The Forest Service has decided to withdraw their decisions on recreation uses on the upper Chattooga River in the Sumter, Chattahoochee and Nantahala national forests. The agency will conduct an analysis and issue a new decision later this year.

The decisions, announced in August 2009, would have, among other things, allowed limited boating on the main stem upper Chattooga River. Five appeals were filed as part of the Forest Service’s planning process. The Southern Region granted a stay while the appeals were under review, preserving the status quo on the river (meaning no boating is allowed above the Highway 28 bridge). That condition remains unchanged.

During the appeal process, the Forest Service discovered some inconsistencies between various components of the decision documents. While none of the appellants raised these inconsistencies in their appeals, the Forest Service decided to voluntarily withdraw the decisions.