Change in use of annual Chattahoochee forest passes

GAINESVILLE - Because of the high impact of off-road vehicle use in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, annual U.S. Forest Service passes for the use of off-road vehicle trails will no longer be sold.

The U.S. Forest Service office in Gainesville has begun selling annual passes for 2004 for the day-use sites in the Chattahoochee and Oconee. But, that pass will no longer be honored on the off-road vehicle trails. It will be replaced by a daily five-dollar pass.

"The off-road vehicle trails are probably one of our more expensive recreation uses on the forest and have a high impact on the natural resources of the forest," said Forest Supervisor Kathleen Atkinson. "Therefore, we want to make sure the fees that are charged are adequate to keep the trails in good repair, protect water quality, and ensure that the sites are well signed and provide for the safety of the user."

The annual passes cost $25 each and allow admission to certain day use areas of the 865,000-acre Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests.

"It's a great deal for families who visit more than one recreation site or visit the same site several times over the course of a year," Atkinson said.

Fees for day use areas generally range from two dollars to five dollars depending on the site and the activity. The areas include developed picnic sites, shooting ranges, some trails, and boat launches. Developed campsites will continue to require a separate fee per site per night.