Submitted by Shirley Gauthier, AANR-NW GAT Chair<br> 1. Terwilliger Hot Springs-Front Page News<br>Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs made front page news in the Register Guard newspaper in Eugene, Oregon. <br>To read more about Cougar Hot Springs go to<br><a href=http://www.registerguard.com/>http://www.registerguard.com/</a><br> {Editor's note: Register Guard online archive articles can be searched &amp; viewed free for seven days after publication. The archive articles are text only. After seven days the search is free but viewing is on a paid basis. <br><a href=http://www.registerguard.com/news/wwwsearch.html>http://www.registerguard.com/news/wwwsearch.html</a> <a href=http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/04/13/a1.hotsprings.0413.html>http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/04/13/a1.hotsprings.0413.html</a> }<br> 2. USDA Forest Service press release<br>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Start Press Release =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<br>FOREST SERVICE NEWS<br>www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette<br> 211 E. 7th Avenue PO Box 10607-2607 Eugene, OR 97440 Ph (541)-225-6300<br><br>Date: April 11, 2005 <br>Contact: <br>Doris Tai, Recreation, Lands &amp; Minerals Staff Officer, 541-225-6421 or Sandy Ratliff, Recreation Staff, McKenzie River Ranger District, 541-822-7238 <br> Eugene, OR The Willamette National Forest will begin a one year trial with Hoodoo Recreation Services to manage Terwilliger Hot Springs, effective 05 13, 2005. The Forest is taking this step to increase presence and provide for a safer experience at the site. As a result of this change, visitors to Terwilliger will pay a $5 per person site use fee – a $2 increase from last year.<br> Increased onsite presence is the best tool we have to provide a safer, more enjoyable, and cleaner environment for everyone who comes to visit, said John Harper, site manager at McKenzie River Ranger District.<br> &quot;We have not been able to provide the resources needed at Terwilliger due to a reduced recreation budget, said Mary Allison, McKenzie River District Ranger. Here, we have an opportunity to enter into partnership with an existing concessionaire, Hoodoo Recreation Services, to provide a much higher level of oversight.<br> Allison says the 2005 operating season at Terwilliger will be a trial year to evaluate whether the site can be managed success- fully under concession. Hoodoo Recreation Services currently manages other Forest Service recreation sites in the Terwilliger area, including Cougar Crossing, Slide Creek and Delta Campgrounds. Terwilliger Hot Springs is a valuable local resource, said Chuck Shepard of Hoodoo Recreation Services. Visitor fees will help keep the area more safe by providing onsite hosts.<br>Shepard proposes to staff the area twelve hours a day during holidays and weekends, and a minimum of eight hours a day during the week. The hot springs will continue to be operated as a day-use site, closed to the public at night. <br> Visitors to Terwilliger should experience a seamless transition from Forest Service to concessionaire management. Children five and under will be admitted free, and Hoodoo Recreation Services will honor the Golden Age and Golden Access Passes, allowing those visitors to be admitted to the site at half- price. Visitors can pay the $5 per person fee onsite, or can purchase the concessionaires annual Terwilliger pass for $50 directly from Hoodoo Recreation Services, on-site from the Hoodoo Recreation Services attendants, at Patio RV Park in Blue River, the Campstore at Hoodoo Ski Lodge, and at Umbrella Properties in Eugene. Existing Terwilliger Passes will be honored through their expiration date.<br> The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer<br>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= End of Press Release =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-<br><br><br> </td>