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The forests need your voice! Comment deadline December 15

The mountains in Western North Carolina are home to the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, which offer endless opportunities for recreation, solitude, conservation, and scenic values.   Currently the United States Forest Service is revising their management plan for these lands.  The new plan not only encompasses the possibility of new Potential Wilderness Areas (PWAs), but also better protection for streams through potential Wild and Scenic River designations.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Kayah Gaydish, Wild South North Carolina Conservation Coordinator, at kayah@wildsouth.org or (828)258-2667

 Click here for a full list of creeks and rivers under consideration for Wild and Scenic Designation and scroll to the bottom of the page for a full list of places and comment recommendations from our friends at The Wilderness Society.

Submit your comment to the Forest Service right here

WIA Name and Link to Comments Link to NCMT Map County Forest USFS Ranger District
Alarka Laurel Alarka Laurel Macon and Swain Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Ash Cove Ash Cove Cherokee Nantahala NF Tusquitee District
Bald Mountain Bald Mountain Madison Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Bearwallow Bearwallow Yancey and McDowell Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Black Mountains Black Mountains Yancey Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Bluff Mountain Bluff Mountain Madison Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Boteler Peak Boteler Peak Clay Nantahala NF Tusquitee District
Cedar Rock Mountain Cedar Rock Mountain Transylvania Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Cheoah Bald Cheoah Bald Swain and Graham Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Craggy Mountains (Big Ivy) Craggy Mountains (Big Ivy) Buncombe Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Daniel Ridge Daniel Ridge Transylvania Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Dobson Knob Dobson Knob Burke and McDowell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Ellicott Rock Western Extension Ellicott Rock Western Extension Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Fishhawk Mountain Fishhawk Mountain Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Harper Creek Harper Creek Avery, Burke and Caldwell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Highlands of Roan Highlands of Roan Mitchell and Avery Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Jarrett Creek Jarrett Creek McDowell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Joyce Kilmer – Slickrock Extensions Joyce Kilmer – Slickrock Extensions Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District
Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Southern Addition Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Southern Addition Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District
Laurel Mountain Laurel Mountain Henderson and Transylvania Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Linville Gorge Chimneys Extension Linville Gorge Chimneys Extension Burke Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Linville Gorge Pinnacle Extension Linville Gorge Pinnacle Extension Burke Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Lost Cove Lost Cove Avery Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Lower Snowbird Creek Lower Snowbird Creek Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District
Mackey Mountain Mackey Mountain McDowell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Middle Prong Extension Middle Prong Extension Haywood Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Nolichucky Gorge Nolichucky Gorge Mitchell and Yancey Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Overflow Creek (Blue Valley) Overflow Creek (Blue Valley) Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Panthertown Valley Panthertown Jackson Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Piercy Mountain Range Piercy Mountain Range Cherokee and Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Pigeon River Pigeon River Haywood Pisgah NF Appalachian District
Santeetlah Headwaters Santeetlah Bluffs Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District
Sam Knob and Graveyard Ridge Extensions Shining Rock Extension Haywood Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Siler Bald Siler Bald Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Slide Hollow IRA Slide Hollow IRA Cherokee NF
Snowbird Snowbird Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District
South Mills River South Mills River Henderson and Transylvania Pisgah NF Pisgah District
Southern Nantahala Extensions : Sharptop, Chunky Gal, Yellow Mountain, Cherry Cove, Scream Ridge, and Barkers Creek additions Southern Nantahala Extensions : Sharptop, Chunky Gal, Yellow Mountain, Cherry Cove, Scream Ridge, and Barkers Creek additions Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Southern Nantahala Wilderness: Little Indian addition Southern Nantahala Wilderness: Little Indian addition
Steels Creek Steels Creek Avery, Burke and Caldwell? Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Harper Creek Extension Sugar Knob Sugar Knob Avery, Burke and Caldwell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Tellico Bald Tellico Bald Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Terrapin Mountain Terrapin Mountain Jackson and Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Tusquitee Bald Tusquitee Bald Cherokee, Macon and Clay Nantahala NF Tusquitee District
Unicoi Mountains/Upper Bald River Unicoi Mountains, including Cantrell Top IRA Cherokee Nantahala NF Tusquitee District
Upper Wilson Creek Upper Wilson Creek Avery and Caldwell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Wesser Bald Wesser Bald Swain and Macon Nantahala NF Nantahala District
Woods Mountain Woods Mountain McDowell Pisgah NF Grandfather District
Yellow Creek Mountains Yellow Creek Mountains Graham Nantahala NF Cheoah District