POWELL COUNTY - The Tri County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) voted to increase recreation site fees for 11 sites across the Lolo National Forest during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Jan 12. Sites that saw increases were located in the Seeley Lake Ranger District (Powell County) as well as Missoula Ranger District (Granite County). Monture Guard Station Cabin's nightly fee increased from $60 to $75 while Big Nelson Campground went from no charge to $10.
Jeff Ward, U.S. Forest Service recreation business program manager, presented the fee proposals and the context behind them to the RAC. The purpose of the increases is to help upgrade site amenities.
According to him, any new proposed fee must be published in the Federal Register. The fees cannot be implemented until six months after publishing. The set of fees addressed at this meeting were republished in March 2020.
One meeting attendee asked if it was possible to do a sliding scale fee rather than a fixed fee. Ward said that it would take a national legislative change.
Recreationists pay the fees when they make their reservation on the website recreation.gov. Campers can stay a maximum of 16 consecutive nights at sites according to Ward.
Some of the committee members had concerns that the increases were moving too fast and that the land's rental value was being likened to a commercial entity rather than public land. They were also worried that the increases would exclude lower income families.
Those in favor of the increases felt the proposed increases were appropriate considering the general rise in inflation and the need for maintenance upgrades.
The committee made three separate motions. The first recommended the Regional Forester proceed with proposed fee increases on campgrounds and the Monture Guard Station rental. Ten members voted in favor while Steve Flynn, Carl Hamming and Karen Laitala voted against the motion. Maureen Connor abstained and Joe Brandon was absent.
The second motion, the committee recommended the Forest Service proceed with proposed fee increases on extra vehicle fees at recreational campgrounds. Extra untrailered vehicles will be charged $5 for all 23 single-site campgrounds, but the increase will not apply to rentals or group sites. Thirteen voted in favor with no opposition. Connor abstained.
The third motion recommended lowering the Forest Service's fee increase of $100 per night for the Morgan-Case cabin and the Hogback Cabin to $75. Eleven voted in favor while Murray Strong, Jane Van Dyk and Christina Barbachano voted in opposition.
For the 11 sites in Powell and Granite Counties, the Tri County RAC's recommendations now go to the Regional Forester. The proposed fees must be authorized by the Forester before they can be implemented. There is no specific timeline for this process.
Kate Jerman, Public Affairs Officer for the Lolo National Forest, said at this time, the Forest Service is moving ahead with the recreation fee proposals in Mineral, Sanders and Missoula Counties and will begin implementation in 2021. The fees will automatically go into effect for the upcoming season and they will be phased in over the next three to six months depending on coordination with the online reservation provider recreation.gov.
For more information about area RACs visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/bdnf/workingtogether/advisorycommittees
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