Why prices at certain BLM recreation sites in Arizona could soon more than triple

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — The Bureau of Land Management proposes raising prices on over 20 campgrounds and recreation sites across Arizona, potentially affecting the nearly one million people visiting BLM lands in the state annually.

The agency’s field office in Yuma County has been notifying the public about the potential changes, which could lead to prices to more than triple in some cases.

In Yuma and Quartzsite, BLM is considering raising campground fees from $40 to $200 for 30-day permits and from $180 to $600 for seven-month long-term visitor permits.

It would apply to the Imperial Dam and the La Posa LTVA sites, whose infrastructure hasn’t been updated since 1983. Costs also haven’t been raised since 2008.

Ray Castro, the field manager for the Yuma Field Office, says increased funding would be used for repairs and modernizing some of the sites’ amenities.

“We need to improve our infrastructure. We have dump stations, water facilities that are deteriorating and they are aging,” said Castro.

Castro says they’ve been working on maintaining all the recreational areas, which includes providing amenities like drinking water, showers, dump stations, trash collection and security.

“Our service contracts have more than doubled over the years,” said Castro.

With the growing number of people using the sites, Castro says the costs have become unsustainable.

“Thousands of people do visit these campgrounds. It can be anything from a van built component, could be a tent camper, folks living inside of their vehicles,” said Castro.

Some of those include winter visitors like Katherine Corbett, who camp out on federal lands for the winter.

Corbett is retired and has a fixed income, so she says paying an extra $420 for a permit is out of her means.

“What do I give up? You know, if I want to be on that land with my friends, where do I cut? We understand there are expenses that need to be paid, but it’s causing an enormous hardship, and it would basically push us off,” Corbett said.

She says she knows a lot of folks in the same boat as her.

“I would be pushed off a community and services that give me a little bit of infrastructure, potable water, and a dump,” Corbett said.

Castro says the agency is looking into how these fees could impact the community. The proposed fees are just a draft right now, and the BLM is seeking public input before proceeding.

Public comment is open until Oct. 21. Campers like Corbett hope their voices are heard.

“I am so glad this land is available. I love it out there. If I can spend my winters in the desert and my summers up in the mountains , that is heaven to me,” Corbett said.

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