RRAC Proposals and Public Discussion

Plumas National Forest
New Expanded Amenity Campground Fee Proposals

Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground

  • 16 campsites
  • No potable water
  • 3 wilderness style pit toilets
  • Open Memorial Day through September 30
  • Located in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area
  • Accessed by 4-wheel drive vehicles, boats or walk-in
  • OHV route access to ridge & connects to other routes
  • Picnic tables, fire rings/grills
  • 2 group bear lockers
  • Garbage 1 mile from campground

Gold Lake Campground

  • 37 campsites
  • No potable water
  • 3 vault toilets (3 additional portable toilets in summer)
  • Open Memorial Day through September 30
  • Located in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area
  • Paved boat ramp and floating boat dock
  • Garbage dumpster
  • Some sites have picnic tables; all have a fire ring
  • Adjacent to the Gold Lake Stables which offers outfitted and guided horseback rides

Haven Lake Campground

  • 4 campsites
  • No potable water
  • 1 portable toilet
  • Open Memorial Day through September 30
  • Located in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area
  • Rustic camp setting
  • Rock or metal fire ring
  • Garbage can

Goose Lake Campground

  • 13 campsites (4 are walk-in)
  • No potable water
  • 1 vault toilet
  • Open Memorial Day through September 30
  • Located in the Lakes Basin Recreation Area
  • Some picnic tables; all sites have a fire ring
  • Rustic camp setting
  • Garbage dumpster
Campground Site Proposed Fee/night O&M Deferred Maintenance
Gold Lake 4X4 CG $10 $5,990 $5,000
Gold Lake CG $10 $20,000 $75,000
Goose Lake CG $10 $8,000 $35,000
Haven Lake CG $5 $3,000 $25,000

Why do we need to add these new fees?

  • To continue to provide for operation and maintenance costs.
  • Keep the four campgrounds open to the public.
  • Replace picnic tables and fire rings at Gold Lake 4 X 4 Campground.
  • Purchase and install additional picnic tables and SST toilets at Gold Lake, Haven Lake, and Goose Lake Campgrounds.

Summary of Public Involvement

Plumas National Forest - Proposed New Fees

Includes public involvement efforts & comments as of April 20, 2009

Summary of New Fee Proposals
Site/Service - Plumas NF Current Price Proposed Price
Gold Lake CG None $10/night
Gold Lake 4 X 4 CG None $10/night
Goose Lake CG None $10/night
Haven Lake CG None $5/night

* For any vehicle that cannot be reasonably parked on the surfaced campsite spur

Public Participation Activities
Public Participation Tasks Date(s)
Post notices of proposed new fees at CGs. Summer of 2006, 2007, 2008
Published notice of new CG fees in Federal Register December 12, 2008
Communicated via phone with 2 Sierra County Board of Supervisors and Planning Director Week of January 19, 2009
Communicated via phone with 2 Plumas County Board of Supervisors Weeks of January 19-26, 2009
Letter sent to all who previously commented on proposed CG fees letting them know Plumas was moving forward with fee proposal. January 21, 2009
Communicated via phone with various OHV Volunteers Week of January 26, 2009
Communicated via phone with permitted resort owners; Gold Lake, Elwell, & Gray Eagle Lodges Week of January 26, 2009
Placed news release in local newspapers; Feather River Bulletin and Mountain Messenger for new CG fees February 4, 2009 & February 5, 2009
Placed news release on forest web site February 2, 2009
Communicated with Eastern Plumas Visitors Bureau & Plumas County Visitors Bureau April 1, 2009
Communicated with CA Off Road Vehicle Association – Ed Waldheim April 1, 2009
Communicated with Thousand Trails – Local concessionaire April 1, 2009
Presentation to Sierra County Board of Supervisors April 7, 2009
Notified Congressional Representatives offices for Herger and McClintock April 10, 2009
Public Participation Results
Method of Communication Summary of Comments- as of 4/20/09
Posted On-site Notices @ CGs 2006 – 2 phone calls & 1 letter received; Two people don’t agree with fees and want campgrounds to stay rustic and unimproved, one understood.
2007 – 1 phone call & 5 letters; Most don’t agree with fees, again want campgrounds to stay rustic and unimproved, one hoped fees would be reasonable.
2008 – 2 phone calls; Concerned about fees, one thought $10 was reasonable, one asked about being a CG host.
Federal Register Notices None received
Newspaper Press Release - CGs One phone call asking for more information but no comment on fees. One letter “Don’t mind paying extra one single bit – good idea!” and also mentioned “looking forward to new toilet at Gold Lake and hope roads to campsites can be fixed”. One e-mail requesting that Plumas make accessible sites available.
Forest’s Web Site Press Release None received
User Groups OHV Volunteers – Don’t agree with fees, use appropriated funds to operate Gold Lake 4 X 4 campground. Agreed to free use for volunteers.
CORVA – Asked for more information.
Resort Owners Good idea and very reasonable.
Visitor Bureaus Eastern Plumas – Good idea, especially since site will benefit directly.
Plumas – Fees at these sites are appropriate and necessary. There is already enough free sites on the Plumas NF.
Concessionaire Operates a 24 unit CG in Lakes Basin area, these free campgrounds are in direct competition and thinks these new fees are very appropriate.
Elected Officials Briefing Sierra County Comments – Don’t like idea of new fee but understand the need. Like that fees stay on site and think $10 is reasonable.
Plumas County Comments – Concerned about new fees but understand the need.

Meeting Information

The Recreation RAC held a meeting on May 13, 2009 at the Region 5 Regional Office located at 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA

Documents

Proposals and Public Input

Meetings and Documents:

For more information about Recreation RACs