Buffalo National River proposes to increase fees at eight campgrounds, starting in March.

Fees would increase from $17 to $25 per day for camping sites with electrical hookups at Buffalo Point, Carver, Erbie, Kyles Landing, Ozark, Rush, Steel Creek and Tyler Bend. Fees would increase from $12 to $17 for camping sites that provide services, such as hot showers, but do not provide electricity.

“The fees are strictly to make the campgrounds so we can keep them in operation,”said Teri Gage, the park’s commercial services manager.

If fees remain the same, park officials will consider closing some campgrounds part of the year or shutting off electricity at some of the campgrounds part of the year, particularly at Buffalo Point, the most popular campground, Gage said.

Rates have remained the same for 10 years, despite rising prices for fuel and electricity, she said. In 2009, park officials upgraded the electrical service at Buffalo Point from 30 amps to 50 amps. The upgrade allowed visitors with motor homes and travel trailers to power air conditioners, microwaves and televisions.

And the electrical bill has more than doubled, Gage said.

The park service intends to pay for campground operations out of the fees collected from campers, but fees have not been enough to cover expenses, Gage said. The parks service has supplemented the campground budget with money from the budget for parks, which is supported by federal tax dollars.

The proposed fees are in line with the fees collected by privately owned campgrounds, she said.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 16 on 12/22/2012