Peter Hark - Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Rob White - Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Colorado Parks and Wildlife This workshop will explore dedicated funding models used to fund river recreation activities. Watercraft license fees are used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to develop and manage over 3,700 public water accesses, campsites, rest areas and portages. In Colorado, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) receives the majority of its funding from a portion of commercial outfitters total gross receipts from sales of authorized activities. The AHRA also receives funding through park pass and camping fees. In addition, Colorado Parks and Wildlife also funds it's statewide river ranger program through the River Outfitter Licensing program.

2. Minnesota has:
• 69,200 miles of Rivers and Streams
• 11,842 Lakes
• Headwaters of the Mississippi
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness
• Lake Superior
Minnesota is:
• #1 in U.S. Boats per Capita
• #2 in U.S. in Number of Registered
Boats (809,138)
Minnesotans Love Their Water
The State Water Access Water Trails

3. 2,889 public water accesses
• 1,658 owned and
operated by the DNR
• 1,231 owned and/or
operated by county, city,
township, and federal
agencies.
Minnesotans Love Their Water
The State Water Access Water Trails

4. 33 State Water Trails
• 4,529 miles
• 662 Public Accesses
• 411 Campsites
• 337 Rest Areas
• 124 Portages
Minnesotans Love Their Water
The State Water Access Water Trails
Celebrated 50th anniversary in 2013

5. nding Minnesota Water Recreation
ory Non-motorized Registration Water Recreation Fund
Public Access State Statute
Motorized Watercraft Registration
Canoe & Boating Route Program
Canoe & Kayak Registration
State Wild & Scenic Rivers
Accelerated Access Initiative
Electronic Licensing System(State Water Trails System)
1972
1973
1979
2000

6. 2013 Totals
• 130,296 Canoes
• 56,990 Kayaks
• 26% of Watercraft

7. $24 per 3 years ($21.50
renewal)
• $10.50 Water Recreation Fund
• $5.00 Aquatic Invasive Species
Surcharge
• $8.50 Issuing Fee ($6.00 renewal)
$750,000 generated by non-
motorized watercraft (2013)
• Balance generated by motorized
watercraft and a portion of the gas tax
Funding Minnesota Water Recreation
History Non-motorized Registration Water Recreation Fund

8. Funding Minnesota Water Recreation
History Non-motorized Registration Water Recreation Fund
FY13 Water Recreation Fund = $18,202,429
$10,788,435
$3,104,263
$1,081,690
$1,149,188
$696,947
Parks and Trails
Enforcement
Enforcement/Grants
Ecological Resources
Fish Mgmt

9. Budget projections require a shift in funding priorities from acquisition
& development toward operations, maintenance, and outreach.
Funding Minnesota Water Recreation
History Non-motorized Registration Water Recreation Fund

10. In the 1970’s – 1990’s,
Minnesota DNR had an
aggressive “buy and build”
approach to access
development.
Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

11. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach
In the past decade, focus has
shifted toward “taking care of
what we have.” For example,
repairing access ramps
damaged by ice heaving.

12. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach
CCM Water Trails contract:
• $270,000/year
• 64 crew weeks/year
• Youth and young adult crews
of 4-8 corspmembers
• Channel maintenance
• Facility development and
maintenance

13. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

14. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach
www.mndnr.gov/watertrails

15. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

16. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

17. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

18. Where do Water Recreation funds go?
Acquisition & Development Operations & Maintenance Maps Outreach

19. © Water Resource Center – U of M Mankato

20. River Management Society
2014 – Denver, CO
Managing Rivers in Changing Climes
River Recreation Dedicated Funding Models

21. Arkansas Headwaters Recreation
Area
The 1989 legislation (Arkansas River
Recreational Act 33-12.5-101) that created the
AHRA gave the CPW Commission the authority
to safeguard the recreational quality of the
Arkansas River and adjacent lands by granting
the Commission the authority to regulate
recreational use on the Arkansas River.

22. AHRA Revenue - Commercial
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA)
receives the majority of its funding through
user fees:
o 5% - 5.25% of an AHRA Contractors (Outfitters)
total gross receipts
o Boating, Walk& Wade, Imaging, Shuttle, Rock
Climbing, Hiking and Mt. Biking

23. AHRA Revenue - Private
AHRA requires a Colorado Parks and Wildlife
(CPW) Park Pass to enter all of its fee sites and
a CPW camping permit to camp overnight at
its developed campgrounds.
o AHRA Daily Park Pass is $7.00 per vehicle per day.
An AHRA Daily Individual Walk-In Pass is $3.00 per
individual per day
o AHRA Camping permit is $16.00 per campsite per
night

24. AHRA 2013 Revenues
$708,151
$126,788
$88,807
$44,405 $15,884 Special Use Agreements
Park Passes
Camping
Permits/Reservations
Registrations
Penalties, License Sales,
Special Activities,
COSAR, etc.

25. AHRA 2013 Expenditures
$668,606
$220,000
$274,742
$154,500
$135,069
$84,575 $25,927 Full Time
Seasonal Personnel
Capital
Equipment/Projects
Controlled
Maintenance
Operating
GOCO, Grants & Misc.
Accounts
Utilities

26. River Outfitter Licensing Financial
• Program funded through license fees
– $400/year – standard license
$100/year – limited license
– Current fees set in rule; 1995
– Annual Budget - $74,500
• Difference between fee income & budget
covered by CPW cash

27. ROL Fee Income
• 2012 – Multiple year license sales begin
– Up to 3 years, same rates apply
$73,780.23 $75,049.17
$89,608.35
$72,118.48
$0.00
$10,000.00
$20,000.00
$30,000.00
$40,000.00
$50,000.00
$60,000.00
$70,000.00
$80,000.00
$90,000.00
$100,000.00
2010 2011 2012 2013

28. Other Income
• Late fee - $100 if application received after
1/31.
• Operation without a valid license or insurance
– “liable for an administrative penalty of 5
times the annual licensing fee…” (CRS 33-32-
107(1)(II).

29. 2013 Spending
• Operated on $71,883
– 54% for Temporary Work Program (TWP) salary & benefits.
– 20% for vehicle expenses.
– 15% for travel expenses.
– 4% for communications.
– 7% for operating expenses
Staff Salary &
Benefits,
$38,587.00
Vehicle
Expenses,
$14,656.00
Travel,
$11,053.00
Communications
, $2,779.00
Operating,
$4,808.00