News Release Archive

Reclamation Announces Fee Changes at New Melones Lake Effective April 1, 2011

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: March 04, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation announces fee changes to be implemented at New Melones Lake in Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties. New Melones Lake is managed by Reclamation's Central California Area Office.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), Public Law 108-774, Title VIII, authorizes Reclamation to participate in a fee collection/retention program and the Nationwide Federal Interagency Pass Program. The REA program provides Reclamation the opportunity to continue to offer quality recreation services at New Melones Lake as Federal budgets are reduced. Following are New Melones fees effective Friday, April 1, 2011:

• Standard campsite fee of $22 per night
• Walk-in campsite fee of $18 per night
• Recreational Vehicle Dump Station fee of $8 for campers registered in New Melones campgrounds and $16 for users not registered in New Melones campgrounds
• Day Use fee of $8 per day
• Daily Camper's Overflow Vehicle/Visitor fee of $8 per day (includes the $8 day-use fee)
• Daily Boat launching fee of $10 per day (includes the $8 day-use fee)
• New Melones Lake Annual Day Use Pass for $50
• New Melones Lake Annual Boat Launch Pass for $70
• Eagle Point Group Picnic Area - $60 per day
• Fiddleneck Group Campground - $150 per night
• Oak Knoll Group Campground - $125 per night

Fee changes were developed based on a fee comparability study. There are no fee changes for the Federal Interagency Annual, Senior or Access passes, which are valid for day use at New Melones and other qualifying Federal recreation areas.

The Federal Interagency Annual Pass can be purchased for $80. The Senior Pass is a $10 lifetime pass, available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States age 62 or older. The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass, available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability. For information on the Federal Interagency Pass Program, please visit the website.

Individuals holding an Interagency Senior or Access pass or a Golden Age/Golden Access pass will receive a 50-percent discount on the purchase of the New Melones Lake Annual Boat Launch pass, as well as a 50-percent discount on expanded amenity fees, to include individual camping, overflow vehicle/camp visitor fee and recreational vehicle dump station fees. Individuals holding any of the three Interagency passes or the Golden Age/Golden Access pass do not need to purchase a day use pass or a New Melones Lake Annual Day Use Pass.

All of the passes may be obtained at the New Melones Park Administration Office, 6850 Studhorse Flat Road, Sonora, CA, 95370, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The public may also "earn" free Interagency and/or local passes by volunteering at federal parks.

Fees collected under REA are currently being used in the park to help fund enhanced law enforcement services and provide additional cleaning services at vault restrooms in the recreation areas and floating restrooms on the lake.

For additional information, please contact the New Melones Visitor Center & Museum at 209-536-9543 or visit the New Melones Lake website.  Map

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.