BLM to charge day-use fees at Killarney Lake, other sites

The Bureau of Land Management has approved plans to collect day-use fees at three recreation sites managed by the Coeur d’Alene Field Office. 

"Collecting or increasing fees provides the BLM with resources needed to cover higher operational, maintenance and emergency response costs associated with additional use," according to a press release put out by the agency. 

New fees will go into effect six months after the Federal Register notice publishes Friday.

The affected recreation sites include Mica Bay Boater Park, Windy Bay Boater Park and Killarney Lake Campground and Access, as well as Huckleberry Campground. 

The plans will double the $10 overnight camping fee to $20 and establish day-use fees at Mica Bay Boater Park, Killarney Lake Campground and Access and Huckleberry Campground, the press release said. 

Because of the shift in popularity toward day-use activities in these areas over the past five years, the Coeur d’Alene Field Office will establish a day-use fee for groups of up to 10 persons or per vehicle. The day-use fee will be implemented at $5 in 2025, with the potential to be raised to $7 in two years and to $10 in four years. 

The Mica Bay Pavilion reservation fee will initially increase to $80 with a phased approach up to $100.  

“We took a hard look at our fees in areas managed by the Coeur d’Alene Field Office. For the BLM to continue to meet the public’s needs, we felt adjustments were necessary. I encourage everyone to look at the rationale in our plan,” said BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Manager Ray Pease.

According to BLM, the fee changes were determined through a comparative cost review of similar public and private facilities in surrounding counties. 

Operational and maintenance costs include trash removal, vault toilet pumping, improving picnic site amenities, vandalism repair and road and trail maintenance. 

The proposals went through public comment and review from the BLM’s Idaho Resource Advisory Council, prior to being approved.