The threat to ORV access rears its ugly head AGAIN

[feetinsand]

Beach driving on Cape Hatteras National Seashore (NC)

Simple rules can help beach driving coexist with the Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Driving on the beach along Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina is a long standing tradition, with fishermen driving to remote spots to take advantage of the world renowned surf fishing of the region. But it's a tradition that's gotten out of control, turning the beach into a virtual highway and putting wildlife and people at risk.
©SELC
As many as 2,200 vehicles per day litter Outer Banks beaches during peak season, threatening public safety as well as nesting shorebirds and turtles.

In addition to fishermen, daily beach goers are using their trucks and SUVs for convenient beach access. In their path are nests of shorebirds like the threatened piping plover and loggerhead turtle whose existence on the Seashore is imperiled by hundreds of vehicles per day. As a result, these species are declining at a rapid pace.
As stewards of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, it is up to the National Park Service to regulate beach driving. In fact, both a 1973 Executive Order and federal regulation require it. More recently, a federal judge found the Park Service had failed to adopt required regulations to manage beach driving. For years the Park Service has failed to live up to its responsibility to preserve natural resources on the Seashore or to adequately protect the area's wildlife or the safety of its visitors.
To preserve the rights of families and fishermen who want to enjoy the Seashore , the Southern Environmental Law Center filed suit against the Park Service in October, 2007 to require it to implement a plan to manage beach driving that will also protect the resources of the region . A reasonable management plan will continue to allow access to Hatteras by vehicle , but will reign in out of control use that is threatening wildlife, safety and the future of the Outer Banks.


DON'T LET THIS GROUP FOOL YOU THEIR MISSION AND SUPPORTERS ARE FOR ELIMINATING ORV ACCESS AT ALL NATIONAL PARKS AND SEASHORES.

[kip]

That picture alone suggests a huge negative economic impact that the region would suffer should the attempt to close the beaches to anglers prove successful. A friend who is on a couple of the state's fishery advisory boards has indicated that the current administrator for the National Park Service in Buxton has been very reasonable in discussing the situation, but it would also be prudent to keep supporting the OBPA, the NCBBA, and other groups who are working to keep the beaches open. Thanks for sharing the article.

[feetinsand]

Just some

http://www.islandfreepress.org/Archi...chDriving.html

[capt_gordon]

GawD! That photo right there makes me so NOT to want to go there and realize how good we have it down here on Bogue Banks. The beach pass permits are $75 for Atl Bch now and it keeps it from looking like a parking lot on our beaches and I am glad of it. It would be a shame if beach driving was taken away 100% but if you can't watch out for baby birds and turtles, you will lose it.

[EricF]

That's worse the CLO jetty!!!

[FishLipz]

That's extreme conditions in that picture. Must be a holiday weekend either July 4th or Labor Day. I won't go there for fishin then anywayz. Never seen that many folks out there in October/November or March/April

[BlueWaterRunner]

That pic was taken on 4th of July weekend. Its rarely that crowded there.

This is more of what the beaches look like:

[ooeric]

man.. if this continues i might not be able to actually fish my first time at cape point with my truck along side of me.


and i have to plan my fishing trips a year in advance to get all friends and what not to come along.

and im starting to plan to head down there during apr or may.

sigh.

double sigh =[

isnt that first pic at cape point btW?


.. btw the last pic.. is that a car that got stuck during high tide? lol