Rescue Tellico Fund: SFWDA is now accepting donations by check, credit cards, and PayPal.

SFWDA intends to use the Rescue Tellico Fund for legal expenses and trail maintenance expenses.

SFWDA is currently working on an initial legal defense budget and estimating future trail maintenance costs..

The Forest Service will probably go through one or two National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes later this year. This means we will have to write letters. When the time comes, we will post full information right here.

Forest Service Decision Memo

December 19, 2007

The Forest Supervisor has issued her decision regarding trail closures (see proposal of Sept 17) at Tellico and the news is bad:
Click here for full text of Forest Service trail closure order

Click here for full text of Forest Supervisor's response to comments concerning the closure

The Forest Service has announced a winter closure for Tellico from January 1 through March 31 of each year, to take effect January 1, 2008.
Click here for full text of Forest Service winter closure order

Note that as of December 18, all trails (except a section of trail 8) are still open. Winter closure on all trails is expected to start on January 1, 2008. Call the Forest Service office at 828-837-5152 for the latest status.

Discussions are also on-going at the SFWDA Forums in the "Land Use" section.