August 12, 2022 9:30 a.m. 

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to raise campground fees and establish new fees at selected sites on the Umpqua National Forest and is solicitating comments from the public until the end of October.

A release said fee changes are being considered to all the agency to continue to provide services such as garbage collection and drinking water and to provide for the health and public safety expected by visitors at recreation sites. Recreation fees on the Umpqua National Forest were last changed in 2009.

Forest Service staff will evaluate and later present the public comments and input to a citizen advisory committee. That group will review all recommended changes before making recommendations to the Regional Forester. Changes would not go into effect until after the Regional Forester has reviewed public comments and associated data.

The release said the proposal includes changing fees at 52 recreation sites including campgrounds, showers, dump stations, lookouts/cabins, and a trailhead. Many campsites would see an increase of $2 to $5 per site. Dump station and shower use are now free and proposed to be $10 and $2 respectively. Cabin and lookout rental fee increases vary by site, but the new fees would be $65 to $75 per night. Skillet and Dumont campgrounds would be converted to group reservation campgrounds. A complete list of sites with proposed changes can be found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/umpqua/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1049177

Written comments on the proposal should be mailed to the Umpqua National Forest, ATTN: Recreation Fees, 2900 Northwest Stewart Parkway, Roseburg 97471.