Dare questions Audubon letter
Dare County is challenging an Audubon Society letter that advocates year-round restrictions on access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, saying it selectively used research to make its case.
The letter was endorsed by 90 individuals and organizations, one of whom has since asked to be removed.
“Many of these people have had no direct connection with Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, nor have they studied the complexities involved in the unique history and use of this seashore,” the county said in a statement today.
According to the county, the letter relies on protocols set by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2005 to protect shorebirds, sea turtles and a threatened plant called a seabeach amaranth. But the county said that the USGS had emphasized that the study did not address counterbalancing activities, such as beach access.
Written in December, Audubon’s letter to park Superintendent Mike Murray cites the USGS study in urging at least a level of moderate protection for wildlife, but it advocates maximum protection, which would result in year-round restrictions.
“Audubon has gone too far,” Warren Judge, the chairman of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, said in the statement. “Now it is clear that Audubon was not negotiating in good faith in the past when claiming they wanted only to control access, not stop it. They have finally exposed their long intended goal of closing the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area to everyone forever.”
The debate over off-road vehicle driving is heating up again as the the National Park Service prepares to release a draft environmental impact study for a management plan. The park service has also released maps and descriptions of recommended closures aimed at protecting areas where shorebirds are expected to nest.
The recommendations are required under a consent decree that grew out of a lawsuit by environmental groups challenging the lack of a beach access management plan for the seashore. Maps mark off large areas of the most popular beach areas, including parts of Oregon Inlet and Cape Point.
link to the Island Free Press to see a copy of the letter »
full text of the county’s statement »
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Bert says:
I commend the county for trying to protect the rights of humans. I dare say there are a lot more humans that enjoy the coast of NC than piping plovers. We have rights too. I will not be upset if I never see another piping plover. PLEASE audobon, back off of some of your underlying issues. Let’s think about protecting the quality of life and providing recreational opportunity for all. It is much more important for my grandchildren to have a quality of life.
Tim says:
Let’s relocate all of the piping plovers to the Audobon’s oceanfront property in Pine Island and open the Park Service property back up to the public.
Kevin Dineen says:
If they would realize that the birds nest on spoil islands for a purpose. The are no predators such as racoons, foxes, opossums and coyotes. Nature educated these birds to adapt to these safe nesting aeras. The reason there are some nesting on the mainland beach of Hatteras Island is that the carrying capacity of the spoil islands is maxed out with as many nests that they can handle. Therefore there is an overage of breeding birds so they have to locate on the beaches.
Wake up….there is a surplus of breeding pairs.