[Schroder]

I just read this on Goskagit.com & several other news outlets are carrying the story but I can find nothing on the MBSNF website referring to this. Does anyone know anything about it?

[Bosterson]

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/outdoors/northwest/forest-service-seeks-fees-for-area-recreation-sites/article_3b245139-0a73-5ab5-a846-cd119bb5c895.html Public comment period through Oct 21st. I looked on the MBSNF website too but doesn't look like they've posted anything yet. It does seem like all the national forests are trying to increase the number of fee areas to generate revenue; we should expect to see more of these notices metastasizing everywhere unless people start pushing back.

[Schroder]

In some of these areas they eliminated previous pass requirements just a couple of years ago

[thunderhead]

Good. Help reduce crowds a little. Maybe actually get some more money for our forests.

[philfort]

Are some of these fees in addition to the NW Forest Pass? I got a "ticket" on my window when I parked in a day use picnic area to go hiking in Okanagan-Wenatchee NF earlier this year - apparently the NW Forest Pass only gave you a 50% discount on a $5 day fee. I don't understand this nickle-and-diming. You need to carry a forest pass, AND a stack of cash? What's the purpose of having the NW Forest Pass then?

[Schroder]

[Randito]

There was a court ruling a while back about USFS usage fees / permit requirements. https://www.publiclandsforthepeople.org/judge-ends-fees-at-socal-national-forests-for-visitors-who-park-and-hike/ My understanding is that after the ruling the USFS needed to have a minimum number of improvements at a trailhead to require a parking permit. I observed that many trailheads in MT Baker Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee had a picnic table and a signboard added following the ruling in order to bring up the number of improvements to the minimum required. It's kinda cheesy, but as I now posses a lifetime senior USFS/NPS pass I don't get as worked up about USFS fees.

[philfort]

I don't mind buying an annual pass, but having to pay additional amounts in cash beyond that is a bit ridiculous. The place this happened to me was at the Soda Springs Campground: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/okawen/recarea/?recid=58543 I wasn't camping, just parking and hopping onto a trail - note the day use fee of 5$, and also "Day use: No passes honored.". I drove past the "FEE SITE" sign and just ignored it, since I assumed I was good with my forest pass.

[breadcrumb]

It would be nice if this increase in revenue was accompanied by an increase in patrols, bait cars, and surveillance cameras. https://datastudio.google.com/s/mDDu0WqDDyg Check out my new trailhead-specific crime dashboard: https://datastudio.google.com/s/l9fThrYM4g8

[kiliki]

I'm all for increased fees in heavily used areas, and more recreation management in general, though I wouldn't go with such a piecemeal approach, personally. I'd charge higher fees for everything in the I-90 corridor or Icicle River Road, for instance. It was depressing to read the recent Everett Herald article where they tagged along with a ranger on the Mt Loop, and he said his days were basically taken up by picking up litter in the dispersed campsites, so he didn't have time for anything else. Why aren't we charging for those sites and managing them? The Puget Sound area is WAY to populous anymore to let it be a free for all. Other NFs have done this for a long time--I paid $20 to access the Maroon Bells Wilderness in CO in the mid 90s for god's sake. And it was managed VERY well, with a shuttle, limited day use, etc. It would be nice if lower income folks could show a tax return and get a free lands pass, though.

[BigBrunyon]

I consider myself grandfathered in at my current rate!! Thus I ain't payin no increased fees!!! Consider this post to be my notice of what my rate is locked in at!!! Price as of TODAY!!!

[Cyclopath]

I wish we could just pay for this out of our taxes instead of this regressive business. We're in a cost of living crisis and putting up barriers between everyone but well off people and public land. We all pay for all kinds of things we don't use personally, it's called living in a society.

[thunderhead]

Direct funding would be way more efficient, because nickle and dime fees have to pay for their own administration(which often takes the lions share). Just like tolls. But that would require our government be competent.

[Bosterson]

[Cyclopath]