SACRAMENTO – The state Senate has approved a bill by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) authorizing Cal Fire to maintain and improve campgrounds on state forest lands through, for the first time ever, collecting camping fees that state forest campgrounds traditionally have not collected.

“The cost of maintaining, improving and patrolling campsites in State Demonstration Forests has become a significant financial burden on Cal Fire,” Chesbro said. “Funding for maintaining campgrounds is drying up. AB 2351 will allow Cal Fire to charge campers a fee to recover the cost of maintaining and improving campgrounds.”

Among forests affected by AB 2351 are the Jackson Demonstration State Forest in Mendocino County.

AB 2351 specifies that the amount of the fees cannot exceed the amount necessary to offset Cal Fire’s costs and that the fees collected must be deposited into the California Forest Resources Improvement Fund.

AB 2351 was supported by Cal Fire, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, the California Licensed Foresters Association, the California Native Plant Society and Sierra Club California.

The governor has until Sept. 30 to take action on the bill.