Proposed Recreation Fees Information and Comment Page

Input you provide during the comment period will be used to determine public support for a fee change at USDA Forest Service managed recreation sites. The information you provide, in the form of public comment, will be considered during the development of each national forest’s final recreation fee proposal. Please note that all comments, names, and addresses become part of the public record and are subject to Freedom of Information Act requests, except for proprietary documents and information.

• Comments should be clear and relevant to the recreation sites where a proposed fee change is under consideration - please organize your comments so your input is understood by management.
• Input which is solution-oriented and provides specific examples will be most effective.
• Comments which address a fee change at a specific developed recreation site are particularly useful for the final proposal development process.
• A comment is not a “vote.” Duplicate comments do not carry more weight than individual comments. The substantive content of each comment will have a bigger impact than the quantity of similar or identical comments.

Consider these questions in developing your comments:

• Do you recommend a different fee change at a site? If so, please state why.
• How, specifically, do you disagree with the changes to recreation fees under consideration?
• What specifically would you change about a recreation fee proposal and why?

• Click on the Home button to view all the developed recreation sites under consideration for a fee change. At the top of the list you will see the options to comment on the Enchantment Pass or leave a general comment specific to a national forest, followed by all developed recreation sites under consideration for recreation fee changes.
• Use the plus / minus buttons to control the level of zoom in your current view. You can click and drag on the map to pan around to different areas. If you toggle the “Filter List by Map” slide button in the upper right corner, the list on the right will only display recreation sites currently displayed on your map.
• Select a site by clicking the icon on the map, or by selecting the site from the list on the right.
• Click the green comment button to open the comment form. Leave your comment in the provided box.

We encourage the public to get involved in this process because public support is a crucial part of the fee establishment process.

An increase in forest the number of visitors has impacted recreation sites. Fees are changing because the cost of maintenance and improvements to these sites exceeds the revenues generated from recreation fees and congressionally-appropriated dollars.

• Local fee retention – Since 2004 local Forest Units have the authority to retain 95% of the revenue generated at recreation sites where a fee is charged. This source of funds is critical to effectively address maintenance and operations needs at campgrounds and developed day use areas.
• Recreation fee revenue has been used on projects that improve the visitor experience, such as: restroom upgrades, trail repairs and improvements, campground improvements, historic structure enhancements, education and visitor interpretation programs, on-site accessibility improvements, trash & graffiti removal, Forest Service presence to discourage illegal activity, vandalism repairs and hazard tree removal. Our annual reports details how funds have been used.

• The public has a say - the Forest Service engages in an intensive public involvement process for every fee change including new fees, fee increases and decreases and fee eliminations. This public involvement process includes a Federal Advisory Committee review.
• An analysis is used help units determine the correct price range for facilities like campgrounds and day use sites. This tool has a point system for available amenities and shows an appropriate fee range to include in a fee proposal. Also included is an analysis of other public and private developed recreation site providers.

• For years, the cost of managing our recreation sites has increased, yet there has been a steady decline in our budget. Our visitation continues to increase, which requires added maintenance.
• To effectively provide high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities, the Forest Service uses an analytical process to focus on providing and improving recreation facilities and public-supported services. When looking at options for sustaining recreation facilities, the process is inclusive of the public in order to ensure funds are spent wisely.

Some recreation sites offer limited amenities and visitors services and are free of charge. Other sites charge recreation fees, in exchange, these recreation areas offer visitor services and amenities such as restroom facilities, trash collection, visitor security and interpretive services.

Forest Service established Recreation RACs consist of 11 members who represent the following interests as indicated in REA:

Five people who represent recreation users and include as appropriate:

• Winter motorized
• Winter non-motorized
• Summer motorized
• Summer non-motorized
• Hunting and fishing

Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate:

• Motorized outfitters and guides
• Non-motorized outfitter and guides
• Local environmental groups

Three people, one in each position:

• State tourism official
• A person who represents affected local government interests
• A person who represents affected Indian tribes' issues

Existing Advisory Committees, such as the BLM Resource Advisory Councils, will retain their current membership. However these advisory councils may consider establishing subcommittees specifically to address recreation fees.

The Southwestern Region is using existing Bureau of Land Management RACs. For more detailed information about Recreation Advisory Committees, please review Recreation Resource Advisory Committees.

A convenient payment option for unlimited use, during the season of operation, of developed day use fee sites throughout the Forests in New Mexico (Gila, Carson, Lincoln, Cibola, and Santa Fe). A proposed fee of $40 for an annual pass and $5 for a daily pass sold through Forest Service offices, vendors, and online.