To put this into perspective, the CURRENT watershed use permit fee for
recreational use of the area (the which most of us don't pay but by reg
should be) is $5 per visit or $60 dollars per year. The NEW regs would
increase the one-time fee to $6 or $70 per year. This is not a new fee;
the new regs just make it clear that birdwatching, hiking and other
nonconsumptive recreational uses of the area are specifically covered by
the permit fee. They are covered in the current fee structure but not
specifically mentioned as permitted uses. The new regs just clarify this
for anyone who said "I don't have to pay the fee because birdwatching isn't
specifically mentioned in the fee regs." The current regulations exempt
ONLY picnkicking ["All persons using the Watershed shall obtain and carry a
Permit (except picnicking"] and picnickers are restricted to the designated
picnic area. Whether this means WSSC personnel will be monitoring to see
if hikers and birders are carrying a permit any more than they currently do
is an open question.
Current regs and fee structure are at
http://www.wsscwater.com/home/jsp/content/watershed.faces#permitfees.
On Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 10:22 AM, Jason Berry <jgbrc...> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> While my first response to something like this is to bristle at having to
> pay to bird, I think it could actually be good. We in the birding
> community are used to having a pretty low cost hobby/sport/obsession...
> Costs associated with indoor climbing, dancing, hunting, golfing, swimming,
> skeet shooting, archery, fishing, boating, etc. range from access,
> membership, and licensing fees. While we spend money on equitpment and
> travel, we normally pay little if any of these other costs.
>
> While this is easy on the pocketbook, the lack of fees associated with
> birding significantly lowers it's profile in the minds of both public and
> private authorities. If birders had licenses or paid for access fees like
> this, maybe we'd be treated better. Personally I hate to feel like I'm
> sneaking into a good birding location - or have to rely on an informal okay
> from someone at one of these places that can easily be revoked at any
> time. If an access fee is paid, it formally recognizes birding and birders
> as having a legitimate right to bird in an area. Likewise, if we pay, we
> then have the right to ask for certain bird/birder friendly accommodations
> in exchange for our fees.
>
> A decade ago, there was a push not so much for access fees, but federal
> taxing(<1%) of outdoor sporting goods such as hiking boots, binoculars,
> camping equipment and have this money fund conservation and Park
> improvement. Unfortunately there wasn't enough support in the outdoor
> enthusiast community.
>
> Now, I know it would be easy to argue I an full of !@$%&, and that birding
> has such a minimal impact that there should be zero costs associated with
> it. There's a lot of truth to this, but we must remember that it was fees
> from hunting that led to the creation of the National Wildlife Refuge
> system and conservation easements of significant private lands. With the
> decline of hunting and the rise of birding we need to contribute our fair
> share if we want continue to enjoy this great sport!
>
> Jason Berry
> Washington, DC
>
> P.S. All that being said, the seasonal rate of $70 seems to be quite high
> if their purpose is to really gain $ support from birders rather than
> discourage birding...
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Bob & Jo Solem <odenata...>
> *To:* MD & DC Birding <mdbirding...>
> *Sent:* Friday, January 18, 2013 10:12 PM
> *Subject:* [MDBirding] DAILY BIRD WATCHING FEES PROPOSED FOR
> WSSC(brighton Dam, Duckett Reservoir, and Triadelphia Reservoir)
>
> If the proposed fee schedule is adopted, it will cost *$5/day or
> $70/season to birdwatch on WSSC property*. And that only during the open
> season of March 15 - November 30 EXCEPT with the authorization of the
> Watershed Manager (currently Jim Benton).
>
> "Bird Watching is allowed only at designated areas on WSSC property. In
> addition to the March 15 � November 30 season, special organized events,
> such as the annual Audubon Society Christmas Count will be coordinated
> through WSSC�s Watershed Manager."
>
> There is a public meeting at WSSC headquarters on *January 24*. Details
> are here:
> http://www.wsscwater.com/home/jsp/misc/genericNews.faces?pgurl=/Communication/NewsRelease/2013/2013-01-16.html
>
> --
> Bob <Solemodenata...>
> Laurel, MD 20723
>
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Rick Borchelt
College Park, MD
preferred personal email: rborchelt |AT| gmail |DOT| com
http://leplog.wordpress.com
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