Craggy National Scenic Area: D

  • The Forest Scenic Area designation for part of Craggy provides key support for the proposed Craggy National Scenic Area, and the final plan included an additional 700 acres.
  • However, the plan places approximately 3,000 acres in the highest priority logging designations.
  • Over 1,500 acres of old-growth in Craggy are placed in the highest-priority logging designations.
  • The Snowball Trail—one of the most popular footpaths along the Blue Ridge Parkway—is placed in the highest priority logging designation.
  • The headwaters of Ivy River—the drinking water source for Weaverville and communities downstream—is in the highest priority logging designation.
  • The plan failed to recommend the complete Craggy National Scenic Area despite receiving more than 800 objections and 24,000 public comments supporting the Craggy National Scenic Area.
  • Unanimous bipartisan resolutions from Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commission were ignored.
  • A recommendation for the complete Craggy National Scenic Area from the Nantahala Pisgah Forest Partnership was ignored.
  • More than 150 local businesses and organizations endorsing the Craggy National Scenic Area were ignored.

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Protected Areas: F

The plan fails to protect over 101,000 acres of most important conservation and recreation hotspots. More than half of the most popular forest in the country is in highest priority logging designations.

Craggy National Scenic Area: D

The Forest Scenic Area designation for part of Craggy provides key support for the proposed Craggy National Scenic Area, and the final plan included an additional 700 acres. However, the plan places