LosPadresP2026Prospectus and All Appendices.pdf

Previous edition obsolete

FS-2700-34 (REV-02/2017)

OMB No. 0596-0082

Use Code 141

Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions

Los Padres National Forest

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Figure 1. A photo taken from the Los Padres National Forest.

Monterey, Mount Pinos, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Santa Lucia Ranger Districts

January 2026 i

Contents

I. Business Opportunity A. Introduction B. Area Description

Overview of the Los Padres National Forest C. Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities D. Government Furnished Property E. Government Furnished Supplies F. Utilities and Waste Management

Electrical and Phone Utilities Santa Barbara Ranger District Ojai Ranger District Monterey Ranger District Santa Lucia Ranger District Mount Pinos Ranger District

Propane Water Systems

Monterey Ranger District

1. Plaskett Creek Campground

2. Arroyo Seco Recreation Area (Day Use Area, Group, Family, and Primitive

Campgrounds) Santa Lucia Ranger District

1. Cerro Alto Campground Recreation sites with shared water system responsibilities

1. Santa Barbara Ranger District-Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area (10 Recreation

Sites)

2. Ojai Ranger District-Wheeler Gorge Water System (One Recreation Site)

Liquid and Solid Waste Disposal II. Forest Service Concession Programs and Policies

A. Recreation.gov B. Pass Discounts C. Camp Stamps D. Site Closure E. Administrative Use F. Applicable Forest Orders G. Fee Receipts and Compilation of Use and Revenue Data H. Customer Service Comment Cards I. Performance Evaluations J. Accessibility K. Camping Unit Capacity

Number of Vehicles Per Camping Unit Group Site Capacity Day Use Site Capacity

L. Stay Limit M. Fees Charged to the Public N. Law Enforcement O. Other Pertinent Information

Prospectus for Campground and Related Granger-Thye Concessions, Los Padres National Forest ii

Employee Housing Resource Concerns

General Invasive species and Noxious weeds

Archaeological and Historical Resources General Information

Hazard Tree Removal Butane and Propane Installations Recreation Sites to be repaired for future Concessionaire Management

III. Special Use Permit A. Permit Term B. Permit Holder Responsibilities

Responsibility for Day-to-Day Activities Permit Holder-Furnished Supplies and Equipment Holder-Furnished Vehicles Holder Maintenance, Reconditioning, or Renovation (MRR)

C. Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement D. Insurance

Liability Insurance IV. Application

A. Instructions for Submitting Applications B. General Terms, Qualifications, and Reservations C. Application Package Requirements

1. Proposed Annual Operating Plan (Including Required and Optional Services) Operating Season Staffing Supervision and Management Uniforms and Vehicle Identification

2. Business Plan, Business Experience, and References SBDC Review Performance Evaluations References

3. Financial Resources

4. Fees Charged to the Public

5. Fee to the Government

6. Application Fee

Cost Recovery D. Evaluation of Applications

V. Post-Selection Requirements iii

Appendices

Appendix 1: Vicinity and Area Maps

Appendix 2: Maps of Developed Recreation Sites

Appendix 3: Inventory of Government-Furnished Property

Appendix 4: Applicable Forest Orders

Appendix 5: Sample Use Report

Appendix 6: Sample Customer Service Comment Card

Appendix 7: Standard Performance Evaluation Form

Appendix 8: FSM 2342.1, Exhibit 01, Law Enforcement at Concession

Campgrounds

Appendix 9: Minimum Content of the Proposed Annual Operating Plan

Appendix 10: FS-2700-4h, Special-Use Permit for Campground and Related

Granger-Thye Concessions, and FS-2700-4h, Appendix-G, Operation of Federally Owned Drinking Water Systems

Appendix 11: FS-2700-4h, Appendix B, Annual Granger-Thye Fee Offset

Agreement

Appendix 12: Potential Government Maintenance, Reconditioning, Renovation, and Improvement Projects

Appendix 13: Indirect Cost Reimbursement Letter

Appendix 14: FS-2700-4h, Appendix H, Granger-Thye Fee Offset Claim

Appendix 15: Sample Collection Agreement for Granger-Thye Fee Offset Work

Appendix 16: Sample Business Plan

Appendix 17: FS-6500-24, Financial Statement

Appendix 18: FS-6500-25, Request for Verification

VI. Optional Appendices

Appendix 19: National Quality Standards for Recreation Site Management

(formerly Meaningful Measures)

Appendix 20: Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities

Appendix 21: Archaeological or Historical Resource Considerations

Appendix 22: List of Pertinent Materials

I. Business Opportunity

A. Introduction The Los Padres National Forest is soliciting applications from qualified applicants for a concession campground special use permit to provide high quality public service in the operation and maintenance of government furnished recreation facilities located on the Forest. One permit will be issued for all recreation facilities.

Important considerations are the travel patterns, visitation numbers and occupancies, length of season, revenue, cost of operations, and ancillary income opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to research all aspects of this business opportunity that may affect their application. Providing high-quality customer service and generating revenue are critical parts of this opportunity.

This prospectus is being issued to solicit applications for a concession campground special use permit. A permit to provide high-quality public service in the operation and maintenance of Government-owned recreation facilities located on the Los Padres National Forest, will be issued. The permit will include the following developed sites:

Mandatory Sites

Monterey Ranger District

1. Arroyo Seco Recreation Area

a. Arroyo Seco Family and Group Campground

b. Arroyo Seco Day Use Area

2. Bottcher’s Gap Campground*

3. Kirk Creek Campground

4. Plaskett Creek Family and Group Campground

5. Mill Creek Day Use Area

6. Pfeiffer Beach Day Use Area

7. Sand Dollar Day Use Area

8. Willow Creek Day Use Area

Santa Lucia Ranger District

1. Cerro Alto Campground

2. Davy Brown Campground

3. Figueroa Campground*

4. Nira Campground

5. Navajo Flat Campground and OHV Staging Area

6. La Panza Campground

7. Turkey Flat OHV Day Use and Staging Area

Ojai Ranger District

1. Wheeler Gorge Campground

2. Holiday Group Campground

3. Pine Mountain Campground

4. Reyes Peak Campground

5. Reyes Peak Trailhead

6. Rose Valley Campground

7. Middle Lion Campground

8. Rose Valley Upper Lake Day Use Area

9. Rose Valley Lower Lake Day Use Area

Mount Pinos Ranger District

1. McGill Campground

2. McGill Group 1 and 2 Campgrounds

3. Mount Pinos Campground

4. Reyes Creek Campground

5. Ballinger Campground

6. Campo Alto Campground

7. Chuchupate Campground

Santa Barbara Ranger District

1. Fremont Campground

2. Paradise Campground

3. Los Prietos Campground

4. Sage Hill Group Campground

5. Upper Oso Campground*

6. Upper Oso Trailhead

7. White Rock Day Use Area

8. First Crossing Day Use Area

9. Lower Oso Day Use Area

10. Aliso Trailhead

11. Falls Day Use Area

12. Live Oak Day Use Area

13. Red Rock Trailhead

14. Red Rock Day Use Area*

Optional Sites

Ojai Ranger District

1. Piedra Blanca Trailhead

2. Dough Flat Trailhead

3. Potrero Seco Campground*

4. Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center

Santa Barbara Ranger District

1. Middle Santa Ynez Campground*

2. P-Bar Campground*

3. Big Caliente Picnic Area*

4. Lower Caliente Campground*

*Recreation site requires deferred maintenance/rehabilitation work before reopening

The authorized officer for this business opportunity is the Forest Supervisor for the Los Padres National Forest.

Kimberly Winter, Forest Supervisor

Los Padres National Forest

1980 Old Mission Drive

Solvang, CA 93463

In the past, the majority of the sites included in this prospectus were managed under one forest wide permit. Over the past three years, these concessions have generated the following gross revenues

(including camping fees, firewood sales, extra vehicle fees, etc.) The revenue numbers below do not include sales of Adventure Passes or revenue for the sites that have been previously operated by the

Forest Service.

The current permit for this concession expires on October 31, 2026. Over the past three years, this concession has generated the following gross revenues:

Table 1. Three Year Average Gross Revenue

Year Gross Revenue

2022 $3,958,143.00

2023 $2,411,757.00

2024 $3,254,643.00

Three Year Average Gross Revenue $3,208,181.00

B. Area Description

Overview of the Los Padres National Forest

Los Padres National Forest encompasses approximately 1.75 million acres of central California's scenic

Coast and Transverse Ranges. The forest stretches almost 220 miles from north to south and consists of two separate land divisions. The northern division is within Monterey County and northern San Luis

Obispo County and includes the beautiful Big Sur Coast and scenic interior areas. The northern division includes all the sites on the Monterey Ranger District. The central division of the forest includes lands within San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Kern counties and includes all the sites for the remaining four ranger districts.

Recreation sites being offered in the prospectus are campgrounds, day use/picnic areas, and trailheads.

These recreation sites are distributed along State Highways and Forest development roads, both paved and dirt. The elevations for these sites range from sea level to over 8,000 feet. The major recreation activities on the forest are driving for pleasure, camping, picnicking, fishing, horse-back riding, hiking, OHV riding, viewing wildlife, hunting, and water-based recreation activities.

The major season of use is May 15 through October 31, although some facilities are operated year-round.

Winter storms and landslides have been known to close road systems leading to facilities offered in this prospectus, thereby reducing public access to these sites for up to six months at a time.

Nationally designated scenic byways, recreation areas, hiking trails, Wild and Scenic rivers, OHV routes/trails, and wilderness areas attract visitors to the Los Padres National Forest. Campgrounds, day use areas, and recreation areas offered in this prospectus provide exceptional access to all that the Los

Padres National Forest has to offer. A sampling of the most popular national forest recreation opportunities is highlighted below.

• Scenic byways—The Big Sur Scenic Byway is an approximately ninety-mile expanse of redwood and fog-trimmed waterfront route hugging the coast and offering magnificent ocean vistas, wildlife viewing opportunities, and access to hiking trails. The Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway is a thirty-eight-mile segment of State Highway 33 connecting the coast to the Cuyama and San

Joaquin Valleys. This byway traverses through some of the most picturesque and diverse terrain in Southern California.

• Recreation Areas—The Pine Mountain Recreation Area, at an altitude of 6,650 feet, provides cooler weather in summers and snow in the winter. It provides an array of recreation opportunities like hiking, backpacking, camping, and solitude. The Reyes Peak campground and the Reyes Peak trailhead, are both in the Pine Mountain Recreation Area. The Reyes Peak trailhead takes forest visitors into the stunning and spectacular Sespe Wilderness. The Figueroa

Mountain Recreation Area located in the Santa Lucia Ranger District provides amazing views of the San Rafael Wilderness and attracts many visitors in the spring to view and experience wildflower blooms. The Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area found in the Santa Barbara Ranger

District is very popular for both day visitors and overnight campers. With its close proximity to

Southern California, the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area attracts hundreds of forest visitors eager to cool off in the various water holes of the Santa Ynez river.

• Wild and Scenic Rivers—The Los Padres National Forest manages the three following Wild and

Scenic rivers the Sespe, Sisquoc, and Big Sur; and co-manages Piru Creek with the Angeles

National Forest. These four river systems combine for a total of over 90 miles of habitat that supports various threatened and endangered species such as the steelhead trout, California red-legged frog, foothill yellow-legged frog, Pacific giant salamanders, and the arroyo toad. A variety of recreation activities such as hiking/backpacking, dispersed camping, horseback riding, fishing, and water play occur along these four Wild and Scenic Rivers.

• Condor Trail—Is a developing multi-district hiking/backpacking thru-trail approximately 400 miles in length extending from Lake Piru in the south to Botcher’s Gap in the north.

• Wilderness Areas—Ten congressionally designated Wilderness areas encompass 48% of the Los

Padres National Forest, making up 875,000 acres and contributing to the popularity of hiking and other recreational opportunities like hunting, backpacking, and pack stock excursions.

• Popular Hiking trails—Over 1,200 miles of hiking trails exist on the Los Padres National Forest providing exceptional access to and experiences for recreational year-round activities including interpretive, river, hiking, horse, OHV, and bicycling trails. Some of the more popular trails include the Pine Ridge Trail, Santa Paula Canyon trail, the Sisquoc Loop (Sisquoc/Manzana

Trails), Jesusita Trail, and the Santa Cruz National Recreation Trail.

• OHV—routes/trails like Divide Peak OHV route offers 12 miles of trails providing amazing views of the Santa Barabara coastline, the Upper Santa Ynez Valley, and the San Rafael

Mountains. The Camuesa-Buckhorn OHV trail is approximately 10 miles in length offering magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and is very popular during the late summer/fall hunting season. The Mt. Pinos Ranger District has numerous off highway vehicle routes.

These include a number of very popular trails and riding areas such as Ballinger Canyon and Deer Park.

For general information on the Los Padres National Forest and the sites included in the prospectus, refer to the forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres.

C. Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities The description of each developed recreation site included in this prospectus is found in Appendix 20, Description of Developed Recreation Sites and Facilities. Please use descriptions in Appendix 20 together https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/lospadres with the maps of developed sites in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3, Inventory of Government-Furnished

Property.

D. Government Furnished Property The Forest Service will provide certain property in conjunction with the concession campground special use permit (see Appendix 3 of the prospectus). Included in this inventory are a description, the quantity, and the estimated replacement cost of the applicable property.

E. Government Furnished Supplies The Forest Service will not furnish any supplies for day-to-day operation of the concession. Government-furnished supplies will be limited to those necessary for programmatic consistency, including:

• Forms to report use and revenue (See Appendix 5).

• Customer Service Comment Card (See Appendix 6).

• A copy of the Forest Service publications including, Cleaning Recreation Sites, and In-Depth

Design and Maintenance Manual for Vault Toilets, and Vault Toilet Pumping Contract

Specifications and Guidelines for Preparing Contracts, Sustainable Recreation Site Design Guide, and Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guide (FSORAG), and Sign Guide

Installation, and Landscape Aesthetics, and The Built Environment Image Guide, and Multiple

Property Documentation Form, National Recreation Context, and Region 5 Programmatic

Agreement for Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for

Management of Historic Properties by the National Forests of the Pacific Southwest Region (R5

PA) and The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties With

Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating and Reconstructing Historic Buildings, and Land

Management Plan, Part 3, Design Criteria for the Southern California National Forests (See

Appendix 22).

• Title VI signs.

F. Utilities and Waste Management Certain utilities and infrastructure exist for the developed recreation sites identified in this prospectus.

The permit holder will be responsible for securing, managing, and paying for these utilities. Applicants should contact current service providers to obtain estimated costs for the utilities. These utilities are listed below in Table 2.

Electrical and Phone Utilities Phone service is covered by the concessionaire for the entry kiosk. The Forest Service covers the office and fire stations. Individuals living on site pay for their own phone service (Forest Service & concession employees). Propane is paid for by the concessionaire, where it is used for the water heaters in the

Modern Campground showers. The operation and maintenance of the electrical and telephone utilities provided to recreation sites is the responsibility of the permit holder.

Table 2. Utilities

Service Contact

Electrical SCE/PGE

Telephone AT&T

Propane Suburban Propane, Amerigas, Delta Liquid Energy

Garbage ORD-Harrison, SLRD/SBRD- Marborg Industries, MPRD- E&J Harrison, Price (Mountainside), Marborg, MRD-Waste Management

Liquid & Solid Waste Disposal ORD-BPM Services Inc., SLRD-North County Septic Service, SBRD- Marborg Industries, MPRD-Santana's Pumping, MRD-Waste

Management

Santa Barbara Ranger District

In the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area located in the Santa Barabara Ranger District, electrical and phone services are provided to the campground host sites at Fremont campground, Paradise campground, Los Prietos Campground, White Rock Day Use Area, Sage Hill Group Campground, and Aliso Trailhead.

The permit holder is responsible for maintaining the phone and electrical services to and at these facilities. Recreation site garbage services and liquid and solid waste disposal are both provided by

Marborg Industries.

Ojai Ranger District

Wheeler Gorge Campground located in the Ojai Ranger District consists of 68 family campsites. They include 3 double sites suitable for larger families. In addition, the campground includes two host sites;

one has water, electricity, and phone and the other host site has water, electricity, septic tank (1,000 gal.), and phone. Recreation sites garbage services are provided by Harrison, and liquid and solid waste disposal services are provided by BPM Services Inc.

Monterey Ranger District

Plaskett Creek Campground has phone services and electrical services which are supplied to the employee area by generator. Arroyo Seco campground has both phone and electrical service. Phone service is covered by the concessionaire for the entry kiosk. Forest Service covers the office and fire stations.

Individuals living on site pay for their own phone service (Forest Service & concession employees).

Recreation site garbage services and liquid and solid waste disposal are provided by Waste Management.

Santa Lucia Ranger District

At Cerro Alto Campground, the host site cabin includes both telephone and electrical service, and maintenance of these utilities is the responsibility of the permit holder. Figueroa Campground does not have phone and electrical service. Electrical power at the host site is supplied by a generator, which the permit holder must provide and maintain. Recreation site garbage services are provided by Marborg

Industries, and liquid and solid waste disposal services are provided by North County Septic Service.

Mount Pinos Ranger District

Reyes Creek campground has electricity available and will require the host to be self-contained at one camp site. McGill Campground has an available camp host site at site number 9 and must be fully self-contained. Recreation site garbage services are provided by E&J Services, Price (Mountainside) Disposal, and Marborg. Liquid and Solid Waste Disposal is provided by Santana's Pumping & Plumbing.

Propane Propane is paid for by the concessionaire where it is used for the water heaters in the Modern

Campground showers. Some of the companies that service the various districts and the associated recreation sites are Suburban Propane, Ameri-gas, and Delta Liquid Energy.

Water Systems

Drinking water systems are located at 5 recreation sites presented in this prospectus. The permit holder has full responsibility for water system operation and maintenance at 3 of the sites which are listed below, and shared responsibility with the Forest Service at the 2 remaining sites. The water system description and responsibilities are listed in this section.

At each of these sites the operation and maintenance responsibilities by the permit holder include maintaining the wells, chlorinators, all water system distribution lines, hydrants, comfort stations, and host sites. The permit holder is responsible for water quality testing and meeting all required health and safety codes. Appendix 10 of the prospectus includes an attachment to the Special Use Permit Titled

Appendix F: Operation of Federally Owned Drinking Water Systems which describes specific requirements. If a water system were to become temporarily inoperable, the concessionaire may provide potable water and portable toilets at their expense.

Table 2. Water Systems

Location Water

Systems

Storage

Capacity

Details

Permit Holder Responsibility Sites

Plaskett Creek

Campground

1 20,000 gallons

Currently one of the tanks is offline, resulting in only 10,000 gallons capacity

Arroyo Seco

Recreation Area

1 24,000 gallons

Modern Campground, Group Campground, Primitive Campground, and Day Use Area

Cerro Alto

Campground

1 2,500 gallons Currently water system is offline

FS/Permit Holder Shared Responsibility Sites

Lower Santa Ynez

Recreation Area

2 162,000 gallons

Santa Barbara District Ranger Station, Forest

Service compound and warehouses, Forest

Service barracks, Forest Service trailer park, Forest Service houses, Fremont campground, Paradise Campground, Los Prietos

Campground, White Rock Day Use Area, Sage Hill Group Campground, Aliso

Trailhead, First Crossing day use area, Lower

Oso Day Use Area, Upper Oso Campground and Trailhead.

Wheeler Gorge

Campground

1 10,000 gallons

Wheeler Gorge Campground, Forest Service fire station, and a visitor center.

The description of each of these water systems is as follows:

Monterey Ranger District

1. Plaskett Creek Campground

The water system is composed of a horizontal well, one 10,000-gallon bolted steel water storage tank, and a distribution system serving one campground area with 42 campsites, one host site, two restroom buildings, a group campground area with two campsites, and a concessionaire employee area with five sites.

Operation and maintenance of the water system will be the responsibility of the permittee. This will include all day-to-day operation and maintenance activities for the entire water system, including providing a state certified treatment/distribution operator (T1 or D1 at a minimum), all required sampling and testing, as well as permit fees. Any major water system breakdowns will be the responsibility of the concessionaire; however, Granger-Thye fee offset may be utilized to make repairs through a Granger-

Thye Fee Offset Agreement.

2. Arroyo Seco Recreation Area (Day Use Area, Group, Family, and Primitive Campgrounds)

The water system supplies drinking water to an administrative office, administrative site (a trailer park with six spaces), fire station, three campground areas, and a day use area.

The system is comprised of a 65 foot well, pump house, an ozone and filtration water treatment system, two 12,000-gallon steel storage tanks, approximately 13,300 linear feet of water transmission line, 30 hose bibs, and 3 fire hydrants. Water flows by gravity from the storage tanks through the distribution system, which consists of 3 and 4-inch PVC main lines and PVC or galvanized pipe laterals to the buildings, trailer hookups, and campground hydrants.

Operation and maintenance of the water system will be the responsibility of the permittee. This will include all day-to-day operation and maintenance activities for the entire water system, including providing a state certified treatment/distribution operator (T1 or D1 at a minimum), all required sampling and testing, as well as permit fees. Any major water system breakdowns will be the responsibility of the concessionaire; however, Granger-Thye fee offset may be utilized to make repairs through a Granger-

Thye Fee Offset Agreement.

For water system breakdowns occurring within the shared administrative site, repairs will be considered on an individual case by case basis and Granger-Thye fee offset may be utilized to make repairs through a

Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement. Water system breakdowns occurring outside the recreation area boundary on the lateral line to the fire station and office will be repaired by the Forest Service.

Santa Lucia Ranger District

1. Cerro Alto Campground

Drinking water is supplied to the campground by an onsite well and storage tank. The tank at Cerro Alto is 2,500 Gallons. The tank is located behind the host cabin. It is fed through a well located in a box enclosure near the amphitheater. There is a float in the tank so that when the water gets too low, it triggers the well to pull water, which is electronically powered.

Recreation sites with shared water system responsibilities

1. Santa Barbara Ranger District-Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area (10 Recreation Sites)

The Lower Santa Ynez water system is a public-community water system that serves both Forest Service administrative sites and 10 public recreation sites. The system is extensive and consists of two wells located in the Forest Service compound, two 50,000-gallon storage tanks, one 12,000-gallon storage tank, and a distribution system consisting of a main trunk line running parallel to Paradise Road and distribution systems for each facility and recreation site.

The Lower Santa Ynez system provides water to the Santa Barbara Ranger District, Los Prietos Ranger

Station, Forest Service compound and warehouses, Forest Service barracks, Forest Service trailer park, and Forest Service houses. The water system also provides water to Fremont Campground, Paradise

Campground, Los Prietos Campground, White Rock Day Use Area, Sage Hill Group Campground, Aliso

Trailhead, First Crossing Day Use Area, Lower Oso Day Use Area, Upper Oso Campground and

Trailhead. Due to breaks in waterlines, water is presently unavailable at First Crossing Day Use Area, Lower Oso Day Use Area, and Upper Oso Campground; Forest is completing reports required for repair to proceed.

The Forest Service will retain responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the wells, trunk line, electricity expenses, and water system outside the boundaries of the campgrounds, and all day use areas and trailheads, except those without water accessibility (eg. Falls and Red Rock Day Use Areas). The

Forest Service will also maintain the chlorinator, pumps, and be responsible for water testing. The Permit

Holder will be responsible for operating and maintaining the internal water system distribution lines, hydrants, comfort stations, and host sites as within the recreation site boundaries as indicated in Appendix

10. In summary the Forest Service is responsible for supplying water to the point of demarcation between the FS-operated line sections and the section of line for the sole purpose of permittee run recreation activities.

The permit holder is responsible for the water system within the recreation site boundaries and the water lines leading to the recreation sites after the point of demarcation, where joint use ends. For the water line that supplies White Rock, Paradise, Fremont, and other sites along Paradise Road west of the employee trailer park, the permittee will have responsibility for line maintenance west of the point where the lateral to the FS employee trailer park is, adjacent to the Snyder Trailhead. For the section of the system that supplies First Crossing, Lower Oso, and Upper Oso, the permittee will be responsible for maintenance of distribution lines after the small water tank that supplies those lines.

When the water system may be temporarily inoperable, the concessionaire may provide potable water and portable toilets at their expense. The Forest Service is responsible for the necessary water sampling in the recreation area.

The cost of annual operating expenses of the Lower Santa Ynez Water System outside the recreation sites will be shared equally between the Forest Service and the permit holder. The Forest Service and the permit holder will each pay 50% of the operating costs of the water supply system. The permit holder will enter into a Collection Agreement with the Forest Service and will be billed annually for the permit holder’s 50% of the water system expense.

2. Ojai Ranger District-Wheeler Gorge Water System (One Recreation Site)

The water system provides drinking water to the Wheeler Gorge Campground as well as a Forest Service fire station and a visitor center.

Operation and maintenance of the water system serving Wheeler Gorge Campground will be the responsibility of the permittee. This will include all day-to-day operation and maintenance activities for the entire system, including all required sampling and testing as well as permit fees. This will include all waterlines within the campground boundary as well as the main distribution line from the well house to the storage tank and back to the campground. Water is pumped from the well up to the 10,000-gallon storage tank, then gravity-fed to the campground. In addition to serving this campground, the water system also serves a Forest Service fire station and a visitor center. A collection agreement is anticipated for the minor Forest Service share (10-15%) of total operational costs of this system. The permittee must have a state-certified water treatment operator to operate the water system.

Routine maintenance of the waterline and water system will be performed at permittee’s expense. Any major water system breakdowns will be the responsibility of the permittee; however, Granger-Thye fee offset may be utilized to make repairs through a Granger-Thye Fee Offset Agreement. Water system breakdowns occurring outside the campground boundary on the two lateral lines to the fire station or visitor center will be repaired by the Forest Service. Permittee is responsible for operating the system to

State and Forest Service standards.

Liquid and Solid Waste Disposal

The permit holder is responsible for pumping all vault toilets and septic systems at the developed recreation sites. The current providers for the Forest’s five ranger districts are the following, Ojai Ranger District — BPM Services

Monterey Ranger District — Waste Management

Mount Pinos Ranger District — Santana's Pumping & Plumbing

Santa Barbara Ranger District — Marborg Industries

• Flush toilets at Fremont Campground are inoperative due to break in septic line; Forest is completing reports required for repair to proceed.

Santa Lucia Ranger District — North County Septic Service

II. Forest Service Concession Programs and Policies Government-owned concessions are authorized by special use permits issued under Section 7 of the

Granger-Thye (GT) Act, 16 U.S.C. 580d, and implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 251, Subpart B.

In addition, there are certain Forest Service programs and policies that apply to campground concession.

All applications must be consistent with these requirements.

A. Recreation.gov The Los Padres National Forest participates in Recreation.gov, which provides nationwide, toll-free telephone reservations for single-family or group camping sites, rental cabins, permits, tours, tickets, and other recreational facilities. Visitors pay the camping fee at the time they make a reservation, and no fees are collected at the site (although the permit holder may allow occupancy of any site that is unreserved and charge on site for that use). Recreation.gov is part of the Recreation One-Stop Program, which is managed by the Washington Office Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff. The Forest

Service contacts and program managers for Recreation.gov are listed below. Applicants should not contact the Recreation.gov contractor directly.

Table 3. Rec.gov contacts

Name Location Contact

Griffin Schireman Forest Service Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR)

Phone: (202) 360-7234

Email: Griffin.Schireman@usda.gov

Recreation.gov is the only authorized reservation system for Forest Service-developed recreation sites, including but not limited to campgrounds, cabins, and group use areas. Applicants may recommend adding sites to or deleting sites from Recreation.gov or changing the number of sites that may be reserved, the minimum number of days per reservation, or the location of sites that may be reserved. The permit holder also may make these recommendations during the term of the permit. The authorized officer will decide whether to accept or reject the recommendations.

Under Recreation.gov, the following guidelines must be followed, unless there are compelling operational reasons:

1. For each developed recreation site included in Recreation.gov, at least 60 percent of the units must be available for reservations. The rest of the units may be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis.

Reservation windows vary by type of site and are as follows:

• Individual campsites: from 6 months to 0-4 days prior to arrival date, depending on location.

• Group use areas: from 12 months to 0- 4 days prior to arrival date, depending on location.

2. When Recreation.gov is utilized, the permit holder is responsible for on-site administration and will be required to:

• Obtain daily arrival reports (DARs) each morning by establishing at least one central facsimile location, email address, or other means of obtaining and distributing DARs.

• Develop a system for posting reservations at the sites so other visitors know which units are reserved.

• Post and hold reserved sites for 26 hours past the posted check-in time.

• Ensure that the party with the reservation is the party using the site.

• Resolve any disputes over the use of reserved sites by drop-in campers.

• Verify that visitors hold a valid federal pass (listed below) before giving the discount on fees for those passes (see section II.B). Do not discount fees if a visitor cannot present a valid pass.

♦ Golden Age or Golden Access Passport.

♦ America the Beautiful–The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass or

Access Pass.

♦ Other passes as required by the authorized officer and described in this prospectus, such as local area passes.

• Develop inventory data for sites being added to Recreation.gov, and update data for sites including fees charged the public and temporary site closures. Submit data updates to Recreation.gov at least annually.

• Communicate to Recreation.gov any emergency closures or other relevant operational changes as they occur.

• Approve customer refunds as appropriate and process them through Recreation.gov. Refund policies can be found at Recreation.gov (https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies).

Because reservations can be made up to a year in advance for group sites and up to 6 months in advance for family sites, Recreation.gov is currently accepting reservations for the upcoming operating season.

Fees received by Recreation.gov will be held by the Forest Service and distributed following issuance of a special use permit to the successful applicant. In the final year of the permit, fees will be held in the same manner until a new permit is issued. The permit holder will honor reservations made prior to issuance of the permit at the price in effect when the reservations were made. If funds are distributed prematurely for dates outside the permit term, a bill for collection will to be issued to the permit holder.

B. Pass Discounts The permit holder must provide a 50 percent discount on recreation fees charged under REA at developed recreation sites covered by this prospectus to holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports, as well as holders of the Interagency Senior and Access Passes.

Specifically, holders of these passes are entitled to a 50 percent discount on the fee for a single campsite occupied by the pass holders. The pass holders are not entitled to a discount on the fee for a multiple-family campsite, cabin, or group use area or any additional campsites occupied by those accompanying the pass holders. The 50 percent campsite discount does not include utility, water, or any other hookup fees.

Any loss of fee revenue from honoring the passes should be factored into applicants’ bids.

The permit holder will not be required to offer discounts on camping to holders of the Annual or

Volunteer Pass.

The following is a list of sites covered by this prospectus where the 50 percent discount for passes applies:

All sites listed in section I, A. where there are single family sites are eligible for the 50 percent discount.

Standard Amenity Recreation Fee Sites Under REA [Reserved]. The Forest Service is proposing a revision to FSM 2344.3 to address treatment of standard amenity recreation fee sites in the concession program. The agency reserves the right to amend a special use permit issued under this prospectus to be consistent with any change in that directive.

All sites listed in section I, A. managed as a day use facility generally charge a standard amenity fee.

C. Camp Stamps Camp stamps must be honored at their face value and submitted to the authorized officer for reimbursement.

D. Site Closure The Forest Service reserves the right to close all or a portion of any area in this prospectus for repair, construction, floods, snow, extreme fire danger, or other natural events; wildlife protection; or risks to https://www.recreation.gov/rules-reservation-policies public health and safety. The Forest Service shall not be liable to the permit holder for lost revenue, operating costs, or any other losses resulting from these closures. However, for fee calculation purposes, the permit shall be placed in non-use status as provided by FSH 2709.11, section 31.23.

Site closures may apply to federally recognized tribes with at least 90 days advance notice for the site closure to be granted. State recognized tribes may also be granted site closures per Forest Supervisor approval.

E. Administrative Use If the Forest Service requires the permit holder to provide a service for the agency, the permit holder will be compensated for that use.

F. Applicable Forest Orders Forest Orders may be issued to address a variety of management concerns. Sample orders related to the offering are identified in Appendix 4. Additional applicable forest orders may be issued in the future.

G. Fee Receipts and Compilation of Use and Revenue Data The permit holder must provide fee receipts to visitors that include at least the following information:

• The site number and total amount paid.

• The date of issuance and number of days paid for.

• If a pass is used, the pass number.

• The number of people in the group.

• The number of vehicles and their license plate numbers.

The permit holder must provide use and revenue data to the Forest Service (see Appendix 5 of the prospectus for a sample use report). Use reports must be completed monthly and at the end of the operating season for each developed recreation site, provided that when the holder performs GT fee offset work in lieu of paying the land use fee in cash, use reports may be submitted quarterly, rather than monthly. At a minimum, monthly and year-end use reports must include:

• The total number of units occupied based on daily counts.

• The total number of people based on daily counts.

• The percentage of occupancy by month.

• Total recreation fee revenue.

• Total fee revenue for other goods and services.

• The total number of Camp Stamps collected.

• The total number of passes used.

In addition, year-end use reports must include:

• Total fee revenue collected under the Recreation.gov.

• Total taxes paid.

• Total gross revenue.

• Total net revenue.

H. Customer Service Comment Cards The permit holder must provide a customer service comment card to visitors at each developed recreation site (see Appendix 6 of the prospectus).

I. Performance Evaluations At a minimum, the Forest Service will perform a year-end performance evaluation within four months of the close of the operating season (see Appendix 7 of the prospectus). An unsatisfactory rating may be cause for suspension or revocation of the special use permit. Sustained satisfactory performance is required for a permit extension.

J. Accessibility The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 require new or altered facilities to be accessible, with few exceptions. In 2004, the Architectural and

Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) issued revised accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities subject to the ABA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These new guidelines are called the ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines. In 2006, the Forest Service issued the

Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG). The FSORAG addresses types of recreational facilities, including developed recreation sites that are not covered by ADA/ABA

Accessibility Guidelines.

Any Government maintenance, reconditioning, renovation, or improvement (see section III.C) must meet

ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines, where applicable, as well as the FSORAG.

The FSORAG and the ADA/ABA Accessibility Guidelines are posted on the Forest Service’s website at

(https://www.fs.usda.gov/recreation/programs/accessibility/). Questions regarding ADA/ABA

Accessibility Guidelines may be referred to the Access Board at www.access-board.gov. Questions regarding the FSORAG may be referred to the accessibility coordinator for the local National Forest.

The permit holder is responsible for ensuring effective communication with visitors with disabilities, including persons with impaired vision or hearing, so that all visitors may obtain information on accessible services, activities, and facilities.

K. Camping Unit Capacity

Number of Vehicles Per Camping Unit

A single-family camping unit may accommodate one vehicle. A “vehicle” is defined as any motorized conveyance, except that for purposes of vehicular capacity, two motorcycles are considered one vehicle.

Additional vehicles may be allowed at a camping unit, if the camping unit can safely accommodate them.

When extra vehicles are allowed, a pre-determined standard rate will be charged for each extra vehicle. If an extra vehicle exceeds the camping unit capacity (i.e., the extra vehicle causes a safety hazard or resource damage), the customer may be required to pay for an additional camping unit or park in an overflow parking area, if available. One towed vehicle per single camping unit will be allowed for no https://www.fs.usda.gov/recreation/programs/accessibility/ http://www.access-board.gov/ extra charge if it can be parked completely on the surfaced area and does not create a safety hazard.

Examples of towed vehicles include a boat trailer, or a car towed by a motor home.

Group Site Capacity

The capacity established for group sites is as follows:

Table 4. Group Site Capacity

Facility / Site Name People Vehicles

Arroyo Seco Group Campground (MRD) Up to 50 10

Plaskett Creek Group Campground (MRD) sites 1-3: Up to 40 people per site

10 each site

Sage Hill Group Campground (SBRD) sites 1-4: up to 50 people per site; site 5

(equestrian use): up to 60 people

10 each site

Holiday Group Campground (ORD) Up to 50 10

McGill Group Campground (MPRD) site 1: 80 people; site

2: 60 people

10 each site

Day Use Site Capacity

Table 5. Day Use Capacity

Facility / Site Name People (PAOT) Max Vehicles

Monterrey Ranger District

Mill Creek 21 6

Pfeiffer Beach 215 75

Sand Dollar 163 45

Willow Creek 28 12

Arroyo Seco 495 105

Santa Lucia Ranger District

Turkey Flat 120 25

Santa Barbara Ranger District

White Rock 140 25

Falls 170 29

First Crossing 475 130

Live Oak 175 59

Lower Oso 140 28

Red Rock 140 28

Ojai Ranger District

Rose Valley Upper Lake 42 10

Rose Valley Lower Lake 35 10

L. Stay Limit Campers at overnight sites will be limited to:

1. In a developed campground, for a period no longer than 14 consecutive days or for no more than

28 days during a calendar year; or

2. Anywhere other than a developed campground, for a period no longer than seven consecutive days or for no more than 21 days during a calendar year.

M. Fees Charged to the Public The permit holder may charge the public fees only to the extent that the Forest Service can charge recreation fees under REA. All recreation fees must be specified per developed recreation site. The holder must honor the proposed pricing through the first full operating season. Thereafter, the holder may propose price adjustments with justification.

Permit holders may not charge for any of the following:

• Solely for parking, undesignated parking, or picnicking along roads or along the sides of trails.

• General access, unless specifically authorized by REA.

• Dispersed areas with low or no investment, unless specifically authorized by REA.

• Persons who are driving through, walking through, boating through, horseback riding through, or hiking through NFS lands without using the recreational facilities and services for which a fee is charged.

• Camping at undeveloped sites that do not provide the minimum number of facilities and services prescribed by REA.

• Use of overlooks or scenic pullouts.

• Travel by private, noncommercial vehicle over any national parkway or any road or highway in the

Federal-aid System that is commonly used by the public as a means of travel between two places, either or both of which are outside an area in which recreation fees are charged.

• Travel by private, noncommercial vehicle, boat, or aircraft over any road, highway, waterway, or airway to any land in which the person traveling has a property right, if the land is in an area in which recreation fees are charged.

• Any person who has a right of access for hunting or fishing privileges under a specific provision of law or treaty.

• Any person who is engaged in the conduct of official federal, state, tribal, or local government business.

• Special attention or extra services necessary to meet the needs of the disabled.

N. Law Enforcement Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2342.1, Exhibit 01, addresses the law enforcement authorities and responsibilities of concessionaires, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the Forest Service at concession campgrounds. See Appendix 8 of the prospectus and section O. Other Pertinent Information.

O. Other Pertinent Information

Additional Law Enforcement

Applicants are encouraged to read and understand Appendix 8 and enter into agreements with the appropriate law enforcement agency(s) for additional law enforcement support for visitor compliance at high use recreation sites (Peiffer Beach Day Use Area, Arroyo Seco Recreation Area, and the Lower Santa

Ynez Recreation Area). This support would be beyond that needed for routine visitor compliance needs normally met by campground hosts and managers. The applicant must provide funding for additional law enforcement support from either the local county sheriff offices, California State Parks, California

Highway Patrol, or the Forest Service. This agreement would increase law enforcement assistance to the concessionaire during holidays and other high use periods. The applicant will also work with District

Recreation leadership/staff, Fire Patrols, and Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers to create an Active

Management Plan with the goals of that plan to include how to best provide consistent egress and ingress at associated recreation sites, enforcing hours of operation at recreation sites, water safety best practices, fire prevention, conservation education, etc.

Employee Housing Concessionaire employees staying at Forest Service recreation sites must be in a self-contained vehicle, such as a trailer or motorhome. No tents or vans will be permitted. Employee housing sites must be neat, clean, and well maintained and not creep into adjacent camp sites.

Other Forest Service Administrative Sites may be available through a separate lease agreement.

Table 3. Summary of Possible Employee Housing

Location Number of Sites

Electricity Water Sewage Phone Gas Details

Monterey Ranger District

Arroyo Seco Recreation Area

1 yes yes septic no no Host site is campsite 1

Botchers Gap Campground

1 no yes no no propane

Kirk Creek Campground

1 no yes septic no propane

Plaskett Creek Campground

1 no yes septic no propane Host sites is site 9.

Additional site(s) negotiable.

Santa Lucia Ranger District

Cerro Alto Campground

1 yes yes septic yes propane 408 square foot cabin that is used as a host site

Figueroa Mtn.

Campground

1 no no no no no Host site is camp site 1

Santa Barbara Ranger District

Fremont Campground

1 yes yes no yes no

Los Prietos Campground

1 yes yes septic yes no 1,000-gallon septic tank, Paradise Campground

1 yes yes septic yes no 1,000-gallon septic tank, Sage Hill Group Campground

1 yes yes septic yes no 1,000-gallon septic tank, Ojai Ranger District

Wheeler Gorge Campground

2 yes yes septic yes no 1,000-gallon septic tank

Pine Mt campground

1 no no no no no Host Site is site 1.

Mt. Pinos Ranger District

McGill Campground

1 no no no no no Host must be self-contained

Reyes Creek Campground

1 yes no no no no Host must be self-contained at site #9

Resource Concerns

General

A variety of resource concerns exist at or near many of the forty-eight recreation sites listed on this prospectus. Among them are threatened, endangered, and proposed animal and plant species (TESP), Forest Service sensitive species, invasive species, and archaeological and historical sites. Please refer to

Appendix 9 Annual Operating Plan, Section 14 under Resource Protection Measures for sensitive species for the best management practices and expectations for both the permit holder and the Forest Service around these issues.