Southwestern Region

Southwestern Region
333 Broadway SE [map]
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-3292
TTY: (505) 842-3198

NEWS RELEASES: 2005

NEW MEXICO NATIONAL FORESTS STOP FEES AT 9 RECREATION SITES

Albuquerque, New Mex—(June 10) Two National forests in New Mexico announced that fee collection at nine recreation sites will be stopped today. Halting fees at these sites results from an analysis required under provisions of the Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (REA). REA authorizes federal land management agencies to charge modest fees at campgrounds, rental cabins and other high-impact recreation areas on federal lands.

“The five national forests in New Mexico have reviewed all current recreation fee sites and facilities and compared them to the requirements outlined in REA,” said Regional Forester Harv Forsgren. “Based upon their analysis, the national forests in New Mexico have removed 9 sites from the recreation fee program.” The sites removed from the fee program are:

• Agua Sarca Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Canyon Estates Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Del Agua Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Piedra Lisa-North Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Sandia Cave (Cibola NF)
• Strip Mine Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Tunnel Springs Trailhead (Cibola NF)
• Iron Gate Trailhead (Santa Fe NF)
• Black Canyon Trailhead (Santa Fe NF)

These sites do not meet all the amenity requirements of REA nor will they likely do so in the near future. Amenity requirements for day-use sites include: designated developed parking, permanent toilet facility and trash receptacle, interpretive sign, exhibit or kiosk, picnic tables, and security services.

“These sites may be returned to the fee program at some time in the future if public use results in a need to further develop them and add improvements,” said Forsgren. “This would be done only after we do public involvement as outlined in REA,” he added.

REA also authorizes charging fees at sites within High Impact Recreation Areas (HIRAs) if the areas are clearly defined and meet certain requirements. Until today, fees had been charged for the entire Sandia Mountains area. Cibola NF managers have redefined these areas to meet REA requirements. The only HIRA in New Mexico is the Sandia Crest National Scenic Byway corridor and national forest lands within the Juan Tabo Basin.

There are four fee campgrounds which have been closed due to construction and rehabilitation projects that will re-opened in the near future. They include: Capilla Peak and Quaking Aspen Campgrounds on the Cibola NF, and Black Canyon and Paliza Campgrounds on the Santa Fe NF.

Southwestern Regional Director of Recreation Judy Levin said, “We are implementing the REA changes on a consistent basis across the country. I’m confident people who use fee sites will continue to accept and pay modest fees as long as they see that the money is well-spent at their favorite sites.”

For more information about the Recreation Fee program and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/recfee/index.shtml in 2005 for implementing provisions of the Act throughout the 2005 recreation season.

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