The forest service has used almost all the suggestions in the "Conflict & Capacity" report, to come up with the preferred management alternative #4. So, I don't see why they won't use the permit system the report suggests. Here it is, I'll let you do the commenting.
Read the entire report here:
Considerations for developing permit systems
If the Forest Service developed a permit system for boaters, anglers, hikers, or overnight use,
there are several implementation issues. Major decisions include 1) will permits be available by
reservation, first-come/first-served, or by lottery; and 2) will an administrative fee be charged? It
is beyond the scope of the present analysis to sort through these issues, but the effort to
administer (and educate users how to use it) are potentially substantial. If such a system were
considered, we have developed a short list of features that might be incorporated in such a permit
system for boaters (if that use is allowed). Because boatable days are rare, difficult to predict,
and require boaters to be spontaneous in their trip planning, a permit system would have to be
efficient. The following features are likely to help:
• A “pre-registration” component to put potential permit applicants into a system and provide numbered tags for boats.
• A “boat/no boat” prediction from the Forest Service two to three days prior to prospective boating days, based on existing flows and projected weather. If boating seems likely, preregistered applicants would be encouraged to apply for the limited number of available
permits.
• Boater applications might close mid-afternoon one day prior to the prospective boating day.
• The Forest Service would make a final “boat/no boat” decision for the date and select permittees from among applicants; permit winners would receive an email.
• Winning applicants would accept or decline the permit by 8 am the next morning (giving them a final opportunity to see if flows and weather are acceptable). Cancelled permits could be made available to others at that point.
• The Forest Service would post boat tag numbers of those with permits, and boaters would display their tag and carry the email permit while on the river.
Developing a larger use limit system that applies to all users might have similar administration
issues, because most Upper Chattooga users are day users, and most are likely to have short
planning horizons.
BoaterTalk 
