ALBUQUERQUE – Federal land managers are proposing adding new recreation fees, increasing some fees and doing away with some developed recreational sites around New Mexico that are managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

The agency is seeking comment on proposed changes that would affect campgrounds and day-use sites on the Carson, Cibola, Gila, Lincoln and Santa Fe national forests.

The public will have until the end of the year to comment. Forest officials also are planning public meetings.

Regional officials say they’re looking for ideas that may help cut costs and leverage resources when it comes to managing developed sites. That’s because they say it has become increasingly more expensive to maintain and improve sites because of aging facilities, increases in visitation and limited resources.

While 95% of revenue from recreation fees and passes remain on the forests, officials say it’s not enough to keep pace with the maintenance backlog.