Forest Service Eastern Region Recreation Program

Mark Twain National Forest Fee Accomplishment Report 2011

Recreation fees are an investment in outdoor recreation. Current and future generations will benefit as 95% of the funds are 

reinvested in the facilities and services that visitors enjoy, use, and value.

Accomplishments Provided with Recreation Fees 

on the Mark Twain National Forest:

• Supported hosts at eight recreation sites, including day use 

facilities as well as campgrounds. These volunteers greeted and 

assisted visitors; cleaned toilets and sites; picked up litter; mowed

grass to reduce contact with ticks, insects and venomous snakes; 

and improved site security through their 24-hour presence. 

Nearly all operational tasks were accomplished twice as often at 

facilities with hosts. 

• Funded small contracts for garbage service and site clean-up and 

mowing at two recreation areas.

• Provided telephone and electricity at fee campgrounds.

• Increased security, visitor services, and cleaning frequency by 

funding a Forest Service presence on holiday weekends.

• Constructed a new kiosk at Sutton Bluff Recreation Area.

• Continued to provide water at the Loggers Lake Recreation Area 

by supplementing funds for a new power line and plumbing 

upgrades and repairs.

• Repaired fencing at Cobb Ridge Campground for resource 

protection. 

• Increased Forest Service presence during special recreation 

events on the forest and improved coordination and 

responsiveness to incidents that may arise during events.

• Increased maintenance on trails associated with competitive 

recreation events to improved trail conditions and safety.

Campground hosts Glenda and 

Robert Timms pose with Ava Ranger 

District staff. 

Campground hosts Kathy and 

Mark Mastin. 

Special Feature

Appropriated funds don’t always cover all 

costs associated with major recreation site 

renovation projects. In some cases, 

recreation fee funds are used to supplement 

those dollars for site feature construction. 

The new kiosk at the Sutton Bluff 

Recreation Area, shown below, is one such 

example of fee funds being used to add 

important site amenities.

Mark Twain National Forest 

Revenue & Expenditures

Revenue* 

Source Amount

Recreation Fees $202,205

Special Uses $22,007

Interagency Pass $6,355

Total $230,567

Expenditures

Source Amount

Maintenance & Repair $145,002

Visitor Services $25,000

Cost of Collections $24,000

Law Enforcement $3,200

Habitat Restoration $0 

Total $197,202

*Carryover funds will be used for large projects 

and the following season’s startup costs.
Mark Twain National Forest

Additional Accomplishments

• Continued restoration of trails devastated by the May 2009 derecho 

(straight-line windstorm associated with some severe thunderstorms).

• Removed hazard trees along motorized trail to improve safety. 

• Funded additional staff who completed motorized trail and area 

maintenance tasks and patrols with the goal of increased visitor safety 

and resource protection.

• Provided clean-up and site restoration following the April and May 2011 

flood events. 

Flooding at Eleven Point River Recreation Site

Eastern Region

Revenue & Expenditures

Revenue*

Source Amount

Recreation Fees $4,558,110

Special Uses $342,779

Interagency Pass $56,698

Total $4,957,587

Expenditures

Source Amount

Maintenance & 

Repair $2,758,967

Visitor Services $778,560

Cost of Collections $367,649

Law Enforcement $272,386

Habitat Restoration $54,528

Fee Agreements $0

Total $4,232,090

*Carryover funds will be used for large projects 

and the following season’s startup costs.

Information:

Mark Twain National Forest

Recreation Fee Program Contact

573-341-7472

Email:

nfeakes@fs.fed.us

Online:

www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf 

Regional Contact

414-297-3662

Email:

mheymen@fs.fed.us

The USDA is an equal opportunity 

provider and employer.