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Proposed Fee Increase, Lava Beds National Monument

Lava Beds National Monument » Proposed Fee Increase, Lava Beds National Monument » Document List

National Park Service Directs Lava Beds National Monument to Increase Entrance Fees

Lava Beds National Monument is seeking public comment on possible fee increases in 2015. The current entrance fees have been in place since 2003.

Additional revenue raised by a fee increase would help provide visitor oriented projects. For example, in 2014, entrance fees funded a "Cave Rover" project, which hired, trained and placed a seasonal park ranger and two interns in the caves every day all summer, talking directly with Lava Bed's visitors about cave safety, geology, history and wildlife. Also in 2014, entrance receipts were used to design and create 4 new educational wayside exhibits on the historic Schonchin Butte fire lookout, which will be placed in the spring. Additional projects which fee dollars funded recently include 20 new educational signs along the Mushpot trail, a new vault toilet at the Schonchin Butte parking lot, a travelling educational 'trunk' shared with schools in California and Oregon which meet state education standards as well as an update of the park's webcam and a wildlife camera found in a cave.

Lava Beds National Monument requests public input into how increased fee revenue would best be used.

Lava Beds National Monument is a strong economic engine for the surrounding area. In 2014, approximately 135,000 park visitors contributed over $5 million dollars to the Klamath Basin economy and supported over 75 jobs related to tourism. Lava Bed's visitors travel from all over the region, country and world to experience the monument. The fee increase brings additional funds to the Klamath Basin that will be used to implement projects locally in the monument. This fee increase would be part of a larger National Park Service initiative to standardize fees in similar NPS units across the country. The new fees would be implemented in 2015, but that could vary based on public feedback.

A public comment period on the proposed fee increase is open from December 1 through December 31, 2014.
Public feedback will help determine how, or if, the National Park Service directs Lava Beds National Monument to increase fees.

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Lava Beds National Monument, established in 1925, is a land of turmoil, both geologic and historic. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. Lava tube caves, Native American sites, historic battlefields and a high desert wilderness experience await you!

For more information about visiting Lava Beds National Monument, call 530-667-8113, email labe_interpretation@nps.gov, or go to www.nps.gov/labe.

Please see full press release attached.

Contact Information

For additional information, please contact monument Superintendent Mike Reynolds at PO Box 1240, Tulelake, CA 96134; (530) 667-8101; or labe_superintendent@nps.gov