BLM Seeks Public Comment on Upper Colorado River Fee Adjustment

[Hannah_at_BLM]

News Release
Western Colorado
Bureau of Land Management, Kremmling Field Office
2103 E. Park Ave., Kremmling, CO 80459
Tel 970-724-3000 • Fax 970-724-9590
DOI: BLM: National Home Page
Contact: David Boyd, Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 876-9008
Oct. 21, 2010

BLM seeks public comment on Upper Colorado River fee adjustments

KREMMLING, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on its proposal to adjust the fee structure at the popular Pumphouse and Radium recreation areas on the Upper Colorado River.

BLM is proposing to increase the day-use fee for the first time since the fee program began in this area in 1998 to off-set inflation and rising costs of maintenance and operations.

The day-use fee at these areas for private users would increase from $3 to $4 per vehicle per day. The commercial day-use fee would be raised from $1 to $1.25 per person per day. The season pass would be raised from $15 to $20.

BLM is also considering making a change to the fee classification that would allow the day-use fee to be covered by the America the Beautiful Annual, Senior, Access and Volunteer Interagency passes. The current classification at these locations does not allow these passes to be used for day-use fees.

Under the new classification, holders of the Annual and Volunteer Interagency Pass would not pay a day-use fee, but would still pay full price for camping fees. Holders of Senior and Access Interagency Passes would not pay a day use fee and would pay 50 percent of the camping fees.

BLM anticipates making its decision on this proposal this spring. Fee increases must also be approved by the Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory Council.

Pumphouse and Radium recreation areas provide access points to the Colorado River. An estimated 60,000 people use the areas annually. Day-use fees generated $48,000 last year. The annual operating cost of these areas is $164,000.

All the day-use fees collected are used on-site for maintenance and improvements. BLM began charging use-fees at these areas in 1998 under the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program. A major renovation of the Pumphouse Campground completed last summer was partly funded by these user-fees.

Comments can be sent to [email protected] or to Hannah Schechter, PO BOX 68 Kremmling, CO 80459. For more information log onto BLM Colorado | Kremmling Field Office or call Hannah Schechter (970) 724-3008.