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Recreation Enhancement Act

The Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) provides the USDA Forest Service, and several other federally owned land/resource management agencies, the authority to collect and retain recreation fees. REA allows the Forest Service to collect and reinvest 95% of fees into the forest of collection. These fees help provide for the safest, most accessible and comfortable amenities possible while enjoying Alaska’s wide range of recreation settings and experience. The REA is currently set to expire on Oct. 1, 2024.

Fee collection and retention is based on the concept that people who frequent recreation sites should and would pay more to help keep these sites maintained.  Without fee retention, taxpayers who do not visit recreation sites would pay just as much as those who do.

Fees also help support recreation facilities that encourage a variety of government-wide goals, such as improving health through outdoor recreation, providing opportunities for youth to experience the great outdoors, increasing tourism, which bolsters the economy and generates jobs.

 

Accomplishments

Wondering where your fee money goes? The Forest Service is proud of its recreation fee program. Funds are spent in everything from routine recreational site maintenance, building new trails, cabins, and wildlife viewing platforms, to interpretive services. Please view the following reports of examples of REA projects and stats.

 

Chugach National Forest Accomplishment Reports

Tongass National Forest Accomplishments

Alaska Region Accomplishment Report

2008 Use of Recreation Fees in Alaska Region Report


 

Last updated March 6th, 2025

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