By Brianna Steffensen
None shall pass ... without paying a fee, of course.
The Vehicle Fee Demonstration Program allows American Fork Canyon to charge visitors an access fee for each vehicle.
The program, which was implemented in American Fork Canyon in 1997, will be re-examined by Congress in September.
The prices to enter the canyon range from $3 for a three-day pass to $25 for a one-year pass.
The money collected goes toward improving the canyon. American Fork Canyon is home to the Uinta National Forest and Timpanogos Cave National Monument, and it is widely used for several recreational activities such as hiking, four-wheeling and snowmobiling.
Josh Jurgensen, fee program manager for the Uinta National Forest, said most of the money goes toward improving trails and campgrounds, constructing parking areas in Tibble Fork and building new restrooms. The money has also allowed Timpanogos Cave to conduct more evening programs.
' there are 30 percent more cave tours,' Jurgensen said.
Camille Price, park ranger at Timpanogos Cave National Monument, said the money from the program makes improvements in American Fork Canyon that could not have been done in the past.
Price said the fee demo program has provided funds for construction of bridges to make picnic sites wheelchair accessible and has made the canyon equestrian friendly by building a corral and troughs for horses.
When Congress evaluates the program, they will have three options: completely do away with the fee demo program, make the program permanent or extend the program as they have done in the past.
Loyal Clark, public affairs officer for the Uinta National Forest, said the fee demo program hasn''t been positive in all areas throughout the United States, so Congress is looking at the program as a whole.
'Here in our area, we''ve had more success,' Clark said.
Since 1997, Congress has extended the program in American Fork Canyon four times.
'Why they keep extending it is because it has been very positive,' Price said. 'There has been some controversy with it as well. Just like any bill you pass before Congress, it has its pros and cons.'
The fee demo program is controversial because some taxpayers think they are paying double taxes when they pay to get into the canyon.
Jurgensen said the people who have problems with the fee are usually people who don''t visit the canyon often.
'New visitors don''t realize what the canyon used to look like,' he said. 'Locals appreciate the differences they''ve seen on the grounds.'
Jurgensen said before the fee demo program, there was a lot of vandalism and partying in the canyon. Since 1997, the partying and vandalism has dropped dramatically and families are coming back.
'We base a lot of our decisions off visitors'' comments, and I would say that about 85 to 90 percent of the feedback is positive,' Jurgensen said. 'You can actually see where the money goes.'
So far this fiscal year, the fee demo program has brought in $233,000. In 2003, the program collected $356,000.
Last year, most of the money was used for structural improvements. This year the money is going toward trail improvements and Timpanookee campground reconstruction. The money will also be used to plow roads for snowmobile and cross-country trails, Jurgensen said.
'Of any program, I''ve been really impressed with this one,' he said.