Mendocino National Forest Expanded Amenity Campground Fee Increase Proposals
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Mendocino National Forest Expanded Amenity Campground Fee Increase Proposals Camp Discovery Group CG Sycamore Grove CG Eel River CG Hammerhorn CG Plaskett CG Masterson Group CG Spillway CG Main Letts CG Stirrup CG Saddle Camp CG Mill Valley CG Gray Pine Group CG Middle Creek CG Red Bluff Recreation Area – • Located in the town of Red Bluff just off Interstate 5 along the Sacramento River • Very highly developed recreation site which includes the Sacramento River & Lake Red Bluff boat launch facilities – Campers launch at no additional cost • 4.2 mile paved and natural surface hiking & biking trail with vistas of Mt Shasta & Mt Lassen • Sacramento River Discovery Center on site • Fish & Wildlife Viewing Plaza on site Camp Discovery Group CG • 11 screen shelters that sleep 88 people & large lawn for tent camping • 2 lighted & covered eating and cooking cabanas • 6 showers, 10 sinks, dish washing facility, 4 vault toilets • Amphitheater Sycamore Grove CG • 30 family campsites, 10 RV sites with partial hookups • 1 double RV site • 4 showers, 4 flush toilets, 4 sinks Eel River CG • Located 12 miles east of Covelo adjacent to the Eel & Black Butte Wild & Scenic Rivers • 15 campsites, 3 SST vault toilets, water, pack in-pack out • Remote but popular activities include fishing, swimming, & kayaking Hammerhorn CG • Located 30 miles from Covelo near the Yolla Bolly Wilderness • 9 campsites, 2 SST vault toilets, water, pack in-pack out Plaskett CG • Located 2 hours west of Willows - 6,000 ft elevation Hammerhorn Lake • At Plaskett Lakes – fishing trail, accessible fishing pier • 35 campsites, 4 vault toilets, water, garbage pick up Masterson Group CG • Located 2 hours west of Willows – 6,000 ft elevation • Across the road from Plaskett CG & Plaskett Lakes • Group CG accommodates 75 people, 2 vault toilets, water, garbage pick up Letts Lake Complex • Located west of Stoneyford • Letts Lake is a very popular and well stocked fishing lake • ½ mile fishing trail, accessible fishing trail & fishing platform • OHV trail system nearby Main Letts, Saddle Camp, Stirrup, & Spillway CGs • 46 campsites, on-site camp host, vault toilets, water, garbage pick up Mill Valley CG • Located 1 mile from the Letts Lake Complex •10 campsites, vault toilets, water, garbage pick up Gray Pine Group CG • Located in the Fouts Springs OHV Area 9 miles west of Stoneyford • Accommodates 75 people, vault toilet, water, garbage pick up Middle Creek CG • Located 8 miles north of Upper Lake • Highly developed, popular campground • 22 sites, 3 SST vault toilets, water, garbage pick up • OHV staging area adjacent to campground Campground Current Proposed % O & M Deferred Last Site Fee per Fee per Increase Maintenance Increase night night Middle Creek • Single/double $6/$10 $8/$12 33%/20% $52,496 $1,400 5/2002 • Extra vehicle No fee $2/vehicle Main Letts $10 $12 20% $13,513 $15,000 2/2004 Saddle Camp $10 $12 20% $10,421 $9,970 2/2004 Spillway $10 $12 20% $6,019 $9,959 2/2004 Stirrup $10 $12 20% $5,528 $8,417 2/2004 Mill Valley $8 $10 25% $3,992 $17,274 1/1998 Plaskett $8 $10 25% $14,912 $99,935 2/2004 Eel River $6 $8 33% $5,107 $17,249 1/1998 Hammerhorn $6 $8 33% $2,757 $15,845 1/1998 Campground Current Proposed % O & M Deferred Last Site Fee per Fee per Increase Maintenance Increase night night Sycamore Grove* • Single $12 $16 33% $35,676 $16,785 2/2004 • Partial hook-up $25 • Double $30 • Showers $.25/2 min No change Camp Discovery $150 $175 17% $20,345 $12,210 2/2004 Group* $75 day $100 day use 33% use Gray Pine Group $50 $75 50% $3,111 $0 2/2004 Masterson Group $50 $75 50% $5,334 $17,792 2/2004 * Free boat launch included in camping fee What are recreation fees being used for? • Campground operation & maintenance and visitor services – maintaining cleanliness, pumping toilets, garbage collections, and maintaining water systems • Restored electricity to the RV dump site and toilet • Completed hazard tree removal at Letts Lake, Plaskett Lake & Masterson Group campgrounds and fuels reduction around Letts Lake campground • Completed electrical hookup for new light pole at Fouts Spring RV Dump Site Sycamore Grove Red Bluff Recreation Area Why do we need to change the current fees? • To meet rising operation and maintenance costs • Add two pull-through campsites at Eel River CG • Replacement of the shower collection units at Camp Discovery • Replacing parking barriers at several campgrounds • Accessible upgrades to water system & toilet facilities • Replacing wooden picnic tables with concrete tables US Forest Service - Region 5 Recreation Fee Proposals – Fee Increases Summary of Public Involvement Mendocino National Forest: Fee Increase Proposals Includes public involvement efforts & comments as of December 15, 2007 Summary of Fee Proposals: Site/Service Current Price Proposed Price Pine Mountain Lookout $50/night $50/night – change in fee structure from G-T to REA Middle Creek CG single site/double $6/night/$10 night $8/night/$12/night site Middle Creek Extra Vehicle No fee $2/vehicle Main Letts CG $10/night $12/night Saddle Camp CG $10/night $12/night Spillway CG $10/night $12/night Stirrup CG $10/night $12/night Mill Valley CG $8/night $10/night Plaskett CG $8/night $10/night Eel River CG $6/night $8/night Hammerhorn CG $6/night $8/night Sycamore Grove CG $12/night, showers $16/night, $.25/2 minutes $25/night for partial hook-up sites/night, $30/night double site, showers no change Camp Discovery Group CG $75/day use or $100/day use or $150/night $175/night Gray Pine Group CG $50/night $75/night Masterson Group CG $50/night $75/night - 1 - Public Participation Activities: Public Participation Tasks Date(s) Posted notice at recreation sites inviting June – September 2007 comments on proposed fee changes. Published press releases announcing proposed fee May 1, 2007 changes in local newspapers (Clear Lake Observer, Ukiah Daily Journal, Lake County Record Bee, Middletown Times Star, Press Democrat, San Francisco Chronicle & Willits News and on local radio stations (KWNE, KNTI, KXBX, KWTR, KFTY, & KUKI). Posted information on proposed fee changes on May 2007 forest’s web sites. Briefed local Congressional Staff on proposed May 2007 fee changes. Public Participation Results: Method of Communication Summary of Comments- as of 12/15/07 Received one comment not in support of a fee increase at Posted On-site Notices the Eel River Campground. Press Releases & News Story None received None received Forest Web Site Posting Many visitors to recreation rental cabins and lookouts General Customer Feedback comment on their enjoyment of the experience and many are return guests. None received Elected Officials Briefing - 2 - .