BLM proposes hike in some recreation fees

Bureau of Land Management officials are looking for public input on one of Lake Havasu's best family activities.

Tom Smith, field manager for the BLM's Lake Havasu Field Office, said the agency is proposing a hike in the annual fee for use of recreation facilities along Lake Havasu. In addition, day-use fees and camping fees could see a slight increase at facilities along the Parker Strip.

“If the people appreciate the experience, I don't think the increases are too much to ask,” Smith said.

The local BLM office is proposing the annual recreation pass go from $50 per year to $100. Day-use fees will remain the same, $10 per day and $10 per night, at the 87 campsites on 27 miles of Lake Havasu shoreline from just south of Contact Point to the Bill Williams Refuge area.

On the Parker Strip, the day use fee is proposed to go from $3 to $4 per day to $5. Overnight camping or RV parking at sites without electric hook-ups is proposed to go from $4 to $10 up to $5 to $15. And overnight camping and RV parking at sites with electric will run $25 to $30 per day.

Areas currently available to the public without fee are proposed to remain free-of-charge, including the Take Off Point launch ramp and fishing pier on Lake Havasu and the Rockhouse boat launch and public contact center on the Parker Strip.

A 2005 study of fees versus costs found the local BLM office operating at a more than $200,000 deficit.

The BLM collected $302,400 in annual and day use fees for both Lake Havasu and Parker Strip facilities in 2005. Operating costs during the same period were $516,100. The largest cost along Lake Havasu was restroom and trash service at $55,000.

“We've made a significant number of upgrades at many of the sites over the past few years, including 44 new restrooms at the campsites,” said Public Affairs Coordinator Diane Williams. “But it's not just development of the sites, it's also maintenance and enforcement costs. Our shoreline campsites only are accessible by boat, making trash pickups and restroom pumping even more challenging.”

Along the Parker Strip, the largest expense was $86,600 for repair and replacement of amenities at Empire Landing on the California side of the Colorado River.

The popular RV destination was opened in 1971 and has been closed for a major remodeling since fiscal year 2001-02. BLM is expanding the parking spaces for larger recreational vehicles, placing a new shower/restroom on site along with electric and a dump station. Also a water treatment facility has been installed at the site.

“Our fees have been in place since 2002 but the use is going up each year. We've got a lot more people enjoying those sites but that means the costs are going up too,” said Smith. “We know that even if we increase the annual fee it won't make up the total deficit but we don't want to put the fees out of reach for people.”

To help support the public recreation areas, BLM charges a special recreation permit fee for events such as the Parker 400 off-road race, filming of movies and even poker runs. Plus outfitters and tour guides pay a commercial fee.

“We want the public's input,” said Williams. “We want to know if they think the fees are too big, too small, what amenities they want to see out there and how we're doing.”

Fee proposal comment cards are available at the BLM office at 2610 Sweetwater Ave. or comments can e-mailed to lakehavasu@blm.gov.

“Something everyone should be aware of is that all of the money - whether it's $50 or $100 - goes right back on site. Every dollar is used to maintain and develop the sites that people are using,” said Smith.

The proposal, if approved by the Department of the Interior, would go into effect Oct. 1 of this year.

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