BLM Adjusts Long Term Visitor Area Fees - Affects Users within LTVAs in Arizona and California
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs/South Coast, El Centro and Yuma field offices have adjusted special recreation permit (SRP) fees for recreational use of long term visitor areas (LTVA) in Imperial and Riverside counties, California and La Paz County in Arizona, and have also revised supplementary rules applying to the LTVA program.
Fee adjustments are as follows: long-term (7-month) permit from $140.00 to $180.00, and short-visit (14-day permit) from $30.00 to $40.00. The authority for the BLM to require the purchase of a SRP for recreational use within special areas is contained in 43 CFR 2932.11(b). The authority for BLM state directors to adjust SRP fees for use of special areas is contained in 43 CFR 2932.32(d).
The BLM’s LTVA program was established in 1983 to meet the long-term camping needs of winter visitors and to provide special management and control measures for the protection of natural and cultural resources. The LTVAs have been designated through the BLM’s land use planning process as special areas where recreational use should be permitted so the BLM can address resource protection and public health and safety concerns. The designation of LTVAs ensures that suitable locations are available for long-term use year after year, and that areas with sensitive natural and cultural resources are not used for extended periods of time.
The BLM manages seven LTVAs. The Yuma Field Office manages the La Posa and Imperial Dam LTVAs, the El Centro Field Office manages the Tamarisk, Pilot Knob, and Hot Spring LTVAs, and the Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office manages the Mule Mountain and Midland LTVAs. The LTVAs are located in La Paz County, Arizona and Imperial and Riverside counties, California. The underlying authority for the designation of LTVAs is contained in 43 CFR 1601.0-3, and defined in 43 CFR 1601.0-5 (k)(1), (2),and (4).
The supplementary LTVA rules apply yearlong to all public land users within the LTVAs in Arizona and California. The BLM has determined that these supplementary rules are necessary to provide for public safety and health and to reduce the potential damage to natural and cultural resources of the public lands. The supplementary rules have been developed to meet the goals and objectives of the three field office resource management plans. Pamphlets with these rules are available in each field office managing a LTVA, are posted at all LTVA sites and facilities, and are provided to all visitors who purchase a LTVA permit.
Visitors must purchase a long-term or short-visit SRP for recreational use of the LTVAs. A SRP for use of the LTVAs is valid at all seven LTVAs for the duration of the permit’s validity. Except for areas closed to camping and other designated recreation fee sites, visitors may stay free of charge on public lands outside of LTVAs for up to 14 days in any 28-day period.
For further information call (928) 317-3200, (760) 251-4800, or (760) 337-4400.
Source: BLM
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