A Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Jan 05, 2024 167 likes •327 views

The North Carolina Forest Service A Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Dynamic Pricing and Revenue Programs Jason Guidry Forest Supervisor NC Registered Forester #1751 To protect, manage and

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The North Carolina Forest Service A Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

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Dynamic Pricing and Revenue Programs

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

Jason Guidry Forest Supervisor NC Registered Forester #1751

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The 2010’s: The Modern Era

In 2011, General Statute 106-877 designated the Forest as a recreational

forest, changing the name to DuPont State Recreational Forest.

In 2011, the Forest was a filming location for ‘The Hunger Games’,

released in 2012; eventually grossing ~$700 million dollars.

Henderson and Transylvania counties began public campaigns as a

‘biking mecca’ and touting outdoor recreation as an economic driver.

In 2015, the Master Plan for DuPont State Recreational Forest was

completed.

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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116 116 108 121 135 126 139 161 179 214 358 332 443 683 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Thousands of Visits

Year

Visitation Estimates for DuPont State Recreational Forest

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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Smart-phones emerge Hunger Games Release Visitor Center Opens 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Relative Interest

Social Media Interest in DuPont State Recreational Forest

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2015 14754 11428 31261 45713 77883 95350 98675 81352 70815 79323 42112 34480 2014 12,337 11,777 25,038 32,465 31435 62478 72273 58067 35517 56013 27226 18375 2013 12850 10098 16438 28965 31324 37650 59588 43949 29242 42287 9307 10915 2012 8283 10438 20901 34257 39337 46513 59671 39935 28940 38904 19701 11023 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000

Visitors Year and Month

Visitation By Month and Year for DuPont State Recreational Forest

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Vehicle Origins State July - Aug Sept - Oct Nov - Dec 6-month Average North Carolina 51% 49% 62% 50% South Carolina 11% 24% 14% 18% Florida 13% 6% 8% 9% Georgia 2% 6% 3% 4% Tennessee 1% 4% 2% 2% Virginia 2% 2% 2% 2% Ohio 2% 1% 1% 2% Pennsylvania 2% 1% 1% 1% Others 16% 7% 7% 12%

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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20 40 60 80 100 120 Greenville, SC Charlotte The Triad The Triangle Myrtle Beach, SC Nashville, TN Atlanta, GA

Social Media Interest in DSRF by Region

20 40 60 80 100 120 North CarolinaSouth Carolina Tennessee Georgia Florida New York

Relative Interest

Social Media Interest in DSRF by State

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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The Master Plan for DuPont State Recreational Forest

A Stakeholder Driven Process (surveys, site analysis, etc.)

Short Term Recommendations:

Improvement to parking areas.
Provision of restroom facilities.
Provision of trashcans and water at parking areas.
Potential method of collecting access fees.

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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Current Activity and Use Fee Programs

$10,880 $13,228 $19,551 [VALUE] As 4-5-16 $0 $5,000 $10,000 $15,000 $20,000 $25,000 $30,000 $35,000 12-13 13-14 14-15 15-16

Fiscal Year

DSRF Activity/Use Fee Collections

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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Proposed Fee Schedule

Fee Type Access Areas of DSRF Fees Considerations Day Use  High Falls  Hooker Falls

Mon - Thurs: $8 per vehicle per visit
Weekends and Holidays: $12 per vehicle per visit
Mon-Thursday: $20 per bus or large vehicle per visit
Weekends and Holidays: $30 per bus or large vehicle per visit

Comments:  No horse-trailers permitted in these Access Areas  Limited bus and large vehicle spaces in these Access Areas.

Account for ~75% of Annual Visitation
Areas of highest impacts and needs
Areas used primarily by

hikers/pedestrians

Current permit holders exempt
Average visitors per car = 2.6 people
$8 per day = $3.08 per person
$12 per day = $4.62 per person

Day Use  Lake Imaging  Fawn Lake  Guion Farm  Corn Mill Shoals  Other trailheads

$6 per vehicle per visit
$20 per bus or large vehicle per visit
Areas used by bicyclists and equestrian

groups

Current permit holders exempt
$6 per day = $2.31 per person

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Proposed Fee Schedule

Fee Type Access Areas of DSRF Fees Annual Fee All Access Areas

$30 per year for North Carolina resident.
$70 per year for out-of-State visitor.

*Consider discounts for other groups: 10% for veterans, senior visitors, active military 20% for Friends of DuPont Forest

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina

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Local Comparisons vs. $2.31-$4.32 per person

Facility Owner/Managing Agency Rates Season Passes

Local to DSRF

Cascade Lake Recreation Area Private $5 per vehicle

$2 for each additional

passenger Sliding Rock US Forest Service $2 per person $20 per large vehicle $25 Lake Powhatan Recreation Area US Forest Service $2 per person $30 North Mills River Recreation Area US Forest Service $3 per vehicle $30 Chimney Rock State Park NC Division of Parks and Recreation $15 per person $28 $7 per youth Table Rock State Park SC State Parks $5 per person during peak season $99 per person for Park Passport

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Regional Comparisons vs. $2.31-$4.32 per person

Facility Agency Fees Annual Fees

Regional to DSRF

Caesar’s Head State Park SC State Parks $2 per person trail access fee $99 per person for Park Passport NC Arboretum NC University System $12 per person $45 Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area US Forest Service $3 per person

Brasstown Bald Recreation

Area USFS $5 per person

Sunburst Campground

(Canton,NC) Private $3 per person $30 $3 per vehicle Grandfather Mountain State Park NC Division of Parks and Recreation $20 per person $70

State Level

Falls Lake State Recreation Area NC Division of Parks and Recreation $6 per vehicle $50 Kerr Lake State Recreation Area NC Division of Parks and Recreation $6 per vehicle $50 Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area Private $5 per vehicle $25 North Carolina Zoo NC Department of Cultural and Natural Resources ~$15 per person

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National Comparisons vs. $2.31-$4.32 per person

Facility Agency Fees Annual Fees

National Level

Shenandoah National Park National Park Service $20 per vehicle $10 walk-up fee $40 Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area National Park Service $3 per vehicle $35 Yosemite National Park National Park Service $30 per vehicle for 7-day pass $60 Yellowstone National Park National Park Service $30 per vehicle for 7-day pass $60 Grand Canyon National Park National Park Service $30 per vehicle for 7-day pass $50

To protect, manage and promote forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina