LANCASTER — The state Division of Forest and Lands is proposing a two tier system for the 91 camp leases at Nash Stream State Forest. Starting in 2010 water front sites - those on Little Bog Pond, Whitcomb Pond, and Trio Ponds - would increase to $1,025 annually. All other lots would increase to $870.

A public information meeting on the proposal Friday attracted about 20 camp owners to the N.H. DOT/ Fish and Game offi ce building here.The lease fee is adjusted every fi ve years based on the Consumer Price Index. The Nash Stream leases were up for renewal this year. Last fall, the division hired Heath Appraisal Services to determine the market value of the leases. Heath recommended moving to a tiered lease system.

Explaining the proposal, Department of Resources and Economic Development Commissioner George Bald said the appraiser looked at leases on other state and private sites in the North Country. Lease fees in the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Forest are $1,236 a year with ten new sites ranging from $1,800 to $3,600.

At the privately owned Millsfield Pond, leases range from $750 to $2,500 a year.  Bald said the state is interested in charging a reasonable rate and not looking to generate a lot of money off leases.  "Our interest is fairness," he said.

To allow for public input on the proposed new lease structure, the Department of Resources and Eco-nomic Development decided to renew all the leases for one year at the rate of $600 - an increase of $70 from the 2008 rate of $530.Pending public input, the department would implement the two tier system starting July 1, 2010.

If the department decides the two tier system is fair, Division of Forest and Lands administrator William Carpenter said he would recommend the fee increases be phased in. At the last meeting of the Nash Stream Forest Citizens Advisory Board in May, Tom Bushey representing the camp owners association said the body in general does not favor a tiered lease system.

DRED is also looking for input on how to handle Whitcomb and Trio Ponds road issues. While the Nash Stream master plan identifies the roads at Winter, Class D with use restricted to frozen ground conditions because of wetlands issues,

DRED over the years has allowed camp owners and others to use them year-around. Bald said the Department of Environmental Services has determined that use is in violation of state law. As a state agency, Bald said DRED has to enforce wetlands regulations on its own property. "We can’t be hypocritical, " he said. "We enforce the law and we can’t be hypocritical about it and say we won’t enforce this on our land," he said.

Trio Ponds Road is 1.4 miles long while Whitcomb Road is .2 of a mile. The estimated cost to address the wet-lands issues so the roads could legally be used year around is $27,000 and $10,000 respectively. Executive Councilor Raymond Burton asked when the department expects to make a decision on both issues. Bald said there is a second informational meeting today in Concord. He said he expects to make a decision soon after interested people have had an opportunity to offer comments.

Once he makes a decision, he said there will be a hearing before the Nash Stream Forest Advisory Committee. Bald introduced members of his staff and DES present to discuss the proposal and answer questions about the road issue from the camp owners. He urged those present to fill out a comment form there or send it to the division. Comments can also be e-mailed to DRED at bcarpenter@dred.state.nh.us.