SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is looking for public input on proposed changes to the management of the developed recreation program.
These changes will impact campgrounds and day-use sites on all five national forests in New Mexico – the Carson, Gila, Lincoln and Santa Fe National Forests and the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.
Several different management options are being considered, including raising fees at some recreation sites, charging new fees at other sites, eliminating or repurposing some developed recreation sites, and collaborating with volunteers, partners or concessionaires to manage some sites.
“To offer quality recreation experiences and serve our public better, we need public input and ideas on other methods that may help cut costs and leverage resources for managing developed recreation facilities,” said Jeremy Golston, Recreation Fee Program Manager for the USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region. “Public participation will give us the opportunity to hear from all forest users, including visitors, partners, tribes, elected officials and community members.”
“Almost a million visitors a year come to the Santa Fe National Forest to hike our mountain trails, camp alongside our rivers and streams, and enjoy the unparalleled beauty of this forest,” SFNF Supervisor James Melonas said. “These proposed changes will help us maintain and enhance our recreation sites for the public’s continued use and enjoyment.”
National forests and grasslands operate a variety of campgrounds and day-use areas. Recreation sites with limited amenities and visitor services are generally free of charge, while sites that charge fees offer added services and amenities like restroom facilities, trash collection, visitor security and interpretive services.
Developed recreation sites are popular with visitors, providing convenient access to recreation opportunities and adding tourism dollars to local economies. Aging facilities, higher numbers of visitors and limited resources make it increasingly difficult for the Forest Service to maintain and improve recreation sites.
Since 2004, under the authority of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, 95% of the revenue from recreation fees and passes remains on the forests to be used to operate, maintain and improve recreation facilities. Unfortunately, the funding needed to address the maintenance backlog and make improvements exceeds the revenues generated from recreation fees and congressionally appropriated dollars.
Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed changes to the developed recreation program through Dec. 31, 2020. The SFNF will host public meetings on the recreation proposal. Meeting dates and locations will be announced soon, and additional information is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/SusRec.
Comments may be submitted through comment cards available at Forest Service offices, by mail to the Southwestern Regional Office, Attention: Recreation Fees, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, or by email to SM.FS.R3FeeProComm@usda.gov.
For more information on the Santa Fe National Forest, visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/santafe/ or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
