Photo courtesy of BLM 

A summer evening at Fish Lake on Steens Mountain. Overnight camping fees are proposed to increase at this site and several others across BLM’s Burns District in 2023.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comments on a proposal to increase overnight fees at several campgrounds within the Burns District in Southeast Oregon. Costs at Page Springs, Fish Lake, Jackman Park, South Steens Family, South Steens Equestrian, and Chickahominy Reservoir campgrounds are slated to rise to $20 per vehicle, per night. 

“With current fees ranging from only $6 to $8 per night at each location, the jump to $20 feels like a lot,” BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Kyle Wanner said. “But fees at these sites have not been changed in decades, and the proposed increases are within today’s fair market value.”  

The updated fee structure will help ensure developed campgrounds in the BLM’s Burns District remain open, operational, and safe. Additional funds could also support improved services and additional amenities.

A business plan detailing the fee proposals and rationale is available for review under the “Oregon-Washington” tab at: https://tinyurl.com/mrjnd4dw. The plan includes demographic information, campground descriptions, historical visitation and revenue information, an estimated market value analysis, proposed fees, and ideas for how potential increased revenue could be used.

The BLM needs your input! Public comments will be accepted through Oct. 9, 2022.

Mail comments to:
Bureau of Land Management
Burns District Office
Attn: Recreation Fee Plan
28910 Hwy. 20 W.
Hines, OR 97738

Email comments to:
BLM_OR_BU_Mail@blm.gov
RE: Recreation Fee Plan

Comments that provide relevant, new information and have sufficient detail are most useful, and they are referred to as “substantive comments.” A substantive comment questions the accuracy of information in the document; questions the adequacy, methodology, or assumptions used in the analysis or the proposal; presents reasonable new alternatives to what is proposed; and/or causes changes or revisions to the existing proposal.

Non-substantive comments like, “I am opposed to the proposal,” or, “I support the proposal,” without rationale are generally of minimal value.

At the close of the comment period, the BLM will review all input and may make changes to the proposal based on public feedback.

This business plan and fee increase proposal are written in accordance with criteria set forth in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA). The FLREA allows the BLM to collect recreation fees at sites and areas that provide certain amenities.

For more information, contact Kyle Wanner at the BLM Burns District Office at (541) 573-4400.