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BLM proposes hike in some recreation fees

BY DAVID BELL
Sunday, January 7, 2007 7:12 PM MST

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.

You may contact the reporter at

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Reader Comments

OBSERVER wrote on Jan 18, 2007 2:18 PM:

" I NOTICED THAT THE BLM FEE TUBES HAVE NOT BEEN COLLECTED DUE TO THE ENVOLOPE I PUT IN ONE THAT STILL IS STANDUNG UP BEHIND THE METAL LIP INSIDE THE TUBE AND HAS TURNED WHITE DUE TO SUN AND WELL AGED SINCE OCTOBER? This must be a Tube not used vary much for the Envolopes to not be PICKED OUT. (WILL MY CHECKS CASHED? AND BY WHO?) "

FDR wrote on Jan 13, 2007 9:48 AM:

" TOUCHDOWN! "

Roosevelt wrote on Jan 12, 2007 1:47 PM:

" (THE EYE OF PROVIDENCE) "we want the publics input" said Williams, Who ever Williams is? Well hears some input- A high profile Federal Bureau like the BLM. must be Like being in a fish bowl in this little Town where every body knows every body and could easly observe BLM actions closely such as, lack of care of BLM property over long periods of time-years! like the Visitor sign at the BLM office with one of my most repected public servents-smoky the bear, That has been damadged for years and neglected for just as long? And how about Craggys Wash? since thier mostly is no BLM represenitive where the sign says Camp Host, the Wash becomes a place for criminal activiy such as a hide ouy for wanted FELONS like the elegal alens cought thier by the only BLM> law inforcement Ranger in Town and, What about the poor old Man and his Dog Murdered there, All becouse of lack of care; Surly when Tax Payers are paying so much money for Managers to care for our Lands you would think that out of respect people Inrusted would? but these are BLM employees? At our office hear that have been Retiering and will Retire soon! and being payed to care for our Lands in Tax payer money of $84.000.00 a year for a gs-13 with 18 years in or a gs-15 making $97.000.00 a year after 15 years and what does a Manager make?=$$$$$$$++ etc.; Thier must be a Dozen of these folks and, Simple Maintanace and caring for Public Safety cannot be done? Well you know the old saying "You know what happens when you put Fish and guests together for too long? it starts to Stink!" And let me tell you as far as I am up this hill overlooking the great city of Lake Havasu and the BLM yards I can smell it and, easly see the BLM in Sneekers and no Uniforms, Unmaked vehicles possibly trying to care about somthing only when someone takes thier hands to have then do it which, are called "hand helds" a mental disorder which is common whith poeple that have had the same job too long and, you can smell the corruption from the Spoils of it. It's time we confront this and say NO to paying for BLM spoils and remove the Smell! "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" -FDR- "

LT. NATHAN HALE wrote on Jan 11, 2007 1:02 PM:

" "A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFULL PEOPLE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS" -MAGRET MEAD- What about those Rangers who Ive seen taking the fee mony from visitors buy themselves and having sole access to large amounts of cash when they do finnaly withdraw it from the cash deposited fee tubes, is anything preventing them to just helping them selve to it in some cove? or How about the BLM. personnel that have collected the mony alone for years? And what about the two employees that was caught finnaly comming to work every day to say hi in the office then would leave to another job and be payed for that plus by the BLM for the maint. work that they were suspose to do? how much of the american tax dollars does it take to pay managers and personnel leads for this kind of pretending to be Federal BLM employees in a positiond of Public trust? Well, as evident by all these accounts on this commentary I am beleving I dont think a good is intrusted hear. if this is any indication of how Mgrs. handle public funds could you wonder about the million or so from other suspect con. jobs, permit fees, concetion fees and permit payments? spoiled Children exspect thier parent to pay for thier mistakes as does the BLM might hear with a $200.000.00 "deficit" and riding around on a $200.000.00 pleasure yaht fluanting the matter and now being cought out of gas and exspecting the public to swim them to shore, after they put the rope around us! that yaht should be pushed out into the parking lot by every one who let it happen and put a sign on it-$200.000.00 DEFICITE FOR SALE-OBO. A Great Federal Civil Servent one said "THE WORLD IS A DANGEROUS PLACE, NOT BECOUSE OF THOSE WHO DO EVIL, BUT BECOUSE OF THOSE WHO LOOK ON AND DO NOTHING" -Elbert Einstein- "

John Handcock wrote on Jan 10, 2007 3:28 PM:

" If we sell we sell the Conquest which cost about $200.000.00 we would eliminate the so called "Deficit"; of $200.000.00? Use a small house boat like the State Rangers do for the BLM Park Rangers Lake Shore Patrol for both fee collection and maintanance as well as emergencys and a Visitor Contact Station-Moble and Stationary at a cost of $15.58 an hour GS-0025-07 per Ranger and ELIMINATE the high payed trash collectors at WG/$18.78HR. WE WOULD SAVE ALOT OF TAX DOLLARS, Since thier are only two Park Rangers and six or more Maint. personel; Arrange for all fees to be payed through the Internet with paypal and credit card or debet and have a highly secured system in place for when cash is recived so the Ranger will not be able to touch the cash and be a emidiate suspect as to loss of fees becouse of, the cash and change Machine (like BLM. El Centro,CA>)eash boat will have attatched to it by a locking device that only designated collection officers back at the office can open. Sell boat sticker passes to that a Ranger will not have to bother the visitors when payed fees are in question; Sell off all the unused boats and build two better luanching ramps in the two coves on the east and west sides by the boat yard so that, it is safer to come in and out with a boat in high winds due to the protection of the coves and, It could be made availbe to the Public also. Improve on signage with a No. to call the Park Rangers on the lake as to there whearaboughts to buy a pass, info. etc., This would also, reduce the cost of policing the fee tubes from thieft and stop leting cash fall into the hands of criminals which is, Criminal. I have to agree with most of what people has said on this comment, before any ferther investment by the tax payer, The employees in a position of trust must first prove thier Trust and certianly all the neglected kiosts and questionable construction and building for as long it has been taking, Lack of visibility of Uniform alowence, Safety, BLM. Signs that are faded and damaged, kioks that have never had anything in it or painted since 2002, A historic Mining Town that has had a washed out road to the other broken and neglected kiosk for years, And why hasent the BLM ask for a Solution to it's "Deficit" other then to pay for the mistake they made, And how could it be called a "Deficit" when the mony was thier to spend? Could it be that this is a suspect formality before the imposed "DEFICIT" to avoide be accoused of Taxation without representation? And who is Tom Smith the Manager, last I checked the directory listed Tim Smith was in charge? Could the last name of Tom Foollery been mistaken for Smith? or could the first name of Smith been mistaken for TOM FOOLLERY?? As I have said before "thier is no more reason for this meeting" -The Boston Tea Party- "

SAMUAL ADAMS wrote on Jan 9, 2007 4:03 PM:

" (proposes or imposes) "How are we doing?" -by Williams,BLM.- Im on the lake every day and have observed the BLM employees at work and have seen the maintanace personnel with fishing poles? and taking 45minn. lunches on the lake and 45 minn. meetings in the fisherys yard; the picknic tables have never been painted for years and when i did notice them being painted it was by the park rangers during the worst weather at the end of the season and less then hafe of the tables were painted; most of the trash cans are rusted, the signs have more or less rules then others, the mape is missing some sites, the fire dept. has more boats then then can or have used and i saw a BLM fire boat on the lake with twoo emploees and not even a bucket to fight a fire with?; i saw six maint men in two boats on the lake and by the time they get out to maintance the and back agen they might have gotten two hours worth the maintanance, most of the crew were wering-SNEEKERS! and no vest?; i heard that the neww asfalt that was put on the dirt road came from the lake fee funds, about a 1/2 mile from the sites? and how about that neww plesure boat the conquest-with no emergence or rescue equipment, probly not even a paddle becouse i saw an employee swiming in the water with a rope tied on him pulling the boat to shore? earlyer when i taked to the crew of the boat and ask about the coating i have never sean anything like it and they replied that it is a protection coating to proted the boat from rocks when landing and when i ask what it was made of they said "foam" when i took a closer look the foam was coming off and contaminating the water for fish to eat and glog thier systems and die; clearly this operation might be run by famly members who are inexperianced in life, and for this kind of service with fed. employee in positions of swarn public trust in not a proposel of fee increse its a carry charge! "

PAUL REVERE wrote on Jan 8, 2007 3:11 PM:

" (GOVERMENT FOR GOVERMENT) SINCE WHEN WAS IT THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO PAY FOR GOVERMENT FACILITYS THAT HAVE ALLREADY BEEN PAYED FOR BY AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, PERHAPS SINCE WE DID HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT BUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON IT WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO TO U.S. PEOPLE BY THE GOVERMENT MABE, BECOUSE GOVERMENT MANAGERS SUSPECTED THAT PEOPLE MIGHT KNOW THAT WE ALLREADY PAYED AND WOULD NOT PAY AGEN AND ASK THE QUESTION? WHY DO GOVERMENT SERVICE MANAGERS WANT US TO PAY MORE? AND WHY IS IT THAT CONGRESS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE CITIZENS WHO THEY ARE TO SERVE TOOK IT OPON THEMSELVES TO EMPLIMENT THE FEES OPON THE POEPLE. I WAS IN TUCSON AND YOU COULD GET YOUR FEE ENTERANCE MONY BACK IF YOU PROTESTED THE FEE? WHY IS THE BLM. ASKING OUR PERMISSION TO ADD ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS THAT THEY CANNOT CLEARLY HANDLE A LARGER CASH INCOME DUE TO A DEFICITE OF POSSIBLE WASTED TIME AND EFFERT BECOUSE OF SUSPECT MISMANAGEMENT, APATHETIC NEGLECTED FACILITYS AND MAINTANACE; HAVE YOU SEEN THE BIG NICE CONQEST BOAT THE BLM. HAS TO RIDE AROUND IN, WHAT A WAIST OF GAS, IT'S A PLESURE BOAT WITH BLM. ALL OVER IT AND, THIS GUY WHO KEEPS HIS HAT ON CROOKED WEARING TEENYSHOES AND A INFLATIBLE VEST SMOKING A CIGERRETE DRIVING THE THING? NOW WHY DOES THIS GOVERMENT NEED MORE POSSIBLE WAIST AND SAFETY NEGLINGENCE FOR? IM SUPPRISED IT WASENT A CIGAR! "

FBI FREE AGENT INVESTIGATOR wrote on Jan 8, 2007 10:29 AM:

" I AGREE WITH GEWANS AFTER OBSERVING THE TWO PARK RANGER THEY HAD FOR LAST SUMMER WERE ONE WAS RIDING AROUND ON A JET JKI DOING 50 MILES PER HOUR FROM ONE SITE TO THE NEXT COLLECTING FEE'S, IVE NEVER SEEN A PARK RANGER COLLECTING FEES THIS MUCH OR RAIRELY AND, NO ONE COULD GET AWAY WITH NOT PAYING AS USUAL! THEN, YOU HAD THIS OTHER GUY STANDING AROUND AT A SITE, SMOKING A CIGERETE, ONE AFTER ANOTHER FOR HOURS TALKING TO HIS BUDDYS AND LETING ALL THE POLICE GET AWAY WITH RULE VIOLATIONS AND POSSIBLY PAYMENT, EVERY BODY WAS WATCHING WHEN THE COPS WOULD FLASH THIER BAGES AND EXSPECT TO GET OFF; NO WONDER MOST OF THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT PAY AND WHAT SENCE IS IT TO CONTRIBUTE TO A FEE TUBE SYSTEM THAT CONTRIBUTES TO CRIMINAL STEELING AND OTHER ACTIVITYS, PROSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF TAX PAYER CASH AND CHECKS WHEN THE RANGERS LEAVE THE MONY IN THE TUBES WHEN, EVERYBODY IS GONE-THIS MUST BE A GOLDMINE FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HEAR BECOUSE WHEN I LOOKED IN THE SLOT WHERE THE ENVOLOPES GO YOU COULD SEE THE MONY LAYING ON THE LIP AND BACKED-UP BEHIND IT SO EASY TO PICK OUT OF THIER WITH A FISHERMANS FISH HOOK CLIPS THAT I WAS SHOCKED, HOW COULD THE GOV. BE SO NEGLEIGENT AND BLIND TO CONSTRUCK A CASH PAYMENT SYSTEM IN REMOTE AREAS FOR THEVES TO ROB FOR THIER CRACK,ETC. UNLESS THE STEELING IS BEING DONE BY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT THIS AND, FOR HOW MANY YEARS HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON-5 OR MORE YEARS, SURLY THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT FEDERAL TAX DOLLORS FALLING INTO THE HANDS OF THIEVING CIMINALS AND THE MAYOR SHOULD DO SOMTHING AND THE STOP THIS PAYMENT SYSTEM, I DONT WANT TO PUT MY MONY IN THE THINGS SEEING AND KNOWING THIS AND, INCURAGE THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY TO PUT A STOP TO CRIMINAL GROSS NEGLIGENCE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT AND CONTACT THE INSPECTOR GENERALS OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND ALL AGENCYS THAT CAN STOP THIS; NO WONDER THE BLM IS IN A DEFICITE OF OVER $200.00.00 BECOUSE THE CRACK HEADS ETC. HAVE IT ALL AND A CHECK WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT NO. ON IT! PAYING THE $100 FOR THE PASS IS A RESULT OF HAVING TO FIX THE BIG MISTAKE THE BLM MADE WITH THE FEE TUBES AND THE MONY NEEDED TO FIX IT SHOULD COME FROM THOSE WHO EMPLEMENTED THE IDEA AND, IF THIS WAS POSSIBLE, IM SURE WE THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, AND BY THE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE MORE RESPOSSIBLE GOVERMENT. "

gewans wrote on Jan 8, 2007 9:09 AM:

" A few less Park Rangers standing around doing nothing would save you a lot of money. Anyone ever seen a job description for these guys? I can't figure out what their supposed to be doing. "

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