Tellico Work Day

by Stefan Roth

In addition to the trash pickup activities on March 10, 2001, a group of Southern members worked on the entrance routes to our trail area. Along trails 1 and 5, a problem has been with people riding their ATV's off the gravel roads down to the riverside camp sites. This activity has been loosening the soil, destroying vegetation, and causing more silt to enter the river every time it rained. Since the river's suspended sediment levels are monitored, the Tellico trails are getting the blame for that silt.

Therefore, the Forest Service asked us to build sturdy metal railings along the roads to keep vehicles on the roads and off the river sides. Some of the railings at the intersection of trail 1 and 5 were built in February.

On March 10th, several members from the Scenic City 4WD Club, East Tennessee OHV club, and other clubs brought heavy duty metal piping and installed it as railings. We need to thank Gunnar Byrd, Griff Shirley, Brad Headrick and the other members for bringing their work trucks and welding equipment and using their expertise to install it to help keep Tellico open.