Beach Access Report for April 9 2009

Date: April 9, 2009
Contact: Outer Banks Group, [phone]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches will be managed again this summer under the terms of the U.S. District Court approved consent decree.  Park visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and turtle nesting closures may occur until early November.  Shorebird pre-nesting closures have already been established at the inlets, Cape Point, and SouthBeach.  As soon as subsequent breeding activity is observed, the consent decree requires that automatic, non-discretionary buffers be implemented.  

The Beach Access Report is issued every Thursday throughout the breeding season,and updated news will be reported weekly in bold, BLUEprint.  **All distances are approximate.**  The weekly Beach Access Report is complemented by a Google Earth map, which is updated up to 5 times per week as access conditions change. The latest Google Earth beach access map can be viewed at:  https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm

Note:  Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice.  On-site signage, rather than the Beach Access Report or Google Earth map, is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public.  Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with “symbolic fencing” consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string, and flagging tape.  Knowledge of tidal changes and caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park.  Pets are prohibited in resource protection areas.  Elsewhere, pets must be physically restrained at all times on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length.

The National Park Service is committed to providing accurate and current information on the beach access and temporary resource closure issue for the visiting public and our community neighbors.  We continue to receive questions about issues related to beach access and have developed a “Frequently Asked Questions” information sheet that is now posted on the Seashore’s website at:  https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/off-road-vehicle-use.htm

For more information, please contact: e-mail us or call 252-473-211, ext. 148.

Bodie Island District(CoquinaBeachto Ramp 27; 16.5 miles of ocean shoreline)

Ramp 1 - Ramp 2 (CoquinaBeachArea)  (1.2 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.

·         An ORV SAFETY closure is 1.2 miles long.

Ramp 2 - Ramp 4  (2.4 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 4– Oregon Inlet   (Bodie Island Spit: 2.1 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.2 of a mile south of Ramp 4.  The inlet shoreline south/west of the closure, outside of the existing pre-nesting and RESOURCE protection closureareas, remains open for boat landing/pedestrian access.

·         April 2, 2009:  A RESOURCE protection area was established on the north shore of the Bait Pond, under the Bonner Bridge and east to the tidal creek, for observed AMOYbreeding behavior. 

·         April 2, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established approximately 0.2 of a mile south of Ramp 4 for observed AMOY breeding behavior.  This closure precludes ORV access along the ocean shoreline 0.2 of a mile south of Ramp 4.

·         April 2, 2009:  Due to continuing erosion of the ocean shoreline, the existing RESOURCE protection area has been extended approximately 0.2 miles south, which precludes pedestrian access in the inter-tidal zone past the closure. 

·         March 23, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established 1.3 miles south of Ramp 4 along the ocean shoreline, as a result of observed piping plover breeding behavior.

·         March 11, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established that included interior areas of the spit and the “pond” shoreline and allowed an ORV access corridor along the eastern ocean shoreline to a point 1.4 miles south of Ramp 4 and pedestrian access to the inlet.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access in the RESOURCE protection area.

Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo:   (PeaIsland NWR boundary to Ramp 23 - 3.0 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 23 - Ramp 27:  (4.3 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access.

Hatteras Island District(Ramp 27 South to Hatteras Inlet; 31.9 miles of ocean shoreline)

Ramp 27 - Ramp 30: (2.1 miles)

Current Status:  Beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access from Ramp 27 south for 0.6 of a mile north of Ramp 30.  

·         April 4, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established 0.6 of a mile north of Ramp 30 for observed AMOYbreeding behavior.

·         March 28, 2009:  The existing RESOURCE protection area was expanded 150 meters to the south for observed American oystercatcher (AMOY) breeding behavior.

·         March 25, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established 1.1 miles north of Ramp 30 for observed AMOY breeding behavior.

Ramp 30 - Ramp 34:  (4.3 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 34 - Ramp 38:  (3.9 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access from Ramp 34 to 0.2 miles south of Avon Pier.  Currently, there is no through access for ORVs to Ramp 38.  Pedestrian access is open.

·         An ORV SAFETY closure of 1.6 miles begins 1.9 miles south of Ramp 34 (.1 mi. north of Avon Pier) and extends to .3 mile north of Ramp 38.  This 1.6 mile section is open to pedestrian access, but not ORV access. 

Ramp 38 - Ramp 43:  (6.0 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 1.8 of a mile south of Ramp 38.  Currently, there is no through access for ORVs between Ramp 38 and Ramp 43.  Pedestrian access is open.

·         April 1, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established approximately 1.9 miles south of Ramp 38, in an area not open to ORVs, for observed AMOY breeding behavior. 

·         An ORV SAFETY closure is 2.8 miles long, beginning 1.8 of a mile south of Ramp 38 to .4 of a mile north of Ramp 43, due to very narrow beaches.  This section is open to pedestrian access, but not ORV access.

Ramp 43 - Ramp 44:   (0.4 of a mile)

Current Status:  The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 44 - Ramp 45:  (Cape Point: 2.4 miles)

Current Status:  ORV and pedestrian access is open from Ramp 44 south to Cape Point and from Cape Point south/west for approximately 0.2 of a mile.  The Interdunal Road is open from Ramp 44 to Ramp 45.  Salt Pond Road is closed.

·         March 12, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established at Cape Point that included interior areas of Cape Point and a complete shoreline closure from approximately 0.2 miles south/west of Cape Point to approximately 0.3 east of Ramp 45; and allowed for an access corridor along the eastern ocean shoreline.  The total closure distance was approximately 1.0 mile in length.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.

Ramp 45 - Ramp 49:  (SouthBeach: 3.4 miles)

Current Status:  The Interdunal Road is open from Ramp 44 to Ramp 45. Salt Pond Road is closed.  ORV and pedestrian access is open from Ramp 45 for 0.2 miles east and 0.2 miles west (i.e., a cul-de-sac).  Access is also open from Ramp 49 for 2.6 miles east to where a RESOURCE protection area is located.

·         March 31, 2009:  The western boundary of the existing full beach closure (Resource protection area) was expanded by 50 meters due to a deliberate violation (vandalism of fencing).

·         March 23, 2009:  A full beach closure (RESOURCE protection area) was established from approximately 0.2 miles to 0.7 miles west of Ramp 45 for observed AMOY breeding behavior.

·         March 12, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established at SouthBeach that included upper beach areas that encompass the dunes and extends towards the ocean but allows for an ORV corridor along the lower beach.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.

Ramp 49 - Ramp 55:  (5.9 miles; includes SandyBay soundside parking area)

Current Status:  The beach is open to ORV use for 1.2 miles west of Ramp 49 to the Frisco line. There is pedestrian, but not ORV, access from the Frisco line to 0.1 of a mile east of Ramp 55.

·         On April 5, 2009:  The SandyBayAMOYclosure was modified (expanded) for observed AMOYbreeding behavior.

·         March 13, 2009:  A 150 meter buffer was established southwest of the SandyBay parking lot for observed AMOY breeding behavior. 

·         An ORV SAFETY closure for FriscoVillage and HatterasVillage is 4.7 miles long.  This section is open to pedestrian access, but not ORV access.

Ramp 55 - Hatteras Inlet:  (Hatteras Inlet Spit: 2.7 miles)

Current Status:  ORV and pedestrian access is open along the ocean shoreline from Ramp 55 west to the southern exit of the Pole Road.  Pole Road is open except in front of the Isabel overwash areas, where traffic is routed onto the beach due to a RESOURCE protection area.  Cable Crossing and Spur Road are open to the sound shoreline. Sound access is open 110 meters south of Spur Road, where a RESOURCE protection area begins.  Access to the inlet including the “Rip” is closed due to a RESOURCE protection area.

·         March 30, 2009:   Due to a deliberate violation (vandalism of fencing), the eastern boundary of the Hatteras Inlet pre-nesting area was expanded for a total of 0.1 mile (50 meters east of the easternmost vandalized sign).  

·         March 11, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established at Hatteras Inlet Spit that included the ocean beach from approximately 0.1mile south of the southern exit of Pole Road south/west to the inlet, then along the inlet shoreline to the sound shoreline 110 meters south of the Spur Road.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.

·         March 11, 2009:  A pre-nesting area ( RESOURCE protection area) was established on the soundside at the Isabel overwash area that included portions of the Pole Road adjacent to the overwash fans.   There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.  Ocean shoreline access is open past this area. 

Ocracoke Island District(16.3 miles of ocean shoreline)  

Hatteras Inlet (North Ocracoke Spit) to Ramp 59:  (1.4 miles)

Current Status:  An access corridor is currently being maintained (weather dependent) above the high tide line for ORV and pedestrian access from Ramp 59 north for 0.9 miles to North Ocracoke Spit. 

·         March 10, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established at North Ocracoke Spit that included interior areas and the inlet shoreline and portions of the ocean shoreline.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.

Ramp 59 - Ramp 67: (7.8 miles)

Current Status:  There is no through ORV shoreline access between these two ramps. Pedestrian access is open.

·         An ORV SAFETY closure is 5.2 miles long, and begins 1.0 miles south of Ramp 59 to 1.4 miles north of Ramp 67.  This section is open to pedestrian access but not to ORV access.

Ramp 67 - Ramp 70 (includes Ramp 68):   (3.9 miles; includes Ramp 68)

Current Status:  The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 70 - Ramp 72:  (1.8 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 72 to South Point:   (3.5 miles)

Current Status:  The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access on the ocean shoreline for 1.9 miles south of Ramp 72.

·         March 24, 2009:  The pre-nesting area was expanded by 50 meters at two locations at the inlet due to deliberate violations (vandalism of fencing).  One of the expansions precludes ORV access to the inlet shoreline.  Pedestrian access is permitted below the tide line to portions of the inlet shoreline outside of the established pre-nesting area.

·         March 10, 2009:  A pre-nesting area (RESOURCE protection area) was established at South Point Ocracoke that included the sound shoreline, portions of the inlet shoreline, and interior portions of the spit; and allowed an access corridor along the ocean shoreline to the inlet.  There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the RESOURCE protection area.

Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened and endangered species and species of concern including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, colonial waterbirds (3 species of terns and black skimmers), and sea turtles.  Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and pets.