On July 21, 2018, high winds and a flash flood occurred on the Chattahoochee National Forest, affecting a broad area of the Conasauga Ranger District, including the Cohutta Wilderness area (
photos). More than 4-inches of rain fell across the isolated area in a 2-hour time span. The steep mountainous terrain drained the rainfall quickly, causing rivers and creeks to reach critical flood levels, rising several times normal water levels with relatively massive discharge amounts of water. The high winds and flash flooding caused significant damage to trails, campgrounds, roads and other infrastructure, creating hazards that continue to present a danger today.
Find updates on the July 21, 2018, Cohutta storm event on the agency website.
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| High winds caused tree blow downs along the Conasauga and Jacks River. On July 21, 2018, a flash flood occurred on the Chattahoochee National Forest, affecting a broad area of the Conasauga Ranger District, including the Cohutta Wilderness area. |
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| Woody debris piles along the Jacks River Trail. On July 21, 2018, a flash flood occurred on the Chattahoochee National Forest, affecting a broad area of the Conasauga Ranger District, including the Cohutta Wilderness area. |
In response to ongoing hazards creating by the high winds and flash flooding, the United States Forest Service closed the Cohutta Wilderness area, Forest Service Road 51 (East Cowpen Road) and
Cottonwood Patch Campground. Several
search and rescue missions to save visitors occurred after the storm at considerable risk to visitors and emergency responders. The agency is continuing to assess storm damage in this remote and rugged wild forest, and unknown hazards are expected to be discovered. High stream flows, falling trees, log jams and impassable roads continue to occur across the area. Until a full assessment of the damage can be completed and resources assigned, it is unknown how long the area closure may last.
"We appreciate visitor's cooperation by avoiding this area until the hazards can be addressed," said Fire Management Officer Jeff Schardt. "The danger of suffering injury in a remote wildland area is serious, as communications and emergency response access is limited."
The Cohutta Wilderness area is a special place and is managed by specific rules and federal law to keep it wild and beautiful. People love this area for its natural wildness. Learn more about Designated Wilderness Areas at
www.wilderness.net
. Please see our
website
for updates and information on joining a volunteer group if you wish to help our national forests.
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Interactive Visitor Map depicting the
Cohutta Wilderness on the Chattahoochee National Forest.
See updates on the July 21, 2018, Cohutta storm event on the website. |
To receive instant alerts and updates about the forest, follow @ChattOconeeNF on
Twitter and
Facebook or visit
https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is known for providing outdoor recreation opportunities and protecting natural resources. Spanning 26 counties, this national forest is home for a diverse population of wildlife, thousands of miles of clear-running streams and rivers, about 850 miles of recreation trails and dozens of campgrounds and picnic areas. These 867,000 acres are rich in natural scenery, history and culture.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
