Fees hiked at Folsom Lake, Auburn SRA

The Gold Fields District of California State Parks announced fee increases at Folsom Lake and Auburn state recreation areas starting July 1. The changes in fees include a $2 increase in boat launching fees, a $3 increase in camping fees, and increases in day use fees in selected areas. Additionally, at Auburn State Recreation Area (SRA) new day use parking fee areas will be established at the Confluence and several other locations.

The increased fees are being implemented in conjunction with the new 25-year Managing Partner Agreement between State Parks and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the continued management of Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA. Through this new agreement, finalized earlier this year, all fees collected at Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA will be retained locally to offset the cost of operating and maintaining these two park units and to fund facility repairs and improvements.

For those who use Folsom and Auburn SRAs regularly, a State Parks annual pass is a good option. The Golden Poppy Annual Vehicle Day Use Pass is available for $125 and is good not only at Folsom and Auburn SRAs, but at nearly 100 other state park units. The revenues from annual passes sold at Folsom Lake and Auburn SRAs will also be retained locally to defray the cost of operating these units.

Passes are available at the Folsom Lake SRA office at 7755 Folsom-Auburn Road, Folsom 95630 and the Auburn SRA office at 501 El Dorado St. (Highway 49), Auburn 59603. Passes are also available from various entrance stations at Folsom Lake SRA and Lake Clementine during the summer season and Mammoth Bar on Sundays.

Gold Fields District Superintendent Matt Green said, “We recognize the increased fees place a greater burden on park visitors, but the ability to retain these fees locally for the maintenance and improvements at Folsom Lake and Auburn SRAs will directly benefit users of these recreation areas and help make these park units sustainable in the long run. We encourage Folsom and Auburn visitors to buy their annual passes locally.”

Reclamation Deputy Area Manager Drew Lessard said, “We hope the idea of retaining fees for use locally encourages the public to visit more often and purchase annual passes at Folsom Lake and Auburn SRAs greatly improving the sustainability of operations and public access to these priceless resources.”

For more information go to the Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA webpages at www.parks.ca.gov or call Folsom SRA at 916-988-0205 or Auburn SRA at 530-885-4527.