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IPNF seeks comment on proposed rate hikes |
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December 13, 2017 |
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The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is
interested in receiving your comments on a
proposal to increase the fees at 11
campgrounds/group sites, 10 cabin and lookout
rentals, the Emerald Creek Garnet site, and the
Upper Landing RV dump station.
Additionally, the Forest proposes to implement a
new fee at 19 campgrounds/group sites, two cabin
and lookout rentals, an RV dump station, and a
day use boating site.
This proposal would also enable the Beaver Creek
Cabin and Spyglass Ground House to be available
for public rental, adding to the Forest’s
popular recreation rental program.
In addition, the proposal would add new fees at
several sites across the forest and bring
several additional existing fee campgrounds,
group sites and cabin/lookout rentals into
alignment with other sites offering similar
benefits and services.
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 U.S, Forest Service has invested in items on
the IPNF such as potable water, increased
recreation site capacity and amenities at
campgrounds, improved toilet facilities and new
picnic tables and other infrastructure.
Reasonable fees, paid by users of these sites
and services, will help ensure that the IPNF can
continue maintaining and improving the sites for
future generations.
Many existing campgrounds and cabin/lookout
rentals are not being proposed for a fee
increase or new fees.
The proposal will help the achieve more
consistent pricing for fee sites with similar
levels of amenities and capacity and providing
high-quality recreation experiences. For
instance, campgrounds featuring major services
such as water, garbage and on-site hosts are
proposed at $15 per night -- which is in line
with the current market.
Boat-in campsites that offer extraordinary
recreation opportunities and provide many
amenities to visitors at the campsites and at
the Kalispell Bay Boat Launch on Priest Lake are
also being proposed at $15 per night.
Sites with fewer amenities are being proposed at
$10 per night. The same pricing strategy is
being applied to cabin/lookout rentals.
Specifically, the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests is proposing the following new fees:
• Beaver Creek Cabin, St. Joe Ranger District; proposed fee of $55 per
night;
• Spyglass Ground House, Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District; proposed
fee of $45 per night;
• Big Creek, Camp 3, Line Creek Stock Camp, Packsaddle, and Telichpah
campgrounds, St. Joe Ranger District; proposed
fee of $10 per night, with an additional $5
extra vehicle fee per night for more than two
vehicles;
• Conrad Crossing, Fly Flat, Mammoth Springs, and Spruce Tree
campgrounds; proposed fee of $15 per night, with
an additional $5 extra vehicle fee per night for
more than two vehicles;
• Bottle Bay, Geisinger, Navigation, Plowboy, Teacher Bay, Trapper, and
Tule Bay Boat-in campgrounds on Priest Lake;
proposed fee of $15 per night;
• Green Bay and Whiskey Rock boat-in campgrounds on Pend Oreille Lake;
proposed fee of $15 per night;
• Reynolds Creek Group Site Camp Area; proposed fee of $50 per night;
• Shadowy St. Joe Day Use Boating site; proposed fee of $5 per vehicle,
per day;
• Priest Lake Information Site (RV Dump Station); proposed fee of $10 per
use.
The following sites are being proposed for fee
increases:
Cabin and lookout rentals:
• Arid Peak, Deer Ridge, Lunch Peak, and Shorty Peak Lookout
rentals – fee increase from $25 to $45 per
night;
• Little Guard and Surveyor’s Peak Lookout rentals – fee increase from
$35 to $55 per night;
• Avery Creek Cabin - fee increase from $60 to $120 per night;
• Magee Cabin - fee increase from $55 to $100 per night;
• Red Ives Cabin – fee increase from $60 to $100 per night;
• Snyder Guard Station - fee increase from $110 to $150 per night.
Day use sites:
• Emerald Creek Garnet site – fee increase from $10 to $15 per person,
per day for ages 13 and over. Children ages 6-12
will remain at $5 per person, per day, and kids
under 6 are free;
• Shadowy St. Joe Group Picnic Pavilion – fee increase from $25 to $35
per day;
• Upper Landing RV Dump Station – fee increase from $3 to $10 per use.
This site is currently not operational; however,
if fee increase is approved, upgrades will be
made and re-opened for public use.
Campgrounds:
• Bartoo Island and Kalispell Island boat-in campgrounds – fee increase
from $10 to $15 per night.
In addition to the proposed fees stated below,
an extra vehicle fee of $5 per vehicle, for more
than two vehicles that are not trailered, is
being proposed for the following sites:
• Cooper Creek, Meadow Creek, Tin Can, and Turner Flat Campgrounds – fee
increase from $6 to $15 per night; Robinson Lake
Campground fee increase from $8 to $15 per
night. The fee at these sites will be lowered to
$12 per night when drinking water is not
available;
• Cedar Creek Campground – fee increase from $6 to $10 per night;
• Emerald Creek Campground – fee increase from $6 to $15 per night;
• Shadowy St. Joe Campground – fee increase from $6 to $20 per night.
All of the recreation rental (cabins and
lookouts) and the Shadowy St. Joe Group Picnic
Pavilion sites listed above are, or will be,
available for advance reservations through
www.recreation.gov. All campgrounds and
day-use sites are available on a first-come,
first served basis; however, several other
campgrounds that are not part of this proposal
are available for advance reservations through
www.recreation.gov.
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act which allows the
Forest Service to retain 80-95 percent of fees
collected at certain recreation sites and use
these funds locally to operate and maintain and
improve these sites.
An analysis of surrounding recreation sites with
similar amenities indicates that the proposed
fees are comparable and reasonable.
Once public involvement is complete, this
proposal and public comments will be presented
to the Coeur d’Alene Bureau of Land Management
Recreation Resource Advisory Council prior to a
final decision and implementation.
Submit comments about this fee proposal by
January 14. For more information, questions or
to provide comments about any of these fee
change proposals, please visit
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r1recfee or contact
Josh Jurgensen, (208) 765-7214.
You can mail comments to: Idaho Panhandle
National Forests, Attn; Rec Fee Proposal, 3815
Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815 or email
comments to
r1recfee@fs.fed.us. |
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