OBPA has always been an advocate of beach access and we continue to fight to improve same. Of course part of access is the shared responsibility of taking care of the resource something that we have always advocated and continue to do. It's just as important today as it was during the "dark times" to educate visitors about how important Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area is for all that make it part of their lives. This of course includes the human an non-human residents as well.
Part of our work in the last year and change has been related to cooperative work with NPS reminding those that utilize the resource to do so with a mind of care. Last summer OBPA began an effort to remind people to keep the beach spotless with the introduction of the "Pack it in-Pack it out" program which has been a great success.
We now introduce another public service reminder which I'm sure many of you can understand and will hopefully help resolve, in part, a long standing issue on the Seashore.
"Don't be a Clown-Air Down"
Every section of the beach in the Seashore is different, different texture and grain size when it comes to the sand. Many areas are predictable, some vary by season,all require care and forethought.
So without further ado, we present the sticker that will be available free in various locations within the Seashore.
You never know, mayhaps someone will ask you what it means and you can help them from blocking access for the folks behind them.
To request a free sticker, visit a local tackle shop or send a stamped, self-addressed business envelope to:
On January 20, 2017 the National Park Service (NPS) implemented a new ORV Management Rule at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (Seashore). The new rule replaced the previous rule which had been in effect since February, 2012. With this action, the NPS has officially addressed each component of the Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2015, Section 3057: Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (Act).
The completion of the NPS actions in response to the Act is a significant milestone in the efforts of beach access advocates which have been ongoing since the 1970s when executive orders were issued requiring the designation of ORV routes and areas on NPS lands.
The NPS aggressively began an effort to establish an ORV rule for the Seashore in 2005 in response to lawsuits from several environmental organizations in the previous few years. The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA), led by the Outer Banks Preservation Association (OBPA), North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) and the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club (CHAC), has fought for the past 17 years on behalf of the members of these organizations and for all beach access advocates to insure any rules or policies implemented would preserve and protect the natural resources and recreational opportunities within the Seashore without prohibiting the access formally promised to the public at the Seashore’s dedication in 1958 by the director of the NPS, Conrad Wirth.
The first rule and associated wildlife management practices, which were implemented in February of 2012, had significant shortcomings. Congress recognized these shortcomings and passed the Act in December of 2014 requiring that they be addressed. The Act and many of the changes made by NPS to respond to the Act were influenced by recommendations made by CHAPA, its member organizations, representatives of local governments and the individuals who have advocated beach access throughout this process.
At this milestone, it is important to reflect on the changes made regarding pedestrian and ORV access to the Seashore as a result of the Act and to look forward to the future.
Click to Read More..... (a pdf file will be opened or downloaded)
By now you probably know 2017 was a banner year for access. Notably, Cape Point was open to ORV access for the entire year and for the first time since before 2008. This was great news for everyone who has been drawn to the seashore over the decades due to the allure of the Point. It was also great news to many newcomers to the seashore who made their first visit to see Shelly Island.
2018 got off to a good start also. Over the winter, Shelly Island was absorbed into the Point and resulted in a huge dry area previously covered by water, and some of the best springtime fishing opportunities in years. Visitors were disappointed on May 19 when the National Park Service announced that the Point was temporarily closed to ORV access due to a colony of least terns that took up occupancy on part of the new land. While the same regulations used in 2017 are still in effect, in 2018 the least terns colony is located closer to the ORV route. The buffer zone required by the Resource Management Plan (revised in accordance with the 2014 legislation) overlaps the ORV route and prevents the use of an ORV corridor like the one used in 2017. At this time, the reopening of the Point to ORV access is dependent on the terns. The most likely scenario is that the colony will remain at or near its present location until after the hatchings fledge, likely in mid to late July.
The events at the Point over the past two years highlight the access benefits of changes in the ORV rule and Resource Management Plan at the seashore which resulted from the federal legislation passed in 2014, as well as opportunities for further improvement in the future.
Three factors allowed Cape Point to remain open throughout 2017. First, the modified resource management plan allowed for the use of ORV only corridors to bypass active nests for the various species under management. The minimum distance between the active nests and the corridor was established based on best available science as required by the legislation. The location of Oystercatcher nests in 2017 were far enough from the ORV trail to accommodate the corridor. Second, the smaller boundaries for some species (such as the piping plover) after hatching but before fledging accommodated the use of an ORV corridor. Thirdly, last year after hatching, the species moved to the west away from the ORV routes rather than interfering with access.
What has occurred in 2018 identifies a major opportunity to improve access in the future. As mentioned earlier, the minimum distance between the nesting birds and the ORV corridor is determined based on best available science. Unfortunately, the science available for colonial water birds, such as the least tern responsible for the 2018 closure, is limited compared to what is available for plovers and oystercatchers. CHAPA has discussed this concern with the National Park Service on several occasions including in recent days. Superintendent Dave Hallac has committed to commission a scientific study working with Gordon Myers, Executive Director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to specifically analyze the effect of ORV traffic on nesting activities for colonial water birds to determine if smaller buffers are feasible. The exact timing of the study is still to be determined, but the park service has already begun the process to identify potential participants in the study and to begin at the earliest reasonable date.
The OBPA and our partners work throughout the year to improve visitor experiences in the Seashore. We are in continuous communication with the NPS to manage the challenges with access and develop ideas for future solutions to keep the places we love available for recreational enjoyment. The dynamic nature of our environment and the many factors that have to be considered makes this a difficult task. A solution that worked one year may not work the next. But, as we have demonstrated in the past 18 years, we will not stop trying to tackle these issues and solve problems big and small in the Seashore. For those of you who remember further back than 2016, we have made great improvements in our access. In the summer of 2013, as few as 9.6 miles were available for ORV access in our Seashore. In 2016 and 2017, no less than 25 miles have been available throughout the summer months. Between 2011 and 2015, Cape Point was closed to ORV access by April 9 each year and did not reopen until late August or early September. In 2016, Cape Point did not close until May 11 and reopened on July 27, in 2017 the Point did not close at all. During the same time frame, we have pushed for and received improvements to our ramps and roads, and facilities. We will continue to work with NPS for our visitors, our business community, and our island’s people to keep Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area a place we can all enjoy.
Outer Banks Group
News Release - Cape Hatteras National Seashore
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2016 16-051
Contact: Michael Barber, 252-475-9032
Public Comment Period Opens on Proposed
Revision to Existing Special Regulation for Off-Road Vehicle Use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore
The National Park Service (NPS) is inviting the public to comment on a revision to the rules for off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The proposal has been published in the Federal Register, and the public has 60 days to review it and submit comments.
The proposed changes include revising the times that certain beaches open to ORV use in the morning, extending the dates that certain seasonal ORV routes are open in the fall and spring, and modifying the size and location of vehicle-free areas (VFAs).
The new proposal would also allow the Seashore to issue ORV permits with more varied time periods than currently exist and would change one ORV route designation to allow pedestrian use of an area on Pamlico Sound without the requirement for an ORV permit.
This process of updating the special regulation that outlines the rules for ORV use was required by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015.
“The Cape Hatteras National Seashore staff is committed to providing our local community and visitors from around the world with a variety of opportunities to enjoy this beautiful place in our care,” said Superintendent David Hallac. “Balancing the needs of our visitors and preserving this important national treasure for future generations to enjoy it is our top priority, and these proposed rules can help us accomplish this mission.”
Community input is essential to the development of new regulations, and the public is encouraged to review the draft proposal and send comments that NPS will consider before finalizing the rules. Additional information about the comment period follow.
DATES: The public comment period will be open for 60 days. Comments must be received on or before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) on October 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Proposed Rule, identified by the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN): 1024-AE33
by any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NPS_FRDOC_0001-0104Follow the instructions for submitting comments
- Mail or hand deliver to: Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, North Carolina 27954
Comments submitted through the Federal eRulemaking portal: www.regulations.gov, or submitted by mail must be entered, or postmarked, before midnight (Eastern Daylight Time) October 21, 2016. Comments submitted by hand delivery must be received by the close of business hours (5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) October 21, 2016. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or in any way other than those specified above, and bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Answers to frequently asked questions are available here: https://www.nps.gov/caha/learn/news/16_051.htm.
Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA) is offering a $2,500 reward on behalf of the Outer Banks Preservation Association (OBPA), North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA), and Cape Hatteras Anglers Club (CHAC) for information leading to the identification of the persons responsible for the green sea turtle incident last weekend.
On the morning of Sunday, August 21, Cape Hatteras National Seashore personnel found a severely injured sea turtle on the beach approximately 0.66 miles north of Ramp 32. The sea turtle, identified as a threatened species Green sea turtle, is believed to have come onto the beach some time in the evening, or night, of August 20 in order to lay a nest in the sand. Turtle tracks led from the ocean to the nesting site approximately twenty feet above the high tide line in an off-road vehicle travel area. The injuries to the sea turtle were so severe that the turtle had to be euthanized by National Park Service staff.
If you have information that could help investigators, please call the Dare County Community Crime Line at 800-745-2746 or 252-473-3111. You may also submit confidential tips online at http://darecommunitycrimeline.org/cms/tips.
