By Michael Howell
The Bitterroot National Forest is looking for public comment on a proposal to increase fees at fourteen campgrounds, group sites and rental cabins and to begin charging fees at two more campgrounds and one additional rental cabin.
As part of a Region-wide effort, these fee changes are being proposed to support the Forest’s ability to continue providing high levels of service to visitors at popular recreation sites. The Forest has recently invested in numerous improvements including a new drinking water system at Lake Como, increased capacity and amenities at group sites and shelters, improved toilet facilities, and new picnic tables and other infrastructure.
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the Forest Service to retain fees collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate, maintain and improve these sites.
Currently the fee system generates about $95,000, but the cost of providing the services at the sites runs about $200,000. If the proposed new fee system is adopted it is estimated to raise about $190,000.
Bitterroot National Forest staff officer over recreation and trails Deb Gayle said, “Raising fees might put these facilities out of reach for some people, but if we can’t pay for the services they may just go away.”
Recreation Program Manager Erica Strayer noted that the fees were low to begin with and had not been raised in the last 15 years. She said the majority of recreation opportunities and sites across the Forest will remain free. An analysis revealed that the fees on the Forest were half the amount that are being charged on other agency and private campsites with similar facilities.
According to Strayer the proposal went through local, regional and national review and analysis in its development. She said the fee increases are different for different sites because part of the aim was to make the fees charged consistent across the Forest based on the services provided. For instance, campgrounds featuring services such as water, garbage and on-site hosts are proposed at $15 per night, which is in line with the current market. Sites with fewer amenities are being proposed at $10 or $12 per night. The same pricing strategy is being applied to the cabin rentals.
Besides better aligning prices with the services provided, the fees are also set to meet the cost of operations and maintenance, and are based on a comparable market assessment around the region. Strayer said that on the Bitterroot National Forest 95% of the fees collected go back into the operation, maintenance and improvement of the sites. Based on the analysis, 14 of 26 existing camp sites and 3 of the 6 cabin rentals on the Forest would see fee increases of some amount.
A $5 extra vehicle fee is also being proposed for all campgrounds (not including group sites). Extra vehicle fees will be assed for more than two vehicles per site. Day use fees will not be affected by any changes.
After receiving public comment over the next thirty days, it will undergo more review and any changes made due to public comment will be incorporated into the proposal before it is sent to the Western Montana Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council prior to a final decision and implementation.
More details on the proposed fee increase can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r1recfee. Comments can be posted there, or mailed to Erica Strayer at Bitterroot National Forest, P.O. Box 388, Darby, MT 59829, or emailed to r1recfee@fs.fed.us. People also can contact Strayer at 406/821-4252 or they can stop by the local ranger station or supervisor’s office. Comments will be accepted through November 20, 2017.