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Public Comments Sought On Proposed CNNF Rec. Fee Hike

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is interested in hearing comments on a proposal to begin charging new recreation fees, increasing overnight fees and removing fees from some recreation sites on the Forest.

Forest spokesperson Hilary Markin says about 90- percent,of the revenue collected at recreation fee sites remains on the Forest to operate. She says this effort is to improve sustainability on the Forest..

"...Part of that implementation is increasing fees at sites with increasing amenities. We have electricity going into a couple of campgrounds this year, so in order for us to be able to charge with the added amenity we need to go through this fee proposal process and we're looking for feedback from the public..."

Markin says some things the fees will help with include trash pickup, septic and toilet pumping, painting, cleaning, and will address the backlog of deferred maintenance, conduct patrols, and maintain highly used trails, shelters and campsites. Fees are proposed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operations and maintenance. She says the fees and comments will be considered...

"...those will be considered by our Recreation Resource Advisory Committee that considers those fee changes hopefully sometime next spring and we'll be able to implement them as those amenities are added to the landscape. It's not going to be an overnight thing. It's going to be a gradual increase in fees as those amenities change..."

The Chequamegon-Nicolet’s proposal includes increasing overnight fees at 15 of the 45 developed campgrounds and adding a daily shelter reservation fee at some sites. A complete list of proposed fee areas can be found on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest webpage (at www.fs.usda.gov/CNNF. ) Comments will be accepted through September 5.

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