• Angel Falls Rapid on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River

    Big South Fork

    National River & Recreation Area KY,TN

  • Whitewater

    Big South Fork of the Cumberland River is free-flowing with no dam controls. Check the river gauge readings before your river trip. Heavy rains can cause flooding and make river use dangerous. Always use a personal flotation device when on the river. More »

  • Steep Road Grade

    There is a 13% grade for an approximate 5 mile stretch on Highway 297 between Bandy Creek Road on the west of the river and Headquarters on the east side. This is called the gorge. Use caution when traveling with recreational campers or horse trailers. More »

  • Firewood Quarantine

    Firewood Ban is in effect for the park. Only firewood from the surrounding counties of Scott, Morgan, Pickett, and Fentress in Tennessee and McCreary in Kentucky can be brought into the park. Firewood is for sale or you may use dead and down wood. More »

  • Black Bears

    Black bears are found within this area. Store all food, cooking items, feed, cosmetics and coolers properly when in the campgrounds or when using the backcountry. More »

BSFNRRA Annouces Public Scoping for the Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
Date: August 25, 2011
Contact: Howard Duncan, 423-569-9778

 

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) announces the opening of public scoping for the Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment (EA). The scoping period will begin August 16, 2011, and extend through September 15, 2011. Comments will be used to assist the park in developing and evaluating feasible alternatives and analyzing the environmental consequences of each alternative.
Big South Fork NRRA proposes to update and improve the current Fire Management Plan to ensure compliance with recent changes to National Park Service (NPS) fire management guidance. Fire management policy has evolved since the last Fire Management Plan EA was prepared. The purpose of this planning effort is to effectively manage fire to accomplish the following goals:

• Protect human life, communities, and resources from the adverse effects of wildfire without compromising safety
• Use fire in a manner that maintains a healthy and sustainable ecosystem
• Use prescribed fire as a tool to manage vegetation within Big South Fork NRRA boundaries, and where acceptable, across NPS boundaries to attain resource management objectives
• Integrate fire as a natural process into the park's ecosystem to the fullest extent possible
• Reduce the frequency of unplanned human-caused ignitions by implementing an aggressive fire prevention program
• Promote public understanding of fire management programs and objectives
• Manage prescribed and wildland fires in concert with federal, state, and local air quality regulations to protect the air quality of the local and adjacent air sheds

The public scoping period for this EA will open on August 16, 2011, and will extend through September 15, 2011. Written comments should be postmarked no later than September 15, 2011. Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, email, or through the
Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting system. Comments may be submitted by the following means:

Mail:
Superintendent
Attn: Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
4564 Leatherwood Road
Oneida, Tennessee 37841

Phone: 423.569.9778

Fax: 423.569.5505

eMail: biso_superintendent@nps.gov

Visit us online at: PEPC (Planning, Environment, and Public Comment).
Access the site at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/biso

Did You Know?

Hunting is allowed in Big South Fork

Because of its designation as a National River and Recreation Area, Big South Fork allows hunting, fishing and trapping all in accordance with the appropriate state regulations. More...