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Forest Service proposes camping and day-use fee increases at recreation areas

 

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing camping and boating and swimming fee increases at recreation sites and adding a new day-use fee for an existing recreation site on the National Forests in Texas.
 
"The proposed changes will help to ensure fees are more comparable to similar public and private sites in the area, be consistent with inflationary costs, and help defray rising maintenance and operation costs," said Forest Supervisor Eddie Taylor.  He also noted that the last price increase for most sites in Texas occurred in 2003.
 
Proposed fee changes include:
 
Sam Houston National Forest
-- Cagle Recreation Area camping: proposed $30/night/site; currently $27
-- Cagle Recreation Area boat launch: proposed $8/day/vehicle; currently $5
-- Scott's Ridge Recreation Area boat launch and swim area: proposed $8/day/vehicle; currently $5
 
Davy Crockett National Forest
-- Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area swim area: proposed $5/day/vehicle; currently $3
 
Angelina National Forest
-- Boykin Springs Recreation Area camping: proposed $10/night/site; currently $6
-- Boykin Springs Recreation Area day-use: proposed to reinstate day-use fee of $5/day/vehicle
-- Caney Creek Recreation Area boat launch: proposed $5/day/vehicle; currently $3
 
Sabine National Forest
-- Red Hills Lake Recreation Area swim area: proposed $5/day/vehicle; currently $3
 
Public notices proposing the fee increases will be posted in each recreation area and distributed through the media.
 
The Interagency (Access, Senior) Passes and Golden (Access, Senior) Passports will be honored at standard day-use locations. Senior and Access passes offer a 50 percent discount on all single occupancy campsites, boat launch sites and swimming areas.
 
The fee proposal will be presented before a citizen's advisory committee, called the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, and the public is invited to attend and comment. The meeting time, location and agenda will be announced on www.fs.usda.gov/texas. The Regional forester will make a decision on these fee proposals after public comment is complete.
 
Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act in 2008 which allows the Forest Service to keep 80-95 percent of fees collected at recreation sites to operate, maintain and improve the sites.
 
For more information or comments regarding the fee proposals, contact Recreation Program Manager Nancy Snoberger at 936-639-8548.
 
 

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