| Contacts: | Tom Phillips | , 575.525.4377 |
BLM Proposes Fee Increase at Three Popular Las Cruces District Fee Sites in Southern New Mexico
Las Cruces, NM–In an effort to maintain and improve facilities and services at three popular fee sites in the Las Cruces District, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to increase visitor fees in 2012. There have been no fee increases at the sites since 1996 when fees were first established. The sites include the Dripping Springs Natural Area and Aguirre Spring Campground in the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, NM, and the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, near Tularosa, NM.
The current fees are: $3 per vehicle per day at Dripping Springs and Aguirre Spring/$2 per vehicle per day at Three Rivers; $25 per day use of the Group Sites at Dripping Springs/La Cueva and Aguirre Spring; overnight camping at Aguirre Spring is currently $3 and at Three Rivers is $2. In addition, the Las Cruces District has a pass that allows users a full year’s use of all three sites. The current fee for the Las Cruces District Pass is $20.
The intent of the fee program is to fund needed public services while protecting and enhancing public land and natural resources. The primary use of fees is for the maintenance of existing facilities, services, and operations. Fees will also be used for low-level development, such as site leveling, interpretation, shelter maintenance/reconstruction, and trail maintenance and upgrading.
The annual cost of operating and maintaining the three sites is $217,800. The average revenue collected for the three sites under the current fee schedule is $74,138. Although BLM does not expect to cover all costs of operation/maintenance, it is clear that costs so far out run revenues that a moderate increase is appropriate to consider.
The public is invited to comment on the proposed fee increase by contacting Tom Phillips at the Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005 or via email at tphillip@blm.gov. Comments must be received by Monday, January 23, 2012. Preaddressed postcards have been placed at all three sites for your convenience. A final decision on the proposed fee increase will occur after BLM’s Las Cruces District Resource Advisory Council has reviewed the proposal and provided a formal recommendation to the BLM. The next District Resource Advisory Council Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
Dripping Spring Proposed Fee Adjustments
| Current Fee | Proposed Fee | |
| Day Use (per vehicle) | $3.00 | $5.00 |
| Day Use (per bus) | none | $15.00 |
| Group Site (per group) | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| District Annual Pass | $20.00 | $30.00 |
Aguirre Spring Proposed Fee Adjustments
| Current Fee | Proposed Fee | |
| Camping (per campsite) | $3.00 | $7.00 |
| Day Use (per vehicle) | $3.00 | $5.00 |
| Day Use (per bus) | none | $15.00 |
| Group Site (per group) | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| District Annual Pass | $20.00 | $30.00 |
Three Rivers Proposed Fee Adjustments
| Current Fee | Proposed Fee | |
| Camping (per campsite) | $2.00 | $7.00 |
| Day Use (per vehicle) | $2.00 | $5.00 |
| RV Hookup Campsite | $10.00 | $18.00 |
| Day Use (per bus) | none | $15.00 |
| District Annual Pass | $20.00 | $30.00 |
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. 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.