NPS Establishes Pre-nesting Closures for 2012

Prenesting Areas for 2012 Shorebird Breeding Season

The final off-road vehicle (ORV) management plan (plan) and special
regulation for Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) went into effect
on February 15, 2012.  In accordance with Table 10-1 of the plan, National
Park Service (NPS) Resources Management staff has conducted an annual
assessment of breeding habitat for piping plover (PIPL), Wilson’s plover
(WIPL), American oystercatcher (AMOY), and colonial waterbirds (CWBs),
which occurred between January 30 and February 7, 2012.  Prenesting areas
for PIPL, AMOY and/or WIPL have been installed by March 15 and prenesting
areas for CWB sites will be installed by April 15.  The 2012 breeding
habitat assessment and prenesting maps are posted on the NPS PEPC website
under the Document List for the ORV Management Plan/EIS and Rulemaking
project at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=358

The prenesting closure areas are based on the recent breeding history of
the respective protected species at the Seashore and the actual habitat
conditions observed during the annual assessment.  At most prenesting areas
pedestrian access is allowed along the shoreline below the ocean high tide
line until such time that shorebird breeding activity is observed, then
standard species-specific buffers will be implemented as described in Table
10-1.  Dogs are generally prohibited in the pedestrian shoreline access
corridor below the high tide line adjacent to the prenesting closures and
within any posted resource closure, but properly leashed dogs are otherwise
allowed in open ORV routes and pedestrian areas. The site-specific
restrictions are posted at each location and on-site signage, rather than
the Google Earth map described below, is the most accurate and up-to-date
indication of access status.

In addition, on March 15 the Bodie Island Spit seasonal ORV route from 0.2
mile south of Ramp 4 to the inlet was changed to a seasonal Vehicle Free
Area in accordance with the designated ORV routes identified in the special
regulation.  The area is currently open to pedestrians and the seasonal ORV
route will reopen to vehicle use on September 15.  The designated
year-round ORV route from 0.5 of a mile south of Coquina Beach to 0.2 of a
mile south of Ramp 4 remains open to vehicles with access via Ramp 4.

As a reminder, March 15 marks the end of the transition period provided to
allow park visitors time to obtain the ORV special use permit that is
required to use the designated ORV routes.  Now that the transition period
has ended, NPS law enforcement ranges will actively enforce the permit
requirement.  ORV permits are available at the following locations: Coquina
Beach, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Visitor Center (Buxton), and the
Ocracoke Visitor Center.  The permit offices are open from 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., year-round, seven days a week, except Christmas Day, with
expanded hours on weekends and holidays during the summer season.  The cost
of an annual permit (valid for the calendar year) is $120.  A 7-day ORV
permit (valid from the date issued) costs $50.  Failure to obtain a permit
is a petty offense under Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
Persons cited for violating the permit requirement have the option of
paying the $150.00 fine by mail or appearing in U.S. District Court.

The Seashore’s interactive Google Earth map has been updated to reflect
these changes. The map is available on-line at:
http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm  Note:  Pedestrian
access areas, including the shoreline access adjacent to prenesting areas,
are indicated by a BLUE line on the Google Earth map.

                                  -NPS-