The US Forest Service (FS) is releasing proposals to close thousands of developed recreation sites around the nation at national forests including campgrounds, trailheads, picnic areas, boat launches, and swimming sites; charge new or increased fees at hundreds of other recreation sites; and remove facilities, reduce capacity, and shorten seasons at hundreds more recreation sites.

These changes are outlined in the Recreation Facility Analysis (RFA) Proposed Programs of Work (PPOW) that each National Forest is producing. Most of the RFAs will be released soon. About 18 RFAs have been made available to the public. Analyses of 18 RFAs that have been released show that over the next 5 years the FS will close 407 campgrounds (17% of the recreation sites in these 18 forests); reduce capacity at 464 recreation sites (20% of the total); remove amenities (toilets, tables, trash cans, fire rings) at 243 recreation sites (10% of total); turn 225 recreation sites over to concessionaires/partners (10% of total); implement new fees at 136 recreation sites (6%); and increase fees at 170 recreation sites (7%).

Congress must be alerted now to these threats to our publicly-owned recreation sites! In some places, the FS has already removed water systems, toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings, and completely closed campgrounds and other developed recreation sites without any public notice! PLEASE CONTACT CONGRESS The RFA was not authorized by Congress. The FS calls the RFA and its decision to close recreation sites an internal matter. The public must bring RFAs to Congress's attention and request that the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hold oversight hearings on recreation policy, RFAs, and implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the public lands recreation fee program.

Call or fax the majority and minority chairs of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Contact them by calling the committee's office number at 202-224-4971. You can also fax your comments. Faxes have the most impact and phone calls are next. Emails are not effective. Regular letters to Washington, D. C. take too long because of security delays.

1) Senator Jeff Bingaman (D - NM), majority chair, fax 202-224-6163

2) Senator Pete Domenici (R - NM), minority chair, fax 202-224-6173

What to say! In your own words stress:

1) That the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee should hold oversight hearings this fall on the FLREA/fee legislation and on the RFA.

2) That you oppose FS plans to close thousands of developed recreation sites.

3) That you support adequate public funding for public lands recreation sites on the ground (rather than going for administrative overhead).

4) You oppose the FS High Impact Recreation Areas (HIRAs), where recreation fees are charged often miles away from any developed facilities.

5) You want trailhead access to wilderness and undeveloped backcountry to be free from fees, as the FLREA requires

6) You oppose the BLM/FS use of Special Recreation Permits for individual access to BLM lands.

Sample Letter:

Dear Senator,

I request that the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hold oversight hearings on public lands agencies' implementation of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and on the U.S. Forest Service's (FS) Recreation Facility Analysis. Recreation fees are still being charged where the FLREA prohibits them - for parking at the side of the road, for access to wilderness and undeveloped backcountry, and at hundreds of sites that do not have the six amenities required by the FLREA.

I oppose the FS proposals to close thousands of developed recreation sites around the nation that are not found by the agency to be financially self-supporting. I support funding for public lands recreation sites that is adequate to maintain them. Congress must make sure that this funding reaches the ground. I oppose the BLM and FS practice of charging individuals for Special Recreation Permits to access undeveloped backcountry and designated wilderness. Thank you,

Sincerely,

In addition, write to your two Texas Senators, John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, at the district addresses below using this fact sheet/sample letter:

1) The Honorable John Cornyn, c/o Mr. Jay Guerrero, Regional Director - Southeast Texas, 5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 980, Houston, Texas 77007

2) The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, c/o Mr. Jason Roth Fuller, Regional Director, 1919 Smith Street, Suite 800, Houston, Texas 77002-8051

For more information contact Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or brandtshnfbt@juno.com 

November 2007

Last updated:  11/05/2007.   Content © 1999-2007 by the Sierra Club.