Costs and Demands Outpace Recreation Budget

In 1996, Congress recognized the need to improve funding for our public lands while at the same time meeting budget deficit reduction goals. It instructed the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and other federal public land stewards to expand fee collections activities.

Fees were to be collected directly from forest or park users to supplement limited Congressional appropriations, with the goal of making much-needed improvements in recreation facilities and services.

In the past, Congressionally appropriated dollars have been the chief source of funding for recreation services in the national forests. At one time, that funding was sufficient. But efforts to reduce federal spending have meant that our recreation budget has not kept pace with costs and public demands. The result is that facilities and services, particularly in southern California, are in significant decline. And indications are that the trend toward a smaller appropriated budget and work force will continue.

Undeveloped and remote areas have never received attention for funding. Yet this is where many forest visitors want to go and where the costs to keep the forest clean and safe are high.

This is why Los Padres National Forest joined the Angeles, San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests last year in testing the Adventure Pass. Through the Adventure Pass program, we are evaluating the willingness of people who use national forests and derive direct personal benefit from them to contribute something to their upkeep, rather than place an additional tax burden on those who do not recreate in the forests and may not even live near one.

Under the Adventure Pass program, visitors are asked to purchase a $5 daily or $30 annual vehicle pass to be displayed while recreating in the four Southern California national forests. Eighty percent of the revenue generated by pass sales is returned to the national forest where it was generated for repairing facilities and enhancing visitor services.

During the first six months of the program, the four Southern California national forests generated sales totaling $1,128,067, of which $925,712 was returned to the forests for improvements.

Los Padres National Forest began selling the Adventure Pass in June 1997. From June through December, sales totaled $194,636. About 80% of that, or $158,599, was invested in a variety of improvements for our five ranger districts.

Of the money returned to Los Padres, $79,377 was invested in salaries for five new year-round and five seasonal field rangers. Although compliance checks are part of the field rangers’ jobs, most of their time is spent assisting visitors, providing information, providing a heightened sense of security and reducing vandalism through their presence, and doing repairs and maintenance or organizing volunteers to complete the work.

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As more visitors become aware of the Adventure Pass and see improvements in the recreation services and facilities they use, we expect others to see the value of purchasing a pass. We anticipate that the expansion of sales outlets, improved signs and information, and other improvements in customer service will make it easier for the public to participate in the program.

Some forest visitors choose to avoid the Adventure Pass by parking just outside the forest or simply ignoring the program, unfairly taking advantage of services and facilities provided by those who do participate. I can appreciate their reaction to change or interest in saving a few dollars. And while some people have expressed disagreement with the philosophy of a recreation user fee, we are finding that most visitors accept paying the fee when they understand how the dollars they invest will directly benefit the activities they enjoy.

The Adventure Pass is not a perfect solution. However, I am committed to doing all that I can to make it work until a better solution is found. I welcome everyone’s ideas about how we can continue providing the services and facilities requested by recreationists, protect our public lands and accomplish all of this fairly within a declining federal budget.