Lake Tahoe considers jacking up fees as visitors flood in angering locals

Lake Tahoe is seeing so many visitors that fees could be hiked for everything from parking to hiking — inadvertently affecting the locals who are already struggling with the area’s high cost of living.The US Forest Service is proposing new or increased recreation fees at roughly 40 destinations across the Lake Tahoe region, including Emerald Bay, Echo Summit, Desolation Wilderness and Kiva Beach.Public comment on the proposals is open until late September.Several locations that are currently free may end up becoming paid destinations, while some existing fees could increase over the next five years.For example, Kiva Beach may end up adding a $15 vehicle fee while parking is currently free.The existing $5 fee for the Eagle Falls Picnic Area and Trailhead may end up jumping to $15, as well.

Most fee increases at other sites would reach $15 to $20 under the proposal.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story The majority of the increased revenue from the fees would help the Forest Service maintain recreation sites, it said on its website.The money could help fund seasonal staffers, repave a parking lot and pay for other operational expenses.The area around Lake Tahoe “is experiencing increases in visitation and operating costs,” a spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle.Around 15 million people each year, the majority of them from California, visit the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to past estimates.But the potential for new fees is angering locals.The Tahoe Rim Trail Association, a nonprofit that advocates for preservation of the trails in the area, argues that the fees could limit public access to public lands.

Other funding sources, like federal grants and partnerships, should be pursued instead, it said.Locals from the area say they may see ...