail is designed and constructed so negative impacts to natural and cultural resources are minimized to acceptable limits.
These prinicples were reviewed and revised by participants of the collaboration at the public meeting of July 12, 2011. The approved principles are:
A diverse, quality trail system meets expectations of a range of users, is safe within those expectations, has a variety of terrain and routes, and is located in a natural setting. The trails include appropriate infrastructure that provides users access to a range of opportunities.
A maintainable trail system has the long-term commitment from the public, volunteers and the Agency. Resources, including financial and volunteer, are available to provide trail system management while protecting the natural and cultural resources.
An ecologically sustainable trail is maintained so negative impacts to natural resources are minimized to acceptable limits. Any new trails or reroutes will need to be properly designed and constructed.
Beginning February 15, 2011, a series of five public meetings were held to introduce the process and listen to meeting participants. See the January 27, 2011 news release for more information and details about when and where the meetings took place.
Where can I find information on trails on the forest?
Information on the trail system is currently available in all Forest Service offices and in the Recreation section of this website.
How many trails are there on the forest?
There are more than 800 miles of recreation trails across the approximately 867,000 acres of national forest in 26 Georgia counties, with nearly 118,000 of these acres being part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
How many people use the trails each year?
There are approximately 2.2 million visitors to the forest each year in Georgia, with over half using a trail.
What types of trails does the forest have for people to use?
Trail types include hiking, biking, motorized, and horseback riding. These trails support other recreation activities, such as hunting and fishing; swimming, canoeing, and kayaking; nature study, photography, and viewing great scenery.
How will information from these meetings be used?
We will use this process to hear from the public, in order to identify issues that need to be addressed so we can continue to provide a diverse, quality trail system that is sustainable well into the future. This hopefully will include developing new partnerships with groups of volunteers, while helping to guide our maintenance efforts.
