Executive Summary for the Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Council

Site: Recreation Site Site Type: Expanded/Standard Amenity Proposed Action: Fee Increase/New Fee Recommended Fees: See attached fee schedule comparison.

Site Description

Alsea Falls Recreation Site is an approximately 26-acre developed camping and day-use recreation site adjacent to extensive non-motorized trails located in Benton County roughly 27 miles southwest of Corvallis near Alsea, . Alsea Falls, off the South Fork National Back Country Byway is an alternate route from the Willamette Valley to the Coast Range. The Alsea Falls Recreation Site is located on the banks of the . The site has a separate picnic area and campground connected by trails. Standard amenities include 22 picnic units, barbecue grills and fire pits, access to water, extensive non-motorized trails, interpretation kiosks, designated parking areas, vault toilet facilities and periodic patrols by park staff. Expanded amenity fees are charged for the 16 non-reservable campsites, which contain picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire pits, with access to water, extensive non-motorized trails, interpretation kiosks, designated parking, vault toilet facilities, and onsite host. Alsea Falls Recreation Site is open to vehicles annually from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. During the winter season, the site is open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Fee Assessment The expanded amenity fees have not been updated since 1999. A comparative analysis conducted in 2008 reviewed expanded and standard amenity fees at similar state, federal, and local park facilities. Expanded amenity fees are being increased and a standard amenity vehicle fee will be initiated based on this comparative market analysis.

Increasing fees is necessary to continue to maintain and enhance the site’s high quality recreational opportunities. If fees are not increased, Alsea Falls Recreation Site would continue to be operated and managed below actual cost. Increased deferred maintenance costs, loss of ability to recruit volunteer staff, and declining opportunities for recreational access would result.

Public Involvement Public involvement regarding fees has been conducted over the last 8 months including: on site postings within the recreation site, public notices placed in local newspapers, and posting on the Salem District website. Minimal public comments have been received as part of this outreach process since fees are in line with current market value, amenities provided, and cost of maintaining and operating the facility.

A meeting with Benton County’s commissioner occurred December 9, 2008 with no comments. Public notice of the fee changes was posted onsite during the first two weeks of July 2008; one comment stated fees were fine as long as they were use at the site collected, another comment was that was too bad, no other comments were received from this posting. A news article in the Corvallis Gazette-Times mentioned fee increases at Alsea Falls and the sites on the Quartzville (http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_a2a8d933-9744-5ab5-83f7- bbf42f0b4e55.html). Another public notice posting of the new fee was posted July 14, 2009, which will remain until implemented. Comments were minimal, “where are you going to get the other $2” and “you should increase the camping fee to an even $20 and not implement a day-use fee because it is an administrative hassle. On July 21, 2009, a letter was mailed to congressional representative Kurt Schrader and the Benton County commissioner notifying them of proposed fee changes for 2010, no comments were received from this mailing. Press releases were sent to local papers in July 2009 for posting, but none has been published as of August 31, 2009. The public notice and news release contain contact information for public comments on the proposed fee changes. Website information was updated on February 3 informing the public fee increases were proposed for 2010. Fee signs and paper materials would reflect proposed fee change. The BLM would monitor visitation to detect changes in site utilization, document written and oral communication from the public on this issue, and assess all feedback. Business plan review would occur on a biennial schedule from the date of the last signature. Future adjustments to Alsea Falls fee schedule will reflect public comment and program implementation needs.

Fee Schedule Comparison

The fee schedule comparison outlines the existing and proposed changes for expanded and standard amenity recreation fees at Alsea Falls Recreation Site.

Existing Fees Proposed Fees Expanded Amenity Recreation Fee: Group Campsite $10.00 $20.00 Individual Campsite $10.00 $12.00 Standard Amenity Recreation Fee: Daily Vehicle Pass N/A $3.00 Annual Vehicle Pass N/A $15.00

Executive Summary for the Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Council

Site: South Cascades Recreation Sites Site Type: Expanded/Standard Amenity Proposed Action: Fee Increase and Recommended Fees: See attached fee schedule comparison

Site Descriptions

Fishermen’s Bend Recreation Site is a 178-acre developed camping and day-use recreation facility located in Marion County about 30 miles east of Salem, Oregon. Fishermen’s Bend is open to day-use year-round and for camping and group facility use May 1 through October 31. Vehicle access is limited to the road leading to the boat ramp during the winter season of November 1 through April 30, while the remainder of the site is open to pedestrians and bicyclists. The site encompasses undeveloped and developed areas including group picnic shelters, individual picnic sites, cabins, individual and group campsites. There is no charge for standard amenity day-use. Amenities available include electricity, water, sewer campsite hookups, RV dump station, individual fire rings and grills, toilets, garbage and recycling service, ball fields, open play areas, two playgrounds, horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts, a boat ramp, an assortment of trails, accessible facilities, an amphitheater, showers, and nature center.

Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site is a 78-acre developed camping and day-use recreation facility located in Marion County roughly 32 miles east of Salem, Oregon. Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site is within the Little North Fork Santiam Recreation Area. Several agencies, including Marion County, US Forest Service, private timber companies, non-profit organizations, and the BLM work cooperatively to manage recreation within the area. Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site is open to day-use and camping from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. During the winter season, vehicular traffic is restricted while the site is open to pedestrians and bicyclists for day-use. The site encompasses undeveloped and developed areas including individual campsites, picnic sites, swimming and wading areas. Amenities available include water, individual fire rings and grills, toilets, garbage service, trails, and a camp host. As of 2009, there is no charge for standard amenity day-use. Visitors pay expanded amenity fees for use of 20 first come-first served individual campsites.

Canyon Creek Recreation Site is an approximately 5-acre developed day-use site located in Marion County roughly 31 miles east of Salem, Oregon. Canyon Creek Recreation Site is also within the Little North Fork Santiam Recreation Area. Canyon Creek Recreation Site is open to day-use annually from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. During the winter season, vehicular traffic is restricted while the site is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and hikers for day- use. The site encompasses undeveloped and developed areas including picnic sites, walking and hiking trails, swimming and wading areas. Standard amenity fees are not charged for day-use as of 2009.

Quartzville Creek Recreation Area is the BLM-managed segment of the Quartzville Recreation Corridor located in the southeastern portion of Linn County. Several agencies, including Linn County, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Forest Service, private companies, and the BLM, cooperatively manage the corridor and associated Quartzville Back Country Byway (a.k.a. Quartzville Road). The byway starts one mile east of Sweet Home and ends 19 miles east of Detroit. The Quartzville Creek Recreation Area offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including recreational mining, whitewater boating, fishing, developed and undeveloped camping, and day-use activities such as swimming and picnicking. Recreational mining is one of the most popular activities, allowing visitors a chance to experience a part of the Quartzville mining history first hand. The BLM manages two developed campgrounds and one developed day-use site in the river corridor. Undeveloped camping and day-use makes up the majority of the visitor use. The majority of undeveloped visitor use occurs between the Quartzville byway and the river and is offered free of charge.

In 1988, Congress added the lower 9.6 miles of Quartzville Creek to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System through passage of the Omnibus Oregon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. In designating the lower portion of Quartzville Creek a National Wild and Scenic River, Congress directed the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to manage for the protection and enhancement of Quartzville Creek’s outstandingly remarkable values and other river-related resource values, and to accommodate public uses consistent with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Yellowbottom Recreation Site is an approximately 13-acre developed recreation site at mile 24 of the Quartzville byway northeast of Sweet Home, adjacent to Quartzville Creek, and west of the Middle Santiam Wilderness Area. The site offers a camp host, 22 non-reservable family campsites, a day-use area with 5 picnic sites, river access, hiking trails, vault toilets, garbage service, and a solar water system that provides potable water. Campers pay an expanded amenity fee. The site is open for vehicle traffic from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm during the main camping season of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Heavy use occurs during the weekends from late June through Labor Day. During the winter season, the site is open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and hikers via access around locked gates.

Old Miner’s Meadow Recreation Site is an approximately 2-acre fenced group campsite located at mile 26 of the Quartzville byway northeast of Sweet Home in an open meadow adjacent to Quartzville Creek. Site amenities include one large group campsite, picnic tables, individual fire pits, a group fire ring and grill, garbage service, vault toilets, and horseshoe pits. The toilets for the site are available to campers on private land just outside the site fence boundary. Old Miner’s Meadow is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day by reservation only. Reservations are made through the National Recreation Reservation System (NRRS), via the online portal: www.recreation.gov, calling NRRS (1-877-444-6777), or calling Fishermen’s Bend Recreation Site (1-503-897-2406). Numerous other outdoor recreation opportunities exist within a 30-mile radius. During the winter season, the site receives occasional use from walk-in day-users via access around locked gate.

The South Cascades recreation staff, which includes one full-time park manager, a term maintenance worker, a mix of seasonal recreation technicians and volunteers, manage the recreation site as one of the sites within the South Cascades Recreation Zone or fee project OR25. The fee project area consists of Fishermen’s Bend, Elkhorn Valley, and Yellowbottom

2 campgrounds, Old Miner’s Meadow group campsite, and Dogwood and Canyon Creek day-use sites.

Fee Assessment

The expanded amenity fees have not been updated since 1999 at all sites except Old Miner’s Meadow which raised fees in 2002. A comparative analysis was conducted in 2008 that reviewed fees at similar state, regional and local park facilities. Expanded amenity and new standard amenity fees are being proposed based on this comparative market analysis.

Increasing fees is necessary to continue to maintain and enhance the site’s high quality recreational opportunities. If fees were not increased, these sites would continue to be operated and managed below actual cost. Increased deferred maintenance costs, loss of ability to recruit volunteer staff, and declining opportunities for recreational access would result.

Public Involvement

Public involvement regarding fees has been conducted over the last 8 months including: on site postings within the recreation site, focus group meetings with stakeholders, and public notices placed in local newspapers. Minimal public comments have been received as part of this outreach process since fees are in line with current market value, amenities provided, and cost of maintaining and operating the facility.

Public notice of the fee changes was posted onsite during the first two weeks of July 2008. Another public notice posting of the proposed fees were posted onsite July 17, 2009, which will remain until implemented. No comments were received from either posting. A news article in the Corvallis Gazette-Times mentioned fee increases at Alsea Falls and the sites on the Quartzville (http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_a2a8d933-9744-5ab5-83f7- bbf42f0b4e55.html). No comments were received specifically for any recreation site, however, one comment said not to implement a day-use fee because it was an administrative hassle. On July 21, 2009, a letter was mailed congressional representatives Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader and the Benton, Linn and Marion County commissioners notifying them of proposed fee changes for 2010, no comments were received from this mailing. Press releases were sent to local papers in July 2009 for posting, but none have been published as of August 31, 2009. The public notice and news release contain contact information for public comments on the proposed fee changes. Information on proposed fees was posted in the Salem District internet February 3, 2009 and subsequently updated in July 2009 to inform the public about proposed fee changes for 2010. Fee signs and paper materials would reflect proposed fee change. The BLM would monitor visitation to detect changes in site utilization, document written and oral communication from the public on this issue, and assess all feedback. Business plan review would occur on a biennial schedule from the date of the last signature. Future adjustments to fee schedules will reflect public comment and program implementation needs.

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Fee Schedule Comparison

The fee schedule comparison outlines the existing and proposed increases for expanded and standard amenity recreation fees at all South Cascades recreation sites.

Fishermen’s Bend Recreation Site Expanded Amenity Existing Fees Proposed Fees Camping Fees: Standard Electric (Back-in) Site $12.00 $16.00 Full Hookup (Pull-through) Site $18.00 $22.00 Reservable Sites $22.00 $28.00 Rustic Cabins $40.00 No Increase Group Camping Shelter (weekday) $65.00 $85.00 Group Camping Shelter (weekend/holiday) $85.00 $105.00 Facility Use Fees: Group Picnic Shelter (weekday) $60.00 $110.00 Group Picnic Shelter (weekend/holiday) $110.00 No Increase

Elkhorn Valley Recreation Site Expanded Amenity Existing Fees Proposed Fees Camping Fees: Individual Site $10.00 $14.00

Standard Amenity Existing Fees Proposed Fees Day-Use Fees: Annual Vehicle Pass N/A $25.00 Daily Vehicle Pass N/A $5.00

Canyon Creek Recreation Site Standard Amenity Existing Fees Proposed Fees Day-Use Fees: Annual Vehicle Pass N/A $25.00 Daily Vehicle Pass N/A $5.00

Yellowbottom Recreation Site Expanded Amenity

4 Existing Fees Proposed Fees Camping Fees: Individual Site $8.00 $12.00

Old Miner’s Meadow Expanded Amenity Existing Fees Proposed Fees Camping Fees: Group Site (Sun-Thu) $30.00 $40.00 Group Site (Fri-Sat) $40.00 $50.00

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