The closers begin

[Cdog]

All of OI spit and south end of Ocracoke are reported closed with Cape Point likely to be closed this afternoon.

The birds have landed...

[derf]

well that flat out !@#$%^&

[derf]

posted by frank ....

VERY BAD NEWS posted by Frank, Sr.

I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM NPS CONCERNING NEW CLOSURES THAT ARE BEING PUT IN PLACE AS WE SPEAK. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC RELEASE LATER TODAY BY NPS BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED AS OF NOW:::

OREGON INLET SPIT (BODIE ISLAND SPIT) HAS HAD TO BE CLOSED DUE TO BIRD ACTIVITY TO CLOSE TO THE PRENESTING CLOSURES EDGE.

CAPE POINT - REPORTS OF LEAST TERN ACTIVITY ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF CAPE POINT ACCESS FROM RAMP 44 TO THE POINT IS BEING RE-EXAMINED BY PARK RESOURCE TECHNICIANS AT THIS TIME AND IF THE ACTIVITY IS VERIFIED CAPE POINT WILL BE CLOSED LATER TODAY.

OCRACOKE INLET - BIRD ACTIVITY CLOSE TO THE ENCLOSURES EDGE HAS REQUIRED THE CLOSURE TO BE EXPANDED TO WATERS EDGE AND THE OCRACOKE SPIT HAS BEEN CLOSED.

I WILL POST ASAP ANY NEWS THAT I GET. I HURT WITH YOU FOLKS.

[Cdog]

Bob at RDT says that they are kicking people off the Point now.

Hey Derf, you and Deb wanna help me drag my yak and all our gear across the parking lot at 55 so we can fish for cobes in June?

Oh never mind, I guess I'll just stay at home and fish for flounder in my yak...

[CGSurfCaster]

Just got the call. My mom and dad got ran off the Point a little while ago.

[fishdaddy]

Guys,
I just came back from Ocracoke Is. this weekend. It looks like we were some of the last people to access these areas in N.C. for a long time.

This was forwarded to me from NCBBA

[IMG]aoladp://MA18346081-0002/image002.gif[/IMG]
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Outer Banks Group:
· Cape Hatteras National Seashore
· Fort Raleigh National
Historic Site
· Wright Brothers National Memorial
1401 National Park Road
Manteo, NC 27954
252-473-2111 phone
252-473-2595 fax

National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: May 5, 2008
CONTACT: 252-473-2111, ext. 148

NPS Announces First Major Closures under the Consent Decree

The following temporary closures of popular areas are being installed today in accordance with the requirements of the consent decree signed by U.S. District Court Judge Terrence W. Boyle.

1) Bodie Island Spit – A 150 m buffer is required for an American oystercatcher breeding area located approximately 50 meters from the ocean in a narrow section of beach north of the spit. The buffer will preclude ORV and pedestrian access along the ocean shoreline. NPS is evaluating an option for a pedestrian by-pass, outside the buffer, through the interior of the spit to reach sections of the spit/shoreline that are otherwise open to recreational use, but currently an appropriate option does not exist due to flooded conditions. NPS will continue to work on the pedestrian by-pass option. Ramp 4 north to Ramp 2 is open for 2 miles to ORV and pedestrian access until May 15 when the seasonal closure in front of Coquina Beach goes into effect.

2) Cape Point – A 100 m buffer is required for a least tern breeding area that is occurring approximately 80-90 m from the ocean near the eastern edge of the Cape Point prenesting area, adjacent to the ORV corridor on the northeast side of the Point. The 100 m buffer will preclude access along the shoreline. There currently is not an alternative access option around the buffer; however, NPS will continue to evaluate the situation daily.

3) South Ocracoke – A 50 m buffer is required for breeding adult piping plover (PIPL) that are foraging on the northeast side of the prenesting area. A PIPL nest has been established nearby (within the prenesting area). Adult piping plover are repeatedly foraging on the adjacent shoreline in the 100 ft. ORV corridor. There currently is not an alternate route option available; however, NPS will continue to evaluate the situation daily. Ramp 72 north to Ramp 70 is open for approximately 1.8 miles to ORV and pedestrian access.

Other sections of the Seashore were opened over the weekend to ORV and pedestrian access. An ORV safety closure, approximately 1.6 mile in length, was lifted along the Avon beachfront from 0.1 mile north of Avon Fishing Pier to Ramp 38. There is temporarily through-access from Ramp 34 to Ramp 38 until the seasonal village closures go into effect on May 15, 2008.

Temporary stabilization work on Ramp 44 was completed last weekend to attempt to alleviate flooded conditions. The ramp was reopened late Saturday afternoon. Park maintenance crews have further plans to remedy the flooded ramp condition by raising the roadbed with appropriate materials and thus reducing closures of the ramp in the future due to flooding.

For more information on beach access, the Beach Access Report is distributed weekly on Thursdays. For more resource management information, the Resource Management Field Summary is distributed weekly. In addition, check www.nps.gov/caha for more information or call 252-473-2111 ext. 148.

-NPS-

[derf]

Originally Posted by Cdog

Bob at RDT says that they are kicking people off the Point now.

Hey Derf, you and Deb wanna help me drag my yak and all our gear across the parking lot at 55 so we can fish for cobes in June?

Oh never mind, I guess I'll just stay at home and fish for flounder in my yak...

better idea , why don't you meet us on portsmouth island ??

[kinnakeettom]

Just got back, caught more big fish this year there than the past 4 years combined on Hatteras. Was lucky to get a shack for 2 weeks come october.
south end point was hot at night, but knowing the tree hugging birders and the west coast ecowackos its only going to be a matter of time and they will get portsmouth also. New Zealand is looking better and better everyday.

[derf]

but knowing the tree hugging birders and the west coast ecowackos its only going to be a matter of time and they will get portsmouth also

yup , thats why we are going while we still can

[John M]

I hope to go to portsmouth this fall.

As for cobia season, Im skipping it, we made alternate plans for that week that do not include the OBX

[newsjeff]

Originally Posted by John M

As for cobia season, Im skipping it, we made alternate plans for that week that do not include the OBX

No annual cobia week this June with the A/C.

I'm going to try and make a day trip to the Boiler Wreck for em at least once.

Damn, what a waste of prime beach.