Agreement with Forest Service Reduces Timbering and Cancels Burning

After over 3 years of negotiations an agreement between the Forest Service and The Clinch Coalition resulted in reducing timbering in the Nettle Patch area from 1,419 acres to only 577 acres and canceling 1,122 acres of prescribed burns. This action protects high elevation habitats and tributary streams of the Guest River between Norton and Coeburn which flows into the Clinch River.

TCC would like to thank the Southern Environmental Law Center for their assistance as well as the Sierra Club and Wayne Browning who also contested the sale. We commend the Forest Service for listening to our concerns and working with us to resolve them.

In addition we address forest/water issues in our surrounding communities and all of Southwest Virginia.