Cascades, a scenic waterfall, on Little Stony Creek in the Eastern Divide Ranger District of Jefferson National Forest.
BLACKSBURG — The USDA Forest Service is interested in hearing your comments on a proposed fee increase for the Cascades day use area in Giles County and a new fee for The Pines Campground in Craig County.
The fee increases would bring the Forest fees into better alignment with prices of other nearby private and public recreation facilities.
Forest recreation areas offer unique experiences for forest visitors that boost local economies and are not meant to undercut private businesses.
Revenues from increased fees would help improve and maintain Forest Service recreation sites for years to come. The Forest Service proposes the following fees:
Area Name Current Fee Proposed Fee
Cascades Day Use Area $3 per vehicle $8 per vehicle
The Pines Campground None $14 per site per night
Of the recreation fees collected, 80-95 percent remain on the forest to operate, maintain and improve the facilities and programs at the recreation sites. The proposed fee changes would bring the Forest fees into better alignment with other nearby private and public recreation sites, and would help the recreation sites be more financially sustainable. If this fee proposal is approved, the increase would go into effect as early as spring 2020.
“We recognize how important these sites are to our local communities and those who use the sites. These fee increases will help us care for recreation sites across the Forest,” District Ranger Dan McKeague said.
This proposal will be presented before a citizen’s advisory committee, called the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC), which helps ensure the Forest Service addresses public issues and concerns about recreation fees.
The public is welcome to attend and comment at all advisory committee meetings.
A decision has not been made on this proposal. We want our input!
For more information, visit the Forest Service website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj.
Use the “Contact Us” feature to submit a comment, or, share your comments by writing: George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, Eastern Divide Ranger District, Attn: Recreation Fee Program, 110 Southpark Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24060; or email eastern-divide@fs.fed.us or call (540)-552-4641.
Comments must be received by July 8, 2019.
