Update on fee increases

The following fee increases for the 2008 recreation season were approved and went into effect. 

Fee Increase - The Forks of the Kern Private Boater Permit Drawing 

Starting in 2009, the application fee to participate in the Forks of the Kern private boater permit drawing will increase from $2 to $10. This fee is authorized under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2005 (REA) and falls under the category of a special recreation permit. This pre-season drawing is a random selection process used as a means to allocate capacity and disperse use to protect the wild character of the resource and to help insure all boaters have an equal chance to obtain one of the limited permits for the Forks Run. The fee increase was approved California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) at the January 2008 meeting after an extensive public involvement beginning in May of 2007.

Fee Increases and changes at Lake Isabella

Several changes were approved and are scheduled to begin in September, 2008 at Auxiliary Dam, Old Isabella, and South Fork Recreation Area, 3 contiguous sites referred to as the Lake Isabella high impact recreation area. The fee area is approximately 120 acres and offers developed facilities, lakeshore camping and picnicking opportunities. The changes include:

The New SOUTHERN SIERRA PASS

Beginning as early as September 2008, fees at the Lake Isabella high impact recreation area will be collected using a pass system called the Southern Sierra Pass. This pass can be purchased at Forest Service Offices or at a participating vendor. The interagency passes including the America the Beautiful pass, the Seniors Pass, and the Access Pass are also accepted for the full fee as well as the Golden Age and Golden Access passes. Vehicles not displaying a valid pass in the windshield may receive a warning called a Notice of Noncompliance - repeat violators (persons having received more than one notice of noncompliance) could receive a Violation Notice ($100 fine).

In the future if new standard amenity fee areas are established within the Sequoia National Forest, the Southern Sierra Pass will be valid for those sites as well as the interagency passes and the Golden Passes. 

NEW FEES PROPOSED IN 2008

An opportunity exists to turn other areas highly impacted by recreation and suffering under heavy use into standard amenity fee areas.  Fees collected could be used to improve the quality of the area and the recreation experience. Three areas are currently being studied by the Forest Service. They are the Upper Kern River, national forest land around Lake Isabella, and the areas along Lloyd Road.

Recreation managers are interested in hearing your comments on the proposal to begin charging fees for recreation use in these areas. The Sequoia National Forest/Giant Sequoia National Monument is authorized to propose new fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) of 2004.  REA allows the forest to keep 95 percent of fees collected and to use these funds to operate, maintain, and improve recreation sites and services. The Forest is still reviewing and analyzing this proposal.

For a map of these areas see: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/maps/maps/2009-proposed8x11.pdf

Questions and Answers on Recreation Fees

Coming soon, answers to questions that were asked about fees and new fee proposals.

For more information on the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) see: www.fs.fed.us/r5/passes/rrac/

For more information on the Recreation Fee Program please visit: www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/about-rec-fees

Comments may be submitted via email to: r5_sequoia_rec_fees@fs.fed.us
Or mail to:
Sequoia National Forest
Attention- Mary Cole
1839 S. Newcomb
Porterville, CA 93257

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