Water Gap - Proposed Entrance Fees

[NJSquatch]

NPS is proposing a park entrance fee for all activites as part of the Visitor Use Management Plan update.

The proposed overall entrance fee would be $25 per car/$20 per motorcycle. A seven-day pass would be $15 per person. A seasonal pass would be $45.

More information
https://www.njherald.com/news/20191008/water-gap-visitor-plan-proposes-overall-user-fee

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=220&projectID=55912&documentID=99017

Map of the recreation area
https://www.nps.gov/dewa/planyourvisit/maps.htm

[thmyorke1]

How do they plan to enforce it? I could see how they can just set up pay-for-parking at certain lots. Not all of them and just some of the more touristy spots.
I dont see any other way to enforce it.

Doesnt sound like an evil thing to just pay people to park in the high traffic areas and put that money into more park maintenance, but if they go overboard and lock down the whole place it's ridiculous and I can see already this wont be respected.

[Dave B.]

Thanks for posting this 'Squatch. I was going to do so last night but I fell asleep.

The entire visitor use management proposal is available for viewing at the link Squatch posted. The public comment period is currently open but only comments made via their website or by phone are accepted, no email comments will be accepted.

Personally I don't see how they could enforce this on the NJ side of the river at least since there are both state WMA lands within the NP as well as a private campground. On the Pa side there's not much beyond Rt 209 and a few roads that come down to it, all of which could be gated and monitored.

Definitely a BS proposal IMHO.

[Hookmanski]

$25 a day is a pretty crazy price. I think a lot of people would go to cheaper places like Spruce Run or Round Valley if they had to pay that much.

Also, 20 more campsites? I love camping and giving more access to the area would be cool, but also 20 more places people can ruin with garbage...

[NJSquatch]

Also, 20 more campsites? I love camping and giving more access to the area would be cool, but also 20 more places people can ruin with garbage...

charging a fee will more than likely keep the POS riff raff away. I wouldn't be surprised if the locals are all for this... that place gets trashed every weekend in the summer...

[akoop]

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

[Drossi]

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

Agreed. i'm tired of paying my license fees to fish on WMA and NPS land in NJ while others get to use (and abuse) them for free.

[NJSquatch]

As sportsmen we pay our hunting & fishing license fees but other outdoor activities such as hiking, photography, mountain biking, etc encounter no extra fees but they get to access the same areas. Maybe a reduced fee for licensed hunters & anglers. I know NJ was once thinking about a recreation permit for non-licensed hunters and anglers to use the WMAs. This makes sense to me, if the land is purchased and maintained through the license purchases then why should non-licensed activities benefit without contributing?

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

[akoop]

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

But isn't the Flatbrook WMA enclosed in that area too?

[sbalewitz74]

I think the movie goodfellas had it right, "business is slow, fu** you pay me, the building got struck by lightning, fu** you pay me, Oh you want to fish in nj, fu** you, pay me twice!!!!

[Doug Vitale]

The issue here is that this is Federal property. I would imagine they are going to get a lot of push back from the hunting and fishing community.

Worthington is state-land, and it suffers from the same problem as the Gap (too many visitors; too much trash).

charging a fee will more than likely keep the POS riff raff away. I wouldn't be surprised if the locals are all for this... that place gets trashed every weekend in the summer.

Spot on. The entrance fee will result in marked decrease of visitors, which is fine because the park is overpopulated during the warmer time of the year.

I think the movie goodfellas had it right, "business is slow, fu** you pay me, the building got struck by lightning, fu** you pay me, Oh you want to fish in nj, fu** you, pay me twice

Love it.

[Dave B.]

But isn't the Flatbrook WMA enclosed in that area too?

The Flatbrook/Roy WMA isn't enclosed within the DWGNRA, just surrounded by it on basically 3 sides. However the Walpack WMA is entirely within the national recreation area.

[FASTEDDIE29]

The new signs are up at the entrance/exit areas of the proposed area. This isn’t a proposal any longer. This is happening. I entered the area late this morning near Millbrook village where I saw the first sign. I headed south from there on Old Mine Rd., which is marked for road work on weekdays as of right now. The other sign marking the area is a hair south of the Poxono boat launch where the road closed gate is near the northern end of Worthington. Be prepared to pay if you explore this area from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. It’s happening and thankfully I don’t fish the area during these months unless the Shad are still around

[thmyorke1]

The new signs are up at the entrance/exit areas of the proposed area. This isn’t a proposal any longer. This is happening. I entered the area late this morning near Millbrook village where I saw the first sign. I headed south from there on Old Mine Rd., which is marked for road work on weekdays as of right now. The other sign marking the area is a hair south of the Poxono boat launch where the road closed gate is near the northern end of Worthington. Be prepared to pay if you explore this area from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. It’s happening and thankfully I don’t fish the area during these months unless the Shad are still around

How are they planning to have people pay + enforce it? You think all spots are being affected?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Not sure if the area goes north of Millbrook village. I didn’t travel that way. There are existing gates at the southern end of Old Mine rd. near Rt 80, then again a hair north of Worthington state park. The end would be Millbrook Village as far as I’ve seen.

[FASTEDDIE29]

I think there’s going to be a ranger collecting tolls kinda like what’s set up at Sandy Hook

[pickerelpete]

If you have time glance through the proposed plan and find they haven't worked out how to collect fees and enforce same. That will come after plan approval. The fee will be for the entire Recreation Area and may provide enough money to improve and add access areas on the NJ side of the river. Please send in comments as they need to hear from concerned NJ anglers and hunters.