Within the next five years, outdoor enthusiasts may be required to pay to picnic and hike in some of the most popular recreational areas on national forest land.

Hikers, mountain bicyclists, fishermen and campers have one month to comment on the "Recreation Facility Analysis" of the Tahoe National Forest.

The analysis looks at 149 trailheads, campgrounds and picnic areas and possible changes to them, such as charging fees, shortening seasons and - in some cases - closing facilities to help offset a decade of budget declines.

"Our funding has not kept pace with the needs of the last few years. We have fewer people to do more work," said Forest Recreation Officer Bonnie Petitt.

In 1995, the Tahoe National Forest's recreation budget was more than $1 million during a time when an estimated 1.5 million people visited the forest. Today, the budget has fallen to $750,000, expenses have grown and the number of visitors steadily increase by 10 percent to 15 percent each year, said TNF spokeswoman Ann Westling.

The decline in federal forest funding is a nationwide problem, Petitt said. The days of free services, such as bathrooms, maps and garbage collection for people who recreate on federal lands, may become a thing of the past.

"This is a nationwide effort. Others are going through the same process," Petitt said.

While the study does not recommend changes for a majority of the sites examined, it does target the most popular areas in the four districts.

Within the North Yuba Ranger District, the Downieville Mountain Bike and Hiker Trailhead, the Loch Leven Trailhead, the Sand Pond Picnic and Swim Area, the Grouse Ridge Campground, the Snag Campground and Oregon Creek Picnic Area are among the 11 sites proposed for fees.

In recent years, a leaner supply of rangers has struggled to keep vandalism and trash under control in high-use areas. The high maintenance costs and aging facilities prompted the fee consideration to avoid closures, Petitt said.

"We're trying to find methods to impact the public the least," Petitt said.

Fees will be collected in a variety of ways, including good-faith drop boxes. It's too early in the process to estimate how much users will pay, Petitt said.

Earlier this year, Keleher Day Use Area in Washington was closed and several toilets were closed because TNF had no money to pump them out.

Before the plan is finalized, it must be approved by the Pacific Southwest regional forester. Fee changes must be reviewed by the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee, a federal advisory body for the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in California.

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To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail laurab@theunion.com or call 477-4231.



Public comment on the analysis of the Tahoe National Forest, which proposes charging fees at 11 popular free sites, is due by Oct. 5.

• Send an e-mail to bpetitt@fs.fed.us.

• Send mail to Recreation Facility Analysis, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA 95959.

• Read more at www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe; find "Recreation Facilities Site Management Planning" on the right side of the page, click on RFSMP pages, then scroll to the bottom to view changes for each district.

- Laura Brown