Secret USFS plans to close 100's of campgrounds, remove water pumps, privatize

I know most fly fisherman are ardent users of national forest
campgrounds. And of course so are backpackers and national park
visitors. In very sad news, the USFS has secret plans to close 100's
of your national forest campgrounds, to remove "outdated hand pump
water systems" in place of more advanced systems for RV'ers. Of the
campgrounds they keep, they plan to enlarge and create spaces for RV's
pulling ATV trailers, as well as create "modern" water systems and
electrical hookups + higher fees. Your favorite small no fee campground
tucked away in the national forest may become a thing of the past as
these areas will be closed so the USFS can focus on "Wal Mart"
campgrounds. These campgrounds will also likely be privatized. This is
one of the first steps in recent moves by the Bush adminsitration to
privatize our public lands system. A recent order to force the national
park service to operate at 30% cuts is another recent step. Please
contact the USFS and let them know what you think of this fiasco:

http://www.fs.fed.us/contactus/

Also please contact your congress people on this issue:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home


More on this story can be read he

http://www.wilderness-sportsman.com/ ( April 22 Wyoming )

"Campgrounds face closure
By BRODIE FARQUHAR
Star-Tribune correspondent Saturday, April 22, 2006

LANDER -- Tucked away in a corner of the U.S. Forest Service Web site
are plans and documents which could lead to the closure of hundreds of
campground water systems and ultimately, hundreds of campgrounds
themselves throughout the national forest system.

The time-hallowed practice of fetching water from a hand pump -- for
preparing meals, washing dishes or washing dirty kids -- may become a
thing of the past. Like a small-town post office, where people meet and
talk, the campground hand pump is where campers meet and talk, forming
friendships that can last a weekend or a lifetime."