Sierra NF Recreational Fee Change Proposal

[maverick]

Sierra NF:

Proposed Changes to Recreation Fees Identified by the Sierra National Forest

The Sierra National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at developed recreation sites.
The Bass Lake Ranger District is proposing a new fee of $20 per night at Jerseydale Campground with a $5 extra vehicle fee over two vehicles. The High Sierra Ranger District is proposing a new fee of $20 per night at Kirch Flat Campground with a $5 extra vehicle fee over two vehicles, and $100 per night at Kirch Flat Group Campground with a $5 extra vehicle fee over 14 vehicles.

“We recognize how important the forest is to our local communities and those who visit the forest. These fees are a critical component to the sustainability of the recreation sites and ensuring the community is proud of the amenities provided by the Forest,” stated Dean Gould, Forest Supervisor.

The forest operates and maintains 120 developed recreation sites which generally offer visitor amenities like restroom facilities, trash collection, potable water, showers, designated parking, visitor security and interpretive information. If proposed changes are implemented, 54% of the 140 developed recreation sites would remain non-fee.

In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites. These additional funds along with ninety-five percent of the revenue from recreation fees remains on the forests to operate, maintain, and improve facilities.

Under REA, all new fees and any fee changes must be proposed and approved by a citizen’s Recreation Resource Advisory Committee. Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee changes to the developed recreation program. The comment period is set to end by close of business on March 15, 2022. To ensure that your comments are considered, please send your comments no later than the above date to Sierra National Forest, Attention: Recreation Fees, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 93611 or SM.FS.SierraRecFee@usda.gov.

Oral comments must be provided via phone at the Sierra National Forest to Jody Nickerson-Powell during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) by calling (559)-297-0706 and indicating you would like to provide comments on the proposed recreation fee changes, or by using the interactive map link for Sierra National Forest recreation fee proposals. This link can also be found on the Sierra National Forest’s website under spotlights. For more information on the Sierra National Forest Recreation, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra/.

Once public involvement is complete, the proposed fee changes will be reviewed by a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee during their Spring/Summer 2022 meeting, who will submit their recommendation to the Regional Forester for a final decision.

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[Harlen]

Thanks for the heads up Mav.

I think that additional fees will annoy taxpayers who feel they have already paid once for these public services. Secondly, higher fees are a disincentive for low income people whom we should be trying to welcome into our National Forests. I emailed my comments to the address you provided above: SM.FS.SierraRecFee@usda.gov.