National Recreation Fee Program
What is the recreation fee program?
More and more people recreate on national forests and grasslands every
year. Meeting the increasing needs of these visitors, delivering quality
recreation, heritage and wilderness opportunities, and protecting natural
resources has become very difficult.
To help address this issue, President Bush signed the 2005 Consolidated
Appropriations Act (PL 108-447), which includes the 10-year Federal
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) on December 8, 2004. The Act
permits federal land management agencies to continue charging modest
fees at campgrounds, rental cabins, high-impact recreation areas and
at day-use sites that have certain facilities.
The previous Recreation Fee Demonstration program was enacted by Congress
in 1996. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department
of the Interior have testified before Congress in strong support of
a long-term, multi-agency recreation fee program. Recreation fees provide
crucial resources that allow the federal agencies to respond to increased
demand on federal lands. The goal is to provide visitors with a quality
recreation experience through enhanced facilities and services
National
Recreation Fee web site
The Salmon-Challis National Forest is currently using the Recreation
Fee program for Heritage Expeditions, permits on the Middle Fork and
Main Salmon Rivers, and sales of Golden Passports. To learn more about
these three programs on the Forest click on the links below.
Middle Fork and Main Salmon River Recreation Fee Program
The Salmon-Challis National Forest collects fees for recreation use
on the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon Rivers in the Frank Church-River
of No Return Wilderness. Fees from lottery applications and permits
are used to improve the services provided for users of the Middle Fork
and the Main Salmon Rivers. The non-refundable lottery application fee
is $6/application; if granted a permit, the Forest charges a per-person,
per-day user fee. Season Passes entitle the pass holder to float the
Middle Fork and/or Main Salmon Rivers without further payment for one
year from the date of purchase.
Information on the river permit system is available on the Four
Rivers Lottery web page, or by contacting the North Fork or Middle
Fork Ranger Districts, 208 865-2700 or 208 879-4101.
The Golden Passport Program is a federal interagency recreation pass
program. Under the Recreaton Fee program, the Salmon-Challis National
Forest can keep 80% of the money collected from the sale of Golden Eagle,
Golden Age, and Golden Access passports.
Your
Fees at Work
Investing
in a Healthy Environment and Quality Recreation Services
on the Salmon-Challis
National Forest
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