While fees are still proposed to increase for the individual and group campsites at Big Larch Campground, the proposed day use fees have been postponed.
SEELEY LAKE - The Lolo National Forest is amending the Recreation Fee proposal from last summer by postponing the proposed day use fees at the Seeley Creek Winter Sports site, Pattee Canyon Nordic Ski Trail system, and Big Larch and Seeley Lake day use areas and boat ramps. The Forest will continue to move forward with the proposal to raise or implement fees on some existing campgrounds and new or existing rental cabins/lookouts.
If recommended by local Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees (RAC), these fees will better align with the current pricing of similar amenities in Montana and nearby Idaho facilities. Additionally, fees will be reinvested locally to sites on the Lolo National Forest to help maintain high-quality experiences for the public into the future.
The amended proposal demonstrates the Forest's commitment to responding to 355 comments received, while also recognizing the need for continued investment in developed recreation opportunities across the Lolo.
"Partner groups have shown immense passion and dedication toward these recreation sites, specifically the Nordic skiing areas," said Carolyn Upton, Forest Supervisor. "We recognize their past and current contributions and willingness to steward these places with us. We also see this as an opportunity to engage with partners in further dialogue about the future of these sites."
Seeley Lake District Ranger Quinn Carver said most of the comments were in opposition to the proposed day use fees. There were also comments that site fees should be higher, there should be more fee sites and some generally positive response to the fees.
"This is an example that the public is actually being heard by us," said Carver. "We took a hard look at all the comments that came in and adjusted our proposal to postpone the [day use] fees."
Carver explained that if the day use fees are postponed, it would take an extensive public process to reinstate the proposed fee.
"We are not just going to say we changed our mind and we are going to do it," said Carver. "Part of the decision will be monitoring on how we are doing with our maintenance and backlog and see how we do with the campground fees. A lot of it is going to depend on what the public demand is."
The most recent National Visitor Use Monitoring data gathered by the Lolo National Forest suggest that approximately 80-85% of the public surveyed are satisfied with their experience at campgrounds and rentals on the Lolo National Forest. While satisfaction remains relatively high for now, fees at these sites have not been increased for almost 20 years. Fees collected at these sites allow for continued investment in site improvements needed to maintain quality recreation experiences.
"Based on the feedback we received, it's clear to me that recreation at these places is incredibly important to both locals and visitors of the Lolo National Forest," said Upton. "To continue to provide quality experiences, investment in these sites is essential. Increasing fees at rentals and campgrounds will expand our ability to address ongoing maintenance needs and provide opportunities to enhance amenities."
The proposal includes adding two lookouts and one cottage to the rental program. Additionally, the proposal will continue to move forward with the extra vehicle fee at single-site campgrounds.
On the Seeley Lake Ranger District, proposed fee increases include:
• Campground fee increase to $20 per night at Big Larch, Lake Alva, River Point and Seeley Lake Campgrounds.
• Group Site fee increase to $50 per night at Lake Inez, Lakeside, Lake Alva and Big Larch.
• Fee increase to $75 per night at Double Arrow Lookout and the Monture Cabin.
Recreation management remains a priority for the Lolo National Forest. The Forest recognizes the need for long-term and collaborative recreation planning specifically around Seeley Lake and Missoula, to continue to provide high-quality recreation opportunities to the local and visiting public.
Carver feels that even though the day use fee has been postponed, the increase in campground fees will be enough to allow the District to make some improvements. Of the fees collected at each site, 95% will return to the District from which it was collected. The District Ranger will distribute the funds according to need and public demand. Based on public feedback, he said they are already looking at improving the parking lot at Big Larch boat launch and adding a new reservation camp loop.
The amended proposal will be presented to the relevant Sanders, Mineral, Missoula and Tri-County RACs for recommendation prior to implementation. The RAC meetings are open to the public. The Missoula RAC is still getting started and the first meeting is expected to be mid to late May. The date and time for the meetings will be posted on the Forest's website.
It is the Lolo's hope that the RACs will make a recommendation for implementation. If this is given, then the Lolo National Forest will move forward with implementation based on approval by the Regional Forester. If they do not recommendation implementation, the Lolo will work concurrently with the Regional Forester on the next steps.
If the proposed fee increases are approved, they will be implemented in a way that makes the most sense, is least impactful on people and honors their reservations through recreation.gov.
"It still has a lot of process to go through to get the approval," said Carver. "Ideally it would be finding that clean break date where as of this date moving forward these would be the increased fees and people would know ahead of time."
For more information visit the Forest's website https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lolo/home or call 406-329-1024.
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