ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Monongahela National Forest is seeking public comments on a proposal to increase recreation fees at developed recreation sites to help fund operations, maintenance, and improvements.
The recreation fee program provides a valuable source of funding that helps the Forest maintain high quality recreation sites, such as campgrounds, cabins, and picnic shelters. Eighty percent of fees collected on the Monongahela remain on the Monongahela to operate and maintain developed recreation sites and complete deferred maintenance projects.
“Even if all of the changes requested in the fee proposal are implemented, 75 percent of the Monongahela’s 197 developed recreation sites would still be free,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Tracy Calizon. “Several sites are not seeing a fee increase and the annual pass at Lake Sherwood Beach will remain at its current price of $30. These proposed fee increases are in line with comparable sites in and around the National Forest with similar amenities and maintenance needs.”
The proposed increases are outlined in the table below:
Site Name | Site Type | Current Fee | Proposed Fee |
Bear Heaven Campground | Campground | Single Site Fee: $5 | Single Site Fee: $15 |
Big Rock Campground | Campground | Single Site Fee: $10 Double Site Fee: $20 | Single Site Fee: $15 Double Site Fee: $30 |
Williams River RUA Sites D2 | Campground | Single Site Fee: $5 Double Site Fee: $10 | Single Site Fee: $15 Double Site Fee: $30 |
Cranberry Campground | Campground | Single Site Fee: $10 Double Site Fee: $20 | Single Site Fee: $20 Double Site Fee: $40 |
Summit Lake Reservoir/Fishing Site | Group Picnic Site | Day Fee: $0 rate per group size: 75 | Day Fee: $75 rate per group size: 75 |
Summit Lake Campground | Campground | Single Site Fee: $10 | Single Site Fee: $20 |
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center | Group Picnic Site | Day Fee: $0 rate per group size: 75 | Day Fee: $75 rate per group size: 75 |
Cranberry RUA Campsites | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $5 Double Site Fee: $10 | Single Site Fee: $15 Double Site Fee: $30 |
Red Oak Lookout | Lookout/Cabin | Night Fee: $0 rate per group size: 2 | Night Fee: $100 rate per group size: 2 |
Woodbine Picnic Area | Group Picnic Site
|
Day Fee: $0 rate per group size: 75 | Day Fee: $50 rate per group size: 75 |
Middle Mountain Cabins | Lookout/Cabin
|
Night Fee: $75 rate per group size: 10 | Night Fee: $100 rate per group size: 10 |
Island Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $10 | Single Site Fee: $15 |
Laurel Fork Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $8 Double Site Fee: $16 | Single Site Fee: $15 Double Site Fee: $30 |
Stonecoal Camping Area | Camping Area | Single Site Fee: $0 | Single Site Fee: $15 |
Day Run Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $8 | Single Site Fee: $15 |
Tea Creek Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $10 | Single Site Fee: $20 |
Williams River RUA Sites D4 | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $5 | Single Site Fee: $15 |
Red Creek Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $11 | Single Site Fee: $25 |
Seneca Rocks Picnic Area | Group Picnic Site | Day Fee: $0 rate per group size: 75 | Day Fee: $75 rate per group size: 75 |
Lake Sherwood Beach | Swimming Site | Day Fee: $5 rate per vehicle | Day Fee: $8 rate per vehicle |
Blue Bend Campground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $16 Double Site w/ Hookup Fee: $40
Site w/ Electric Fee:$20 |
Single Site Fee: $20 Double Site w/ Hookup Fee: $50
Site w/ Electric Fee:$30 |
Lake SherwoodCampground | Campground
|
Single Site Fee: $20 Double Site Fee: $40 Site w/ Electric Fee:$24 Tent Only Fee:$16 | Single Site Fee: $25 Double Site Fee: $50 Site w/ Electric Fee:$35 Tent Only Fee:$20 |
Please submit comments regarding these fee proposals by close of business on July 31, 2024, using any of the methods below:
- To provide comments online go to: https://arcg.is/0HnOnX.
- Email comments to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/mnf/about-forest/contactus with the subject line “Fee Change.”
- Mail written comments to: Monongahela National Forest, 200 Sycamore Street, Elkins WV 26241, Attention: W.J. Cober.
- Comment cards are available at Forest Service offices during normal business hours. Find a list of our offices here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mnf/about-forest/offices. Please call ahead to make sure the office will be open when you plan to stop by.
After public involvement is complete, the proposed fee changes will be reviewed by a Resource Advisory Committee, who will submit their recommendation to the Regional Forester for a final decision. Committee members represent a broad array of interest groups to help ensure that the Forest Service is proposing reasonable and publicly acceptable new fees and fee changes. Any fees changes will not be implemented until summer 2025.