Congress has expressed concern about the ability of fed. land mgmt. agencies to provide high-quality recreational opportunities to visitors, and in 1996 it authorized the recreational fee demo. program to allow agencies to test new or increased fees to help address unmet needs. This report reviews the implementation by 4 agencies -- Park Serv., Forest Serv., BLM, FWS -- of this program. The report reviews (1) the implementation of the program and the fee revenues generated; (2) the program's expenditures; (3) the agencies use of innovative or coordinated approaches to fee collection; and (4) the program's effects on visitation. Maps. Photos.

Congress authorized the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program to help federal land management agencies provide high-quality recreational opportunities to visitors and protect resources. The program focuses on recreational activities at the following four land management agencies: the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Forest Service. Under the fee demonstration program, participating agencies can collect fees at several sites and use them to (1) enhance visitor services, (2) address a backlog of needs for repair and maintenance, and (3) manage and protect resources. The agencies applied "entrance fees" for basic admission to an area and "user fees" for specific activities such as camping or launching a boat. Under the law, 80 percent of program revenue must be used at the site where it was collected. The rest may be distributed to other sites that may or may not be participating in the demonstration program. Some of the sites GAO surveyed experimented with innovative fee designs and collection methods, such as reducing fees during off-peak seasons and allowing visitors to use credit cards, but room for additional innovation exists, particularly in the areas of fee collection and coordination. The agencies also need to make improvement in three program management areas: evaluating their managers' performance in administering the fee program, developing information on which fee-collection and coordination practices work best, and resolving interagency management issues.