Residents have until Nov. 20 to share their thoughts with the National Park Service regarding proposed fee increases for some popular backcountry campground areas in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
The park service has suggested $5 increases per night at more than a dozen of its more rustic camping sites, as well as higher fees for tours of Round Spring.
The bump doubles the cost for some types of campsites, as well as cave tours.
They would go into effect in April, under the current plan.
Superintendent Larry Johnson said in a press release the new fees reflect an attempt to match the prices charged by private businesses operating around the park system.
"Under the current rate structure, the camping fees and cave tour fees at Ozark Riverways are lower than some privately operated campgrounds and show caves, and we do not want to undercut these local business owners," Johnson said, adding, "This rate increase will help us avoid that, and will also help provide additional funding that will be used for on-going improvements."
Camping fees last saw an increase at backcountry sites in 2008, and cave tours have not changed in price since 2003, the NPS said.
Camping at places like Alley Spring, Big Spring, Pulltite, Round Spring and Two Rivers would not see a price change. These are considered front country campgrounds by the park service.
Basic family backcountry sites for up to six people would go from $5 to $10 a night, while cluster sites for up to 20 people would increase from $15 to $20.
Adult cave tours would double, from $5 to $10, and children's tickets would go from $2 to $5.
This change would impact Big Tree, Grubb, Gooseneck, Bay Creek, Blue Spring, Rymers, Shawnee Creek, Two Rivers Primitive, Logyard, Sinking Creek, Cedar Grove, and Dee Murray.
Shane Van Steenis, who operates Harvey's river outfitters near Alley Mill, says he is concerned about seeing increases in fees, and losses in services. Trash service was removed from the backcountry sites in recent years, he said.
Van Steenis grew up on the Current and Jacks Fork rivers and says this type of camping has always been popular with visitors who want a more natural experience. The backcountry sites do not have water and offer a simpler experience, according to Van Steenis.
Other outfitters say they are still learning about the proposed fee increases, but want to see the rivers kept as natural as possible.
The park service recorded more than 13,000 backcountry campers in 2016, an amount that has dropped from highs of more than 63,000 in the 1980s.
Tent campers topped 51,000 and RV campers 22,000, according to an annual report on overnight stays.
While the backcountry camping was not broken down by site, traffic counts show Cedar Grove receives the highest number of visitors, with more than 100,000 vehicles counted in 2016. The area is located in the northernmost section of the park, near Montauk State Park.
Gooseneck, 15 miles south of Big Spring, saw traffic counts of less than 1,300 last year.
Logyard, 15 miles north of Van Buren, topped 13,500 vehicles, while Blue Spring, west of Eminence, and Two Rivers, where the Jacks Fork and Current rivers converge, were at approximately 10,000.
The Riverways keeps fees collected from its campgrounds and cave tours to help pay for improvements to facilities, such as upgrading restroom and shower facilities, maintaining trails, improving campgrounds and educational programs.
Installation of a new concrete shower house at Alley Spring campground in July 2017 is an example of the types of projects that can be accomplished, Johnson said.
To comment on the proposed rate increase, contact Lisa Figge at lisa_figge@nps.gov or (573)323-8144.