The California Desert Advisory Council met virtually for a discussion of ongoing projects as well as general updates on the lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in the Mojave Desert.
According to a report, one of the presentations was made by the Barstow Field Office, which is weighing a number of changes in its business plan.
A new fee structure is being considered for Sawtooth Canyon Campground, located between Lucerne Valley and Barstow.
“For people who are rock climbers, this is one of their favorite places,” said Jeff Childers, Barstow Associate Field Manager.
I’ve had a number of different people tell me there are as many climbing routes in Sawtooth Canyon or New Jack City as there are in all of Joshua Tree National Park.
The proposed fees are $10 for campers and $5 for day use which will be used for new campsites and capital improvements in the future.
There are a number of holidays and number of weekends in the winter season and fall season where you cannot find a campground spot in Sawtooth,” Childers said.
“As this continues to grow in popularity, we’ll need to address the overcrowding.”
The significance of the day pass is because sites attract a substantial number of day-use climbers who likely leave after climbing for the day, taking up a campground site that could have been used by campers who stay overnight, Childers said.
A day-use fee of $15 is also being considered for the Dument Dunes OHV Area and removing season and weekly non-holiday passes, as well as establishing a universal weekly pass for $35.
The dunes currently have a $30 pass for non-holiday weeks and a $40 pass for holiday weeks.
There were no proposed fee changes to the three fee sites in the Barstow BLM areas, El Mirage OHV Area, Owl Canyon Campground, and Afton Canyon Campground.
As per its website, Sawtooth Canyon Campground, also known by its nickname New Jack City, offers various outdoor recreation activities such as camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, rock climbing, and picnicking.
This story originally appeared on Mohave Daily News. Featured image from Bureau of Land Management.