Is Fee Demo Worth Saving?

American Whitewater's Access Director Jason Robertson has been asked to speak in April on a panel of experts to the Forest Service about the effects of Fee Demo on recreational river runners. Specifically, Robertson has been asked to comment on the elements of Fee Demo that are working as well as the areas for improvement.

American Whitewater was asked to speak on the panel based on our long experience with issues related to Fee Demo. American Whitewater was the first national organization to oppose the program after we identified multiple problems and concerns with the manner in which it was implemented and targeted towards whitewater recreationists. More information about American Whitewater's experiences with Fee Demo is available.

Please share your experiences and comments about Fee Demo with American Whitewater, so that we may share them with the Forest Service. We are particularly interested in specific examples and situations where you have encountered fees on public lands while accessing America's rivers.

Notably, many organizations appear to beleive that Fee Demo is on the ropes and that it will not be extended this year without leadership from the House and Senate. However, given the overall lack of available funding for recreational lands management, American Whitewater is not so sure that the program will be allowed to fade away.

Send comments to Jason@awa.org.