The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

National Park Service officials at Coulee Dam presented their proposal last week to boost boat launch and camping fees for Lake Roosevelt.

One of their main concerns, said Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area Superintendent Dan Foster, is that the current fee structure doesn't comply with the law against undercutting local business rates.

The NPS area's camping fees, for example are currently just $10 a night, compared to an average $18 in region, a park study found.

Foster said they held public meetings in Colville, Davenport and Coulee Dam.

In Coulee Dam, Stan St. Jeor, the only citizen to attend, said he had a somewhat negative view of the proposal until he heard Foster's presentation and plans on how to use the money brought in by increasing fees along the 155-mile lake with 26 campgrounds and 22 boat launches managed by the NPS.

It can't be used for salaries, despite the fact that the park has lost five fulltime positions in the last five years due to cutbacks from Congress.

A 2005 act of Congress mandates it be used for improvements and maintenance backlogs - things that benefit visitors.

Past projects have included such improvements as installing floating toilets for boaters and replacing damaged sidewalks.

The current wish list includes overflow parking and extended boat launch at Ft. Spokane, developing a canoe launch and accessible fishing pier at Crescent Bay, and a northern area deep water launch.

The park is proposing to simplify fees to an $18-per-night camping fee (up from $10) and $8 a week to launch a boat (up from $6) or $45 for a yearly launch permit.

The park sold 2,200 annual launch passes last year and 25,000 weekly passes.

If approved, fees could be raised in one year or phased in over several, Foster said.

Foster said the park needs people to comment, pro or con, by Oct. 31 so regional authorities can sense the public's feelings about the matter.

To comment:

Send an email through the park's website form at THIS SITE

• Visit their LR Facebook Page to leave your message on the page or to send a private message.

• Mail your comments to: Superintendent, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, 1008 Crest Drive, Coulee Dam, WA, 99116.