Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Proposes New Fees at Group Picnic Sites
Submitted by editor on Tue, 06/17/2014 - 6:33pm
Comments are being sought by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest regarding a proposal to charge fees at two group sites at the new Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway Complex at Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in southern Nevada.
Set to be finished by 2015, Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway Complex will feature a visitor center, approximately 17 miles of new trails, an education building, two amphitheaters, the Cold War Monument, the Seven Stone Memorial, and two group picnic sites.
The two new picnic sites will have a shade structure, accommodate up to 30 people each, and open all year. Proposed fees are $70 per site, except during the summer months; the sites will then be reserved for $70 for a half day or $120 for all day.
The majority of the revenue collected at recreation fee sites remains on the forest to operate, maintain, and improve the facilities and programs. The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Better known to locals as Mount Charleston, it is located 30 minutes from downtown Las Vegas and encompasses more than 316,000 acres.
Comments are now being accepted on the new group picnic sites fee proposal and may be sent to: Bill Dunkelberger, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV, 89431. Comments will be taken through Sept. 1, 2014.
All new fee proposals will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, which is the Nevada Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). Committee members represent a broad array of recreation interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable fee changes.
The public is welcome to attend and comment at all advisory committee meetings. The next Nevada RRAC meeting is expected in early 2015. The exact meeting time, location, and agenda will be announced on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest website and through the local media. These fee proposals will also have extensive reviews by both the Forest Service Regional and Washington Offices.
In 2004, Congress passed the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, which allows the Forest Service to retain funds collected at certain recreation sites and use these funds locally to operate and maintain and improve these sites. Before the Forest Service received the authority to retain funds locally, all fees collected by the Forest Service went to the National Treasury.
If approved, the picnic sites would be placed on the National Recreation Reservation Site for rental information and reservations. Make reservations by calling a toll free number, 877-444-6777, or via online at www.recreation.gov.
For more information, questions or comments about the picnic site fee proposals, please visit the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest website here or contact Del Orme, Recreation Staff Officer, at (702) 515-5401.
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