A group opposed to paying for recreational access to public lands under a federal program plans a second protest at Yankee Boy Basin near Ouray on July 7.

"We want to let government officials and politicians know that this is a bad program," said Durangoan Jan Holt, one of the protest’s organizers. "People think this is just about paying fees, but it is not; it’s about the development and commercialization of public lands and turning public lands into a profit-making business vs. protecting the resources."

Entrance to the area through Ouray County Road 361 used to be free. The U.S. Forest Service now has a fee station on the road to collect $5 for vehicles and $2.50 for mountain bikes, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles for a two-day pass. An annual pass is $15 for vehicles and $7.50 for mountain bikes, motorcycles and ATVs. Hiking will continue to be free.

Holt’s group, the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition, will have people on the road leading to the basin, and some vehicles inside the basin to challenge the fee collection.

The coalition held its first protest in the basin May 25, the first day the fee-demo program went into effect in the Canyon Creek area, which includes Yankee Boy Basin, Imogene Pass and the Weehawken Trail.

Congress approved the fee program in 1996 to see if the public is willing to pay to play on taxpayer-supported lands. The program applies to lands nationwide managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and USDA Forest Service.

Locally, these programs include the Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores and the Cedar Mesa area in southeastern Utah.

The program is authorized through September 2002, but the test period ends Sept. 30, 2001. An evaluation report on the program is due in Congress on Sept. 1.

The debate boils down to federal land managers not having enough money to maintain public lands as more people hike, bike and drive in the wild. Congress historically has been unwilling to open the coffers, so the public is being expected to pick up the slack through public-private partnerships. Some opponents to the program say if Congress won’t spend the money, the lands should be shut down to prevent further degradation.

It is not a popular solution for supporters of the program.

"Economically that would be a disaster for the community and very sad for those of us who frequent the area," said Ouray County Commissioner Alan Staehle.

Ouray County commissioners unanimously support the program.

"The area’s visitation has increased so dramatically that it needs more resources," Staehle said.

The Forest Service says during the summer about 300 vehicles per day go back and forth on County Road 361. Staehle said better toilet facilities, more signs and brochures, and repairs to areas where people have strayed from the marked trails are all needed.

U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis, R-Colo., says people who use the areas most frequently should bear the brunt of the maintenance costs. The program is also supported by the American Recreation Coalition, whose members include Walt Disney, Coleman, Winnebago and ATV-manufacturers.

It is the corporate sponsors that have raised the most concern from the program’s opponents.

Holt said the program is a foot in the door to public lands for major corporations, which will make money off tourism and recreation-related infrastructure. "Disney, the Petroleum Institute and RV groups are only in this for profit," Holt said.

Opponents are also concerned that money from the program, which is supposed to be used locally, will end up going largely for overhead.

Holt said it is also misleading to say that hiking remains free. "You still have to hike 8 miles from the collection station to get to the Mt. Sneffels trailhead," she said.

Staehle said the county would still retain control of any proposed commercial development in the basin.

"At this point most of the locals here have accepted the fee as a relatively small price to pay," Staehle said. "It’s roughly the same for an annual pass as it is to drive to Montrose and watch a movie for the afternoon."

Staehle said it would be nice if the Forest Service’s budget were increased to correspond with increased recreation on public lands, but he understands the difficulties Congress has setting budget priorities.

"We (also) already have had huge congressional support for other projects, such as the Red Mountain Project," he said.

The Red Mountain Project is trying to protect 10,000 acres along U.S. Highway 550 between Ouray and Silverton from development Congress has approved $5 million in 2000, and the U.S. House has approved $4.6 million to buy and protect the high alpine acres.

"We don’t want to go whining to our congressional delegation that we need even more money on top of that, when this is a nationwide problem," Staehle said.