| Contacts: | Contact: Mike Blakeman, (719) 852-6212 |
BLM Seeks Public Comment on Campground Fees (09-21-10)
SAGUACHE - The San Luis Valley Public Lands Center is seeking public input on two fee proposals: one to increase overnight camping fees for the Penitente Canyon Campground and the second to establish overnight camping fees at the new Zapata Falls Campground.
Penitente Canyon Campground is located west of the town of La Garita. Zapata Falls Campground is currently being constructed near the trailhead to Zapata Falls. Both campgrounds are on BLM-managed lands.
Fees at the Penitente Canyon Campground have not been raised since 1997 and maintenance costs have increased significantly since then. The fee increase would enhance the BLM’s capacity to maintain and improve this recreation area.
The current fee charges are $5.00 per night for a standard campsite and $15.00 per night for a large group campsite. The proposed fee is $11.00 per night for a standard campsite and $20.00 per night for a large group campsite. The proposed fee is comparable to facilities offering similar amenities on public lands throughout the state. The additional fees would support campground operations and maintenance as well as upgrades to the restrooms, campsites, roads, trails and signs.
Construction of Zapata Falls Campground should be completed by June 2011. The BLM must start the process to establish an overnight camping fee now in order for it to be operational by next summer. Fees at this campground would be the same as at Penitente Canyon: $11.00 per night for a standard campsite and $20.00 per night for a large group campsite. The fees would support campground operations and maintenance.
Written comments may be submitted to: Outdoor Recreation Planner, Saguache Field Office, 46525 Hwy 114, Saguache, CO 81149, or email with “Campground Fees” on the subject line to snoonan@blm.gov. Comments must be received by December 1, 2010. For further information, contact Sean Noonan at 719-655-6136.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
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