A decision regarding the Sumter National Forest’s ban on kayaking in the upper Chattooga River in South Carolina was promised by the end of 2008, but the forest service recently announced that the final decision on recreation uses on the upper Wild and Scenic Chattooga River is under internal review and will not be released this month as planned.
A spokesperson for the forest service says the delay is due to the overwhelming number of public comments (3,000 letters and emails) sent in voicing an opinion on the issue. The Sumter National Forest’s ban on paddling was determined to be in violation of the Wilderness Act and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by the highest office of the US Forest Service in April of 2005, however, any management decision pertaining to the illegality of the ban has been plagued by a series of delays.
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