BLM looks to increase fees

COEUR d’ALENE — The Bureau of Land Management is looking to increase fees at a local boat launch and campgrounds and is seeking public input.

“Established recreation fee prices have not been increased since 2012. Due to the significant increase in the cost of site maintenance and materials, we took a hard look at the fees being charged. To continue to meet public demand in terms of visitation, we felt adjustments were necessary. We encourage everyone to look at the rationale in our plan and provide feedback,” said BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Manager Ray Pease, in a press release.

The draft Coeur d’Alene Recreation Business Plan proposes fee increases at the Blackwell Island and Mineral Ridge Boat Launches, Mica Bay and Windy Bay Boater Parks, and the Killarney Lake and Huckleberry Campgrounds.

The plan proposes to increase the current day-use and annual pass fee at Blackwell Island and Mineral Ridge Boat Launch from $6 to $12 (day-use) and $40 to $80 (annual pass) respectively. 

Camping fees at Mica Bay, Windy Bay and the Killarney Lake Campground would be raised from $10 to $20. Pavilion reservations would also be increased at Blackwell Island and Mica Bay from $30 to $80 per day, with the possibility of raising to $100 over the next four years. 

Huckleberry Campground would see an increase in the nightly rate from $14 to $30; the group RV site would increase from $42 to $90; RV electric and water hookups would increase from $4 to $15; and use the RV dump station would increase from $5 to $15.

The plan also proposes to establish a day-use fee at Mica Bay Boater Park and Killarney Lake as well as the day use area of Huckleberry Campground. The fee would initially be set at $5, with a phased approach to meet current and future needs. Additional increases to $7 in two years and $10 two years after that are also proposed in the business plans. The Blackwell/Mineral Ridge Boat Launch Annual Pass would cover day-use fees at all proposed recreation sites, the release said.

The proposed fee increases were determined through a comparative cost review of similar public and private facilities in surrounding counties, the release said.

Operational and maintenance costs include trash removal, vault toilet pumping, improving picnic site amenities, vandalism repair and road and trail maintenance. The business plan includes rationale for fee increases, operating costs, comparisons to other campgrounds with similar amenities and anticipated revenue.

Comments will be accepted through July 11,, via email: BLM_ID_CD_CDARecreationFees@blm.gov or U.S. Mail: BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Office, 3232 W. Nursery Road, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815. For more information contact Jake Bachtel at 208-769-5041.

The plan is available at www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/permits-and-fees/business-plans, or at the BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Office.