Forest Service Making
Improvements to Recreation Fee Sites
Nationwide for Enhanced Visitor Services
WASHINGTON, June 9, 2005 -
U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Forest
Service today announced significant adjustments to its recreation fee
sites
nationwide, removing hundreds of day use sites from the fee program,
which
will result in a higher quality recreation experience for the American
public.
"Recreation on federal lands has grown tremendously over the past
several years, and the rec-fee program has been a valuable tool for
allowing forest managers to meet visitor demands for enhanced visitor
facilities and services," said Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. "The
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act raises the bar for sites to
qualify for charging fees so that the public can enjoy more amenities
at
such sites."
The REA, signed into law last December by President Bush, permits
federal land management agencies to continue charging modest fees at
campgrounds, rental cabins and other high-impact recreation areas on
federal lands. The majority of fees are reinvested at the site where
they
were collected to operate, maintain and enhance service, such as
trails,
toilet facilities, boat ramps and interpretive exhibits.
Since then, all Forest Service units that charged recreation fees
under the old fee demo program reviewed their current fee sites and
determined whether or not their sites meet requirements as outlined
under
REA. As a result, approximately 500 day-use sites (like trailheads and
picnic areas) will be removed this year from the program because they
do
not meet the qualifications of a fee site, which include having
designated
developed parking, a permanent toilet facility and security services.
The Forest Service will continue to implement the provisions of REA
in a careful manner and in coordination with those who enjoy recreation
activities to achieve the greatest degree of public satisfaction
possible.
The Act requires public involvement whenever changes occur in the fee
program, and the establishment of Recreation Resource Advisory
Councils,
which will provide recommendations for establishing any new fees.
Millions of people each year visit their national forests and
grasslands and the vast majority of all of the Forest Service's
services
are free. In all, the Forest Service manages 193 million acres,
including
122,000 campsites, 11,000 picnic sites, 133,000 miles of trail as well
as
many cabin rentals, boat launches and other facilities.
To find out about fee changes in your area, contact your local
forest. For more information about the program, visit
www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs.
