Beach Access and Park Issues
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November 16, 2009
Coastal storm causes some problems for seashore beach access
By IRENE NOLAN
IThe strong northeaster that swept up the East Coast over the weekend
has left impressive aftereffects in its path on the beaches of Cape
Hatteras National Seashore. Park visitors and ORV users will
encounter noticeable differences in ocean beach and dune conditions and
caution is advised.
Standing water, which may be saline, brackish, or fresh, sometimes over
a foot deep, may be found in many locations with deep gullies draining
inland areas which create unpredictable, and sometimes unsafe, terrain
for travel. Natural vegetative debris, such as uprooted trees and
beach grasses, as well as debris from destroyed boardwalks and
structures, are deposited on the beach following a wind and water event
of such a sustained nature. Beach travelers will encounter such
debris on the beaches in all areas and extreme caution should be used.
The following beach access ramps are open for ORV use:
Bodie Island District:
Ramp 2, 4, and 23 are all open and passable with some debris.
Hatteras Island District:
Ramp 27, 30, 34, 38, 43, 49, 55 are all open and passable with some
debris. Ramp 43 has standing water but is accessible. Cape
Point is accessible via Ramp 43.
Ramp 44 and 45 are closed. Salt Pond Road is flooded and remains
closed. The Interdunal Road between Ramp 44 and 45 is flooded and
closed. The Salt Pond outflow, approximately 300 yards west of
Cape Point, is draining water from the area and travel through the
outflow is not recommended.
South of Ramp 55, the Pole Road is closed due to flooded
conditions. Cable Crossing access is closed. Access to
Hatteras Inlet and the Spur Road are accessible by traveling south from
Ramp 55 on the ocean beach.
Ocracoke Island District:
Ramp 59, 67, 68 and 70 are all open and passable with some
debris. Ramp 72 is closed due to flooded conditions. The
last remaining turtle nest on the Ocracoke Island is located just south
of Ramp 70 and blocks through access to Ramp 72. The nest, which
is past its hatch date (day 90), was checked Monday morning, Nov. 16,
and it is still an active nest with viable eggs inside. The nest
is expected to hatch this week with the predicted warmer, sunny days
ahead.
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