FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] CADES COVE PUBLIC MEETINGS

["Troy Ettel" <Troy.Ettel@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

TNBIRDERS:
Embedded is a press release regarding public meetings that will be held as part 
of the NEPA process for public input on the long-range management alternatives 
for Cades Cove. Much of this deals with visitor services and transportation, 
however of KEY interest is the grassland, streambank, and wetland restoration 
in the Cove. One of the alternatives calls for doing nothing, maintaining the 
status quo of fescue pastures. The other end of the spectrum involves restoring 
and stabilizing streambanks, converting fescue-dominated fields to native 
grasses and wildflowers, and restoring mountain wetlands. Unfortunately, during 
the earlier public meetings, the majority of the public support was given to 
the first alternative ¯ keeping the fescue fields.  Therefore support in both 
letters and direct participation at the meetings for the ecosystem restoration 
alternative is desperately needed. Perhaps Charlie Muise can fill us in a 
little more on what is going on up there.  

Troy Ettel

Great Smoky Mountains News Release

Immediate Release                                     Contact:  Bob Miller
Date:  March 25, 2003                                       865/436-1207

                   PUBLIC MEETINGS ON  CADES COVE DRAFT
                    LONG-RANGE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES


      The National Park Service and the Knoxville Regional Transportation

Planning Organization will hold three public scoping meetings for the Cades

Cove Opportunities Plan on March 31st, April 1st and April 3rd.  The public

is asked to provide input on draft alternatives regarding long-range

management for Cades Cove that have been developed through a planning

process which began last May.

      To date, the planning process has included three rounds of public

meetings.  Over 600 comments have been received and 11,000 hits on the

project web site.  The process has identified a large number of issues and

concerns, as well as many ideas on how to address the issues. Based on that

process, since last fall the National Park Service and its partners have

begun to identify viable long-range management alternatives that address

visitation, resources, education, and facilities in Cades Cove.

         Descriptions of Draft Long-range Management Alternatives

      Five draft long-range management alternatives will be presented at

the public meetings.  These include one "no action" alternative and four

"action" alternatives that envision various forms of access management and

visitor orientation.  Each alternative addresses visitor experience

(including access), resource protection, education, and facilities and

safety. All draft action alternatives call for a field management plan that

maintains the current open character of the Cove for wildlife viewing.  All

action alternatives call for development of an "exceptions" strategy to

maintain cemetery access for descendants of former Cove residents.   In

general, the four action alternatives add increasing levels of access

management and visitor amenities, each alternative building upon the ideas

in the previous one.

      The draft alternatives are as follows.  Additional detail will be

presented at the public meetings.

      Draft Alternative 1, the "no action" alternative, is a continuation

of existing management policies and facilities within the Cove.  This

includes no change in vehicle access, visitor contact, or facilities and

utilities.  Draft Alternative 2 recommends improving roadways by

formalizing pull-out and parking areas along the Loop Road as well as

Sparks and Hyatt Lanes.  The second alternative also calls for creating a

visitor communication program (such as variable message signs, a telephone

"hotline" and web site information). Draft Alternative 3 recommends

establishment of a reservation system for private vehicles to drive the

Loop Road during peak visitation periods.  During non-peak times, private

vehicle access would remain as it is now.  No reservation would be needed

to access the picnic area, campground or horse concession.  Draft

Alternative 4 adds voluntary transit to the reservation system.  Visitors

would access the Loop Road during peak visitation by reservation.  Visitors

without reservations could still visit the Cove by parking at a proposed

visitor center outside the Park and riding a transit vehicle into the Cove.

The Loop Road Shuttle would allow visitors to view the Cove at their own

pace, getting off and on at various places around the Loop.  Draft

Alternative 5 proposes transit access to Cove during peak visitation

periods.  Visitors would park their cars at a visitor center located

outside the Park and ride transit vehicles to the Cove and then transfer to

Loop Road transit vehicle. Similar to Alternative 4, visitors would still

be able to experience the Cove at their own pace.

             Public Meetings to Review the Draft Alternatives

      The meeting on March 31st will be held in Maryville at Heritage High

School, 3741 East Lamar Alexander Parkway.  The meeting on April 1st will

be held in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee Conference Center, 600

Henley Drive. The meeting on April 3rd will be held in Pigeon Forge at

Pigeon Forge High School, 414 Tiger Drive.  All three meetings will begin

at 6:00 p.m. and end at 8:30 p.m.

      Each public meeting will begin with a short presentation outlining

the features of each draft alternative, followed by small group discussion

sessions, and ending short question and answer session.  A court reporter

will be available to record comments.  Comments can also be submitted

through the project's web site at www.cadescoveopp.com.

                      Future Steps in the Planning Process

      The next step in the planning process is to revise and further

develop the draft alternatives, addressing comments received during the

meetings and the 30-day comment period ending April 30, 2003. Revised

alternatives will be released in early summer, with additional public

meetings taking place at that time in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

      Selection of a preferred long-range management  alternative cannot be

made until the alternatives undergo a formal environmental impact review

process required of federal agencies under the National Environmental

Policy Act.  At that time, additional public comment will be sought.

                                 Comments

      Comments can be submitted to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107

Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 or through the project web site at

www.cadescoveopp.com.  The project web site announces the dates of future

meetings, provides project information, including information presented at

previous meetings, and accepts public comment.  The information displays

created for this round of meetings will be posted on March 31.

      For additional information, contact the Superintendent, Great Smoky

Mountains National Park,  (865) 436-1207.

                                      -NPS-





Nancy Gray

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

107 Park Headquarters Road

Gatlinburg, TN   37738

865/436-1208

e:mail:  Nancy_Gray@xxxxxxx

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