Tag Archives: Habitats

Will there be closures on the beaches in the national seashore again this summer?

Posted on April 2, 2010 by | 2 Comments

Information from

Cyndy M. Holda

Public Affairs Specialist

Cape Hatteras NS/Fort Raleigh NHS/Wright Brothers NM

The beaches of the national seashore are being managed again this summer under the terms of the U.S. District Court ordered consent decree. Park visitors will see resource closures in effect during the bird breeding season from mid-March to mid- to late-August and turtle nesting closures may occur until early November. 2. Will I be able to access (location) on (date) when I come to visit the Outer Banks (e.g., Cape Point on July 14)? The consent decree requires that areas be closed to off-road vehicle (ORV) use as soon as protected shorebird breeding activity is observed. The protected species include piping plover, American oystercatcher, three species of terns, and black skimmers. It is impossible to predict exactly when and where breeding behavior, nests, or nesting colonies will occur this summer, though the birds tend to nest in the same areas each year. Based on recent years’ nesting activity, it is highly likely that prescribed shorebird protections will significantly restrict and temporarily preclude ORV access to Bodie Island Spit, Cape Point, portions of South Beach, Hatteras Inlet Spit, North Ocracoke Spit, and South Point Ocracoke during the portions of the spring and summer. Popular pedestrian beaches, including Coquina Beach, all village beaches on Hatteras Island, and Ocracoke Day Use Area will be open to pedestrians; and many additional miles of beach will be open to ORV access throughout the summer. For up-to-date information on currently open or closed areas, check the Seashore’s Google Earth maps at: http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm.

While temporary resource closures to protect nesting shorebirds and sea turtles are expected to occur between mid-March and mid- to late-August, including at some popular sites, there will be many, many miles of beach open to both pedestrian and ORV access on any given day of any given week during those months. For example, on July 8, 2009, there were approximately 22 miles of beach open to ORVs and pedestrians, another 26 miles open to only pedestrians (that was a total of 48 miles of open beach!), while 19 miles of beach were closed or impractical to access due to resource protection closures in place at the time. By late August, most of the resource closures had been lifted.

What was the outcome of the negotiated rulemaking process?

The negotiated rulemaking advisory committee was established to assist the National Park Service in preparing an ORV management plan and special regulation for Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The committee held its final meeting in late February 2009 after meeting for 14 months. The committee provided a considerable amount of useful information on ORV management options for NPS to consider, however the committee did not reach agreement on a consensus alternative. As a result, NPS considered the committee’s input in developing the ORV management plan, and the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was released for public comment in March 2010.

When will management of the Seashore no longer fall under the terms of the consent decree? The consent decree will remain in effect until the long-term ORV management plan/EIS and special regulation are completed. The consent decree establishes a deadline of December 31, 2010 to complete the plan/EIS and April 1, 2011 to publish a final rule.

What are the prohibitions on beach night driving? Under the consent decree, to protect nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings, night driving is prohibited on ocean beaches from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. May 1 – Nov. 15. A night driving permit is required to drive on the beaches from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sept. 16 – Nov. 15. 7.

When can I get my permit for driving on the beach at night from Sept. 16 – Nov. 15? How much will the permit cost? We have not yet finalized the permit for the 2010 season. The permit will be available locally and online prior to Sept. 16, 2010 and there will be no charge.

Can I put my name on a list right now to ensure I get a permit? A list for night driving permits from Sept. 16 – Nov. 15 is not needed at this time. There is no limit on the number of permits. They will be readily available prior to the implementation date of Sept. 16, 2010.

Can I drive out to the beach, park my vehicle on the beach and fish all night, then not drive it until 6 a.m.? No, all vehicles must exit the beach by 10 p.m. during the period when night driving is restricted.

Can I be dropped off on the beach before 10 p.m., fish all night and be picked up at 6 a.m.? Yes, however pedestrians are still prohibited from entering resource closures.

If I stay on the beach all night and fish, how much light can I have on the beach? It is okay to use flashlights, headlamps, or other low-intensity hand-held lighting.

If I launch my boat on the soundside, but I do not get back until after 10 p.m., can I use my ORV to retrieve my boat from the soundside ramp? Yes, the night driving ban does not apply to the soundside ramps.

Does the night driving ban on vehicles apply to bicycles or horses? No. However they are prohibited within resource closures.

Can I have a fire on the beach? Yes. Beach fires are allowed until 12 midnight (prohibited from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Fires are not permitted within resource protection closures or within 100 meters of any turtle nest closure. Before you leave the beach, you must extinguish your fire with water.

Can I bypass a resource closure by walking in the tidal surf zone in order to walk to Cape Point? The Park boundary along the ocean is the mean low tide line. If a person chooses to bypass any closed area by walking BELOW the mean low tide line, that is technically legal. However, the problem is that closures are often several tenths of a mile long or longer and it is not reasonable or safe to encourage the general public to walk below the mean low tide line for that distance. Inevitably the tide rises, staying outside the boundary becomes much more difficult, and visitors are tempted to come ashore within a resource closure which is a violation. This would only exacerbate access restrictions, as the consent decree requires NPS to automatically increase the buffer distance in 50 meter increments if disturbance of birds by ORVs or pedestrians is observed.

What do I do if I see a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings? Stay back at least 100 feet for nesting females and 30 feet for hatchlings so that you do not disturb them. Turn off all lights and do not use flash photography. Call the park, so that we can protect the turtles (252) 216-6892.

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Posted in 1. Environmental News and Issues, 6. Wildlife and Plants

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Seagull Rescue

Posted on November 4, 2009 by | Comments Off

Seagull Rescue

Oct-28-2009 By OBX Admin

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Here are some pictures of a seagull that was rescued Josie of Outer Banks SPCA (Dare County Animal Shelter). It was found on the beach with a fishing lure stuck in its side with fishing line hrough its beak. If you find an injured in Dare County call 252.475.5620. They can also direct you to the correct number for different areas of the Outer Banks.

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Climate Change Legislation: Adaptation Sees Movement in the Senate

Posted on November 4, 2009 by | Comments Off

Written by Eric Haxthausen
haxthausen_adaptationblog

Momentum is building on Capitol Hill for addressing a crucial piece of the climate change puzzle — ecosystem-based adaptation.

Why is helping nature adapt to climate change important? Because natural systems serve as the backbone of public health and the nation’s economy — everything from providing clean water and air and protecting communities from catastrophic weather-related disasters to sustaining our outdoor recreation and agricultural industries (which combined represent more than $1 trillion annually).

So in order to fully address the effects of climate change, we must help communities and natural systems become more resilient to the changes we are already seeing. We must also prepare people and nature for the changes we know will come.

Known as adaptation, this combination of management, restoration and protection strategies will help prepare places, plants, animals — and people — for climate change.

Yesterday was a good day for this vitally important piece of the climate change puzzle. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the “Natural Resources Climate Adaptation Act.” The legislation builds upon an earlier adaptation proposal that was included in the Senate’s version of comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation introduced earlier this month.

 

The legislation calls for important dedicated funding for adaptation work, with approximately 5 percent of the total allowances form a climate change bill going towards job-creating conservation initiatives that safeguard wildlife and protect, restore and enhance America’s forests, grasslands, rivers, coasts, and oceans impacted by climate change.

It would also require federal, state and tribal agencies to use the best available science to develop plans and work alongside local groups and private landowners to identify and safeguard vulnerable ecosystems.

Underscoring the importance of adaptation legislation — the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a coalition of businesses and environmental organizations (including The Nature Conservancy) that is dedicated to passing climate change legislation — has provided a report to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works calling for a commitment to funding adaptation, saying it is “a critical component to climate legislation.” USCAP cites the citing the following reasons adaptation is so critical:

  • Communities already face impacts from climate change.
  • Adaptation funding is national security funding.
  • A commitment to adaptation in legislation is a critical component to reasserting U.S. leadership in international negotiations.
  • The poorest people around the world are most at risk from climate change.
  • Ecosystems and ecosystems services upon which human and natural communities depend must be protected.

With dedicated legislation for adaptation funding now working its way through committee, provisions already included in the broader climate change and energy bill, and a new report from business and environmental leaders supporting adaptation funding, real momentum appears to be developing on Capitol Hill to ensure that people, places, plants, and animals are prepared for climate change now and in the future.

(Photo: Erika Nortemann. North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is under threat from salt water inundation due to rising seal levels caused by climate change.)

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Posted in Sea Level Rise

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Is Wind Energy Bird Friendly?

Posted on October 1, 2009 by | Comments Off

A friend of mine, Burnie Gould, informed me that wind turbines could be dangerous to birds and disrupt migration patterns.  He made me stop and think.  And then I Googled.

Jessica Regan wrote, Offshore Wind in Coastal North Carolina: A Feasibility Study  for her Master of Environmental Management degree in the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences of Duke University.  The objective of this study is to evaluate and analyze data related to the construction of an offshore wind facility located in coastal North Carolina in order to determine whether or not a renewable energy project of this scope and magnitude would be feasible. In order to determine how feasible such a development would be for coastal North Carolina, several different aspects of the project will be analyzed: Ecological impacts, including potential changes in coastal geology and climate patterns; regulations and legal issues; economic issues; and the public’s perception of wind energy. Based on these analyses, recommendations will be made as to whether a project of this scope would be a reasonable undertaking.

Jessica where are you?

According to American Bird Conservancy:

Pressure from environmental organizations to make wind energy bird friendly and therefore truly green is showing some initial signs of changing the attitude and behavior of wind developers and the federal government. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advisory committee has now begun the task of writing recommendations to protect birds from habitat destruction and collision risks associated with wind farms, but much work remains to be done to convert an industry and their regulatory agencies that have long viewed wind power as environmentally benign. “

The push for a massive expansion of renewable sources of energy has tremendous potential for improving environmental conditions and moving us towards the goal of energy independence,” said Steve Holmer, American Bird Conservancy’s Director of Public Relations. “But we must make sure that in the rush for sustainable power we do not sacrifice sensitive habitats and bird migration corridors, or impact bird and bat populations through needless fatal collisions with spinning turbines.

Green energy is only going to be green if we take into account all the environmental factors.” The current energy plan for the United States calls for 350,000 megawatts of power generation capacity from wind energy by 2030, which is predicted to require building wind farms to cover a total of 19,000 square miles of countryside—approximately the combined areas of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

The effects on birds and bird habitats could be significant, and require close attention and mitigation. To help with mitigation efforts, The Nature Conservancy has produced a map of the United States identifying sensitive areas to wind power development, and NRDC and National Audubon Society have joined with Google Earth to produce a map of 13 western states identifying areas where wind developments should be avoided.

American Bird Conservancy and Cornell Lab of Ornithology are working to further the development of computer models to predict risks to migrating birds from wind projects. The approach uses data gathered by weather radar stations across the country to predict both where concentrations of birds will occur during the migration seasons, and the weather conditions that could force birds to fly at lower elevations, increasing the probability of collisions with wind turbines. These models would allow wind projects to temporarily shut down, avoiding avian collisions. A similar project has been introduced by Iberdrola Renewables, which incorporates real-time radar developed by DeTect, Inc. for use at a wind project in coastal Texas. This system uses DeTect’s airport bird-strike avoidance radar to identify flocks of migrating birds and automatically shut down the wind project when the risk of collision is high. While these recent advances point towards a better regulated and more responsive wind industry, many projects that may still be very risky for birds are being fast-tracked.

For example, several projects in the Great Plains states of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas are going ahead without provisions to protect endangered Whooping Cranes. Cranes are well known to be at risk from collisions with electricity transmission lines, and thousands of turbines now being erected along the cranes’ migration route could provide an additional, serious hazard at a time when the population is already at a critically low level.

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Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Posted on June 15, 2009 by

Arranging a slow farewell to a coastal wildlife refuge // // By JESSICA LEBER, ClimateWire Published: June 3, 2009 A century from now, rising sea levels will have overwhelmed the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, which juts from North Carolina’s … Continue reading →

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