BLM proposing fee increases at campgrounds

BLM press release

BISHOP, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office is seeking public comment on proposed fee increases at campgrounds in the eastern Sierra.

campground

The BLM is proposing to change the fee strategy and initially increase fees for the Tuttle Creek, Goodale Creek, Horton Creek and Pleasant Valley Pit campgrounds in Inyo County and the Crowley Lake campground in Mono County.

The proposed changes would take effect in 2016 and initially increase fees from $5/night to $8/night at the Tuttle Creek, Horton Creek and Crowley Lake campgrounds, all of which now have drinking water.

The fee at the Pleasant Valley Pit campground would initially increase from $2/vehicle to $5/site per night. This would bring the permit cost at PV Pit into alignment with the fee currently charged at the Goodale Creek campground, both of which do not have drinking water.

The proposal would also change the duration and fees for long-term camping permits. The current fee structure allows for up to an eight-month permit, which far exceeds other long-term camping options offered in the eastern Sierra.

Under the proposed structure, long-term camping permits would be offered for a maximum of three months at the Tuttle Creek, Horton Creek, Goodale Creek and Crowley Lake campgrounds. The fee for this three-month permit would remain at the current rate of $300.

The existing 30-day permit option would be expanded to include use of the PV Pit campground at a rate of $120/month. PV Pit is not eligible for the three-month permit because it is such a popular campground during the winter months and is often at full occupancy, especially during weekends and holidays.

“Fee revenue will be used to maintain the quality of our campgrounds, which now include new amenities such as drinking water that were part of recent campground upgrades” said Steve Nelson, Bishop Field Manager. “Between 2010 and 2012 we invested approximately $3.6 million in campground upgrades to improve the quality of our campgrounds here in the eastern Sierra. The fee structure we have proposed will help us provide a quality camping experience for visitors to our area. Our proposal also allows us the flexibility to either increase or decrease fees as needed to address occupancy, operating costs or resource management challenges.”

A market assessment of fees charged at other area campgrounds found that all five BLM campgrounds in the eastern Sierra are priced well below other area campgrounds. The current campground fees were established in 2005 and have not changed in ten years.

After the initial change in fees in 2016, campground fees at all five campgrounds would be set by the field manager at a rate between $5 and $10 per campsite. The field manager would make fee adjustments based on the occupancy rate at each campground, the cost of maintaining or improving the campgrounds, and/or the impacts that dispersed camping outside of the campgrounds is having on the area’s natural and cultural resources.

To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the proposal to change the fee structure at campgrounds managed by the Bishop Field Office by Jan. 22. Effective 6 months after the publication of this notice, the Bishop Field Office would initiate changes in fee collection at these five developed campgrounds unless the BLM publishes a Federal Register notice to the contrary.

You may submit comments on this fee collection proposal by any of the following methods:

  • E-mail: [email protected]. Please include “Fee Proposal” in the subject line of your e-mail.
  • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Bishop Field Office, Attn: Jeff Starosta, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100 Bishop, CA  93514

Copies of the fee proposal are available in the Bishop Field Office at the above address and online at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bishop.html

For further information contact the Bishop Field Office at (760) 872-5032 or at the address above.

 

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13 Comments
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Low-Inyo
Low-Inyo
7 years ago

I’ve known of people…even small families that choose to live that way…especially in the Spring,Summer and Fall…in campgrounds and closer to nature….a couple with very nice motorhomes or trailers…not all people that use campgrounds on extended stays are “hobos” or down on their luck…..

Responsible Adult
Responsible Adult
7 years ago

Why are they allowing people to stay in the campgrounds for MONTHS anyway? Is this the Eastern Sierra’s answer for affordable housing???

That’s crazy. Two weeks maximum and move on. BLM campgrounds are not supposed to be hobo jungles.

Badfinger39
Badfinger39
7 years ago

I found out that growing “high-grade” medical marijuana” is like having your own personal ATM-Greeen Machine for beating and thriving in this Economic Collapse global depression… and I still get Food-Stamps and Free Obama Care and all kinds of Free State subsidies.. God Bless America, I Love my Country

Mountain Watchdog
Mountain Watchdog
7 years ago
Reply to  Badfinger39

America has one of the largest prison populations in the world. And most are in the slammer on drug charges.

Low-Inyo
Low-Inyo
7 years ago

…and some of them are in the “slammer” for abusing their “right” to medical marijuana by turning their medical card into a drug business….or so they thought….not what the “compassionate act” was intended for….tax-free income and not having to work for a living.

Eastside Bum
Eastside Bum
7 years ago

The fee increase would be worth it if the roads were re-done at Horton Creek,Goodale, and PV. Horton and Tuttle were the worst ever.

Trouble
Trouble
7 years ago

The pit is full because of the lack of affordable housing in Bishop. Twice I have loaned my trailer out to young couples with kids to stay there so they could save up enough for rent. M

Tinner
Tinner
7 years ago
Reply to  Trouble

Yup, something ain’t right around here. Wages suck, rents are ridiculously unaffordable, many tourists are jerks which may or may not have something to do with so many job openings in our local papers, I guess it could be the employers too. Many of us (in Mammoth anyway) deal with… Read more »

Low-Inyo
Low-Inyo
7 years ago
Reply to  Tinner

Tinner….What you really have to do,based on your comment,is re-evaluate what’s important to you and your life….many people come here to live in a beautiful place,including myself, 16 years ago.At first had to deal with the arrogant,entitled people too with the jobs I had….not the employers,but having to deal with… Read more »

tourbillon
tourbillon
7 years ago
Reply to  Trouble

That was nice of you. But “young couples” who cannot afford rent in the Owens Valley have no business having kids until they can afford an apartment.

No one likes adult opinions, but someone must deliver them.

Low-Inyo
Low-Inyo
7 years ago
Reply to  tourbillon

tourbillion….In the Owens Valley or ,for that matter,anywhere else….sadly,many young people nowdays,,,when they “hook-up”,first order of business seems to be… 1) Have kids…then 2) look for their own apartment or place to live…on their own.. 3) find a job 4) get a vehicle to get to the job 5) make… Read more »

Trouble
Trouble
7 years ago
Reply to  tourbillon

Tourbillon, I sort of agree, but you don’t need money or a apartment to fall in love or make it.

sugarmagnolia
sugarmagnolia
7 years ago
Reply to  tourbillon

yes, because life always goes as planned and everybody waits to have kids until they can afford them!

That reminds me of the saying, ‘if everyone waited to have kids until they were ready, the human race would have died out years ago!!!!!’