Associated with the Fee Demonstration Program Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program in Section 315 of Public Law 104-134. Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. Conference Report language directs the agencies to evaluate the pilot demonstrations and to prepare a report to Congress on the results of the evaluation experiences of implementing the pilot fee program. Each agency has participated in an evaluation process to measure public reactions to the fee program, internally or through an outside contract. From each project manager we need data related to visitation, revenues, costs, and accomplishments associated with the demonstration fee program from your projects.
Management information needed for the evaluation is specified below.
Similar information is being obtained from each of the four agencies involved in the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. Since the information should be as comparable as possible across the four agencies, we are providing guidance to help you consistently report the management information. It is your responsibility as the manager of a fee demonstration unit or project to make certain that these data are collected, that they are accurate, and that they are consistent with the instructions. In order to compare results of the demonstration project with results prior to the initiation of the fee demonstration project there is also a request for some historical data. Do your best to complete the tables so that all four agencies can combine the data to make comparisons.