Forest Service closes OHV trail in western NC

The Associated Press

The U.S. Forest Service is permanently closing the Upper Tellico off-highway vehicle trail system in Cherokee County to correct erosion problems in the watershed.

The Forest Service said Wednesday it was closing the 39-mile trail system located about 10 miles west of Murphy in the Nantahala National Forest.

The agency decided to close the trail because of erosion problems in the Upper Tellico River watershed.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that the Forest Service first began looking at runoff problems after several environmental groups threatened to sue the agency in July 2007. They charged that the Forest Service violated laws by failing to prevent mud from eroded trails from polluting streams.

Officials say it will cost more than $2 million to correct the erosion problems now occurring.