I have been visiting and using the Chattooga River area as a hiker, camper, fisherman, paddler and biker since 1976.

One only has to visit the area to see the vast overuse and the degradation of the environment that has been occurring for the past 32 years.

On a recent hiking trip in the Burrell’s Ford area, I found the amount of trash, toilet paper, fire pits, and condition of the trail system and camping areas to be terrible. Most disturbing, I was cautioned by several locals that camping at the river near road access could result in my family being subjected to loud drunken parties and even gunfire.

It is clear to me that the Forest Service policies have failed and suggesting that the continued ban on paddlers is necessary to maintain the current tranquility and beauty of the area is absurd.

The Forest Service must:

-- Permanently close most of the user created trails.

-- Establish a fair and equitable permitting system for all Upper Chattooga users that can be used to establish future use and limits guidelines. Boaters are the only group that the Forest Service has ever collected data from on a regular basis.

-- Ban all camping and vehicle access within one-half mile of all bridges, roads and the river on both SC and Georgia sides.

-- Allow all user groups, including boaters, access to the entire upper Chattooga area and focus on restoring the damage done by the current “legal” users.

H. KYLE ANDERSON, ANDERSON