BLM camping fees could jump nearly 40% at the Three Rivers Petroglyph Site near Three Rivers, New Mexico. More than 21,000 petroglyphs make this BLM site a popular draw. Visitors can view many glyphs from a one-mile walking path. The BLM is now taking public comment on its business plan which would mean big jumps in camping and day-use fees.
“Add amenities desired by visitors”
The BLM promotes the increases in a media release. “These fee increases are being proposed to meet growing maintenance needs due to increased visitation and operating costs of the site. It has been more than 12 years since fees have been changed. The new proposed fees will enable the BLM to improve services, add amenities desired by visitors and help ensure the site remains a place the public can be proud of for years to come.”
Here’s how the fees would shake out.
- RV hookup campsites from $18 to $25
- Group site fee from $50 to $60 per day.
- Campsites from $7 to $10
- Day use from $5 to $7
- Tour bus fees from $15 to $20
In late summer 2024, BLM proposes to implement these changes.
“Comparative market study of fees charged for similar recreation facilities”
Through criteria established by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the BLM conducted an assessment on the number and kind of amenities provided at the site. A comparative market study of fees charged for similar recreation facilities in each local area was also used to determine the proposed fee adjustments. The proposed fee changes will be reviewed by the Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council in June.
The Act allows the BLM to keep 100 percent of the recreation fees collected. They can use the funds locally to operate, maintain and improve fee sites. Fees are one part of a comprehensive funding strategy to support recreation sites and services. This funding strategy also includes appropriated funding, volunteer assistance, interagency cooperation, grants, partnerships with the private sector, and commercial operations.
The BLM says it would use the hiked fees “to broadly enhance recreational amenities, by adding additional RV sites with utility hookups and shade structures, update the water system, and expand upon and enhance all interpretive exhibits, signage and kiosks across the site.”
Additionally, the BLM is moving reservations to Recreation.gov. The idea is that it “will help market the site to visitors who may not otherwise hear of Three Rivers, make payment of fees more efficient, and offer cashless payment options.”
Your thoughts?
You can view the draft business plan here.
You can express your feelings about how BLM camping fees could jump nearly 40%. Or comment on any other aspect of the plan. Public comments about the fee proposal should be sent here: BLM Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess St., Las Cruces, NM 88005 Attention: Three Rivers Fee Increase. Or email the public inbox at blm_nm_lcdo_mail@blm.gov.
The comment period runs from April 9 – May 8, 2024.
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The price of everything lately seem to be going up, especially fuel prices,. So it’ll cost you more to get to the BLM area as well as for staying there. Double whammy!
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Nominally, fairly small changes, proportionally pretty large changes. So long as they use the increased fees to offset their costs of maintenance and provision of survices, I’m okay with this. Should they, instead, start having wild parties, then I’m “agin it.” Thanks again, and safe travels! 🙂
Sadly, I sense this trend will be growing. Dumont Dunes California is a BLM managed property consisting of dunes sitting on hard pan desert surface. No water, no power, no dumps, just flat, barren desert with a few vault toilets. The America the Beautiful Interagency Access Pass isn’t accepted and you must pay for a weekly or seasonal pass. Want to use your propane grill? Another fee to avoid the risk of wildfire on the sand dune. If you want to use your OHV, yep, another fee to use the public’s land.
Thanks for the warning! Another place we won’t be going.
I love it when the government tries to justify fee increases with the exclamation “We haven’t raised fees in “x” number of years!”. My response is always: “So what?” Have the facilities improved? Have the roads been graded? Is there TP in the pit toilets? What did you do with all the extra money from the LAST fee increase? I know of one particular busy campground on federal land where they have promised with every fee increase to install showers in the restrooms (where there’s already running water), and that promise was first made 30 years ago. I can understand an increase to cover for inflation, but other than that, every dime should be attached to specific purpose, or no deal.
Makes sense. I’m okay with them increasing fees as long as they use them correctly. Needs have changed, labor prices (for Rangers and such) have increased, heck, pumping pit toilets has become very expensive! Plus, increased fees might help reduce the number of “bad actors” who camp and destroy our lands. Those specific prices still look like a very good deal to me, compared to so many other camping places.