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Sand Flats director: visitation and revenue up as fee changes fund repairs
Summary
Andrea Brand told the commission Sand Flats saw a year-to-date 6% visitation increase and a 20% revenue rise since 2019, largely driven by recent fee increases; staff outlined maintenance and partnership work with the BLM and upcoming projects funded by fees and grants.
Andrea Brand, Sand Flats director, gave the commission an annual report on the county-managed recreation area, telling commissioners the unit serves both motorized and non-motorized users across roughly 9,000 acres.
"We have about 250,000 annual visitors," Brand said, and she described an overall revenue increase of 20% since 2019 with year-to-date visitation up about 6%. Brand attributed part of the revenue gain to fee adjustments approved by the commission this year — the annual pass rose from $25 to $35 and campground fees from $15 to $20 per night — and described the enterprise-fund model that keeps operations fee-supported.
Brand reviewed recent and planned work paid from fee revenues and partner grants: last fall's chip sealing of Sand Flats Road, magnesium-chloride dust treatment, trail maintenance and contractor work on Fins and Things, site protection work by the BLM around dinosaur tracks and photogrammetry efforts, and summer education and outreach films. She said the stewardship committee (a county-authorized advisory body) and the Bureau of Land Management continue to be key partners in operations and conservation.
Commissioners praised the presentation and asked about grant feedback and future planning work; Brand said staff will brief the commission in August with additional details on planning, grant applications and stewardship priorities.
