You have no idea how many times I was the only soul staying at the campground, but all campsites “were taken”. My guess is that more people will have the opportunity to camp, which is good.
How were they taken? Did the station gave out a camping permit for the entire season to someone who never used it or used it only once?
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The old process was that all campsites were issued by a draw. The problem was that there was no option for “short stay camping permits”. All campsites were given out to people before each season. So if you were planning on staying only a couple of days during the season, you had to apply for a campsite and if drawn, used it for that weekend or couple of days. No one else had the opportunity to use it after you no longer needed the site, unless, like I did sometimes, you ask in a forum and someone volunteered to let you use it, which is permitted.
Check station operators never issued passes before. I don’t know if they will do it now or if the remaining half of the sites you’ll just go there and take one, if available. Now, I don’t think that just getting there and take a site will be the way they handle it, as you are required to display your camping permit and you are responsible to keep the site clean. Additionally, how can you guarantee that people only take one site, not a whole block of spots for friends. That is why I guess someone, probably check station operators, will issue “short stay” passes.
The other probable option is to have self serve checking stations like they have in other WMAs (like Arbuckle) where you register to use the site and get the pass.
Again, this is me guessing. I’m sure we will know the details soon.
