The Island Free Press got more than the usual number of letters to the editor when Ramp 23, just south of Salvo, was closed two weeks ago on Friday, May 7, for least tern breeding activity.
Most of those who contacted us were fishing on the beach south of Ramp 23 and were really steamed that the ramp was closed and that they were not notified that it was happening.
The fishermen left on the beach when the ramp was closed had to travel south to Ramp 27 ? quite a few miles over a treacherous stretch of beach.
Susan Champion of Montgomery, N.Y., wrote that she and her husband camp in Salvo for two months in the spring and a month in the fall.
?It goes without saying that we have spent many thousands of dollars in the area over that time,? she said. ?We, like so many fishermen, have been increasingly alarmed by the beach closures,? she wrote in a letter to Island Free Press. ?Yesterday?s closure of Ramp 23 was the most upsetting of all. It showed the arrogance that the Park Service shows toward fishermen.?
She said there were several groups fishing south of Ramp 23. They saw the activity at the ramp. She says that fishermen north of Ramp 23 were escorted off the beach by Park Service personnel when the ramp was closed.
Champion added that Park Service personnel closed the ramp without telling any of the fishermen to the south that they would have to travel down the beach to Ramp 27.
?They put the stakes up, strung the string, and left,? Champion said. ?We were shocked. How hard would it have been for one of them to ride down and tell the first fisherman that they were going to leave it open for another half hour so we could pack up and leave?
?When we realized we were trapped, we had to form a caravan and drive to Ramp 27 at high tide through very perilous conditions. During the exodus, several trucks were stuck in the narrows and a law enforcement ranger had to help them out.?
Champion said that to these fishermen, the incident ?was a great example of the disregard that the Park Service shows the users of the beach.?
Another letter writer, John Hood of Morganton, N.C., wrote, ?I was among those who were blocked inside Ramp 23 without warning. I have no trouble navigating the sand on the upper part of this location, but the sand is much deeper and softer as you get near Ramp 27. I never venture down that far if I can avoid it. Well, thanks to the total disregard of the Park Service, I was forced to take that route. You would think that the rangers would have warned us before closing the ramp.?
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Superintendent Mike Murray says that these folks on the beach should have been notified.
Murray said the Park Service?s normal procedure is that its resource management staff notifies the law enforcement staff when a ramp is about to be closed. Then the law enforcement rangers notify folks on the beach about the closure.
That did not happen when Ramp 23 was closed because of a failure in communication between resource and law enforcement rangers, Murray said.
He said it won?t happen again.
?Visitors, who had accessed the beach via Ramp 23 and had not been advised of the imminent closing of the ramp, were understandably angry and confused by the closure,? Murray wrote in an e-mail to Island Free Press. ?To those visitors on the beach, we apologize and regret that the closure occurred without them being notified.?
Murray said that Park Service staff met to discuss the situation the week after the incident. He added:
?In reviewing the situation, there was a break-down in coordination between our resources management staff, who implemented the closure according to consent decree requirements, and our law enforcement staff, who are normally involved in notifying the public and ensuring the public has reasonable options for leaving the beach, if necessary. Visitors who had accessed the beach via Ramp 23 should have been contacted before the closure was implemented, and the situation explained to them so that they understood their options for leaving the beach. (The options on Friday would have been to leave via Ramp 23 before the closure was implemented or to leave at one’s convenience via Ramp 27 after the closure was implemented.)?
The superintendent said the Park Service has taken steps to ?ensure the lack of notification doesn’t happen again.?
It did not happen the next week when Ramp 44 to Cape Point was closed for piping plover chicks that had just hatched.
Of course, in that case, anyone who wasn?t notified had no other option for leaving the beach, since the area to the north and south of Ramp 44 is already closed.
Jack R. Ostmark of Highland, N.Y., said that he was a new fisherman on the Outer Banks and a retired state trooper.
He wrote that he thinks it was ?arrogant? for the ramp to be closed with no notice to fishermen to the south of Ramp 23.
?I am expecting a response from the National Park Service of Hatteras Island that this was an incredible mistake by the personnel who sealed off the ramp without any notice,? Ostmark said in his e-mail.
Ostmark and the others who sent us e-mails got their apology from the Park Service.
That is good.
Unfortunately, several of the folks who wrote to us say they won?t come back again.
?We probably have spent our last time in North Carolina,? Susan Champion wrote, adding that the environmental groups win, ?but the majority loses.?
I hope all of those who sent us letters ? you can read them in the Letters to the Editor posted today on the Commentary Page ? will give Hatteras another chance.
The beach closures during the bird and turtle nesting season are confusing and a definite downer for many anglers and others who want to access the beach.
However, there are beaches open for fishing, swimming, shelling, and whatever you want to do. And there will be all summer.
Finally, please remember that the struggle for access is not an ORV issue. It is an issue for all who want to use the seashore?s beaches for any reason, including pedestrians.
Also, remember that Ramp 23 was closed by breeding least terns, which are not a federally protected bird. They are listed as ?species of special concern? by the state, and that?s it.
This access mess is the fault of the NPS for failing to best manage the park and the wildlife for the past 3 decades.
The NPS?s policies have cost the public dearly.
This mess is also the fault of power and money hungry enviromentalist that have no respect for the public and that take advantage of federal guide lines and policies to best advance themselves.
This mess is also the fault of the access groups that were arrogant enough to believe that the NPS was going to be balanced on the issue and that thought the enviromentalist were going to play fair. For 3 years now the access groups have been embarressed by both, because they were never prepared to argue with either.
And regarding state ?species of concern?, the state has said that the protection measures NPS is applying to those birds are not even close to what the state intended by such a listing.
OBTW here is another bird access issue in Hampton. Note the species.
http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-nws-fa..
I still don?t understand. There was a lack of communication if you were fishing south of ramp 23, but no lack of communication if you were fishing north of the ramp. I am assuming all rangers keep up with the tide schedule and are familiar with driving conditions between 23 and 27, yet they saw no need to communicate this to the folks south of the ramp?
I am also confused as to why ORV?s can sometimes drive onto ramp 30, but are blocked at the entrance to 34 and must drive all the way back to 30 to get off the beach. What scientific evidence shows that nesting activity is going to take place at the end of ramp 34? Another 20 yards of ORV access would allow people to get on the beach at 30 and get off at 34. Common sense tells me that would be the considerate thing to do.
I, also, wonder what Mr. John Q. has done to help in the fight to keep our access ramps open. I am not arrogant nor am I embarrassed to be part of the coalition fighting for his right to drive on our beaches. I would like invite you to join one of our access groups. Perhaps you are prepared to solve this whole issue!
Just another example of the stuidity of park management personnel. I have seen resource people ignore people walking in front of bird and turtle closures and loose dogs. I have seen both resource and law enforcement traverse ramp 49 when it was sanded closed or had a whole at the end that could swallow any vehicle that was not prepared for it and ignore it. This just before a holiday weekend which as expected turned out to be a diaster because the ramp remained in poor condition.
On one occassion I called a law enforcement ranger whom I knew to be reasonable and asked why in the name of x no one reported this despite the daily encounters of the week prior to the holiday weekend. I expressed concern because I was in line waiting to get off and was very concerned that people gunning it to get off where going to collide with people coming over the rise. This was an incredible safety issue.
I had reported the same type of issue on ramp 43 on several occassions.
I was told that personnel, regardless of title or position, were to be instructed to report such issues to maint. Judging from the lack of maint. on ramps and based upon the above discribed incident, it appears nothing has changed. We still have personnel unwilling to go beyond their job description even when common sense or visitor safety would dictate that a reasonable person talk to visitors.
As for Murray, I no longer believe anything he tells me until I see proof. I really feel upper management sent a silver tounge devil to placate us until it was too late to effect any change to the plan to create a new model for seashore management?one that treats people like a cancer to be erradicated or at least conifned to the minimum space possible.
I have some comments that may not be to the liking of any of you but who of you that know me know that I am going to say it anyway:
1. NPS Resource Rangers screwed up and did not follow instructions and left these folks in a situation that required the apology that Supt. Mike Murray issued in this article and to each person that he was able to contact because that was the right thing to do and that is how Mike operates.
2. Resource Rangers screwed up not Law enforcement rangers who were not notified of the closures. In fact I read in this article that a law enforcement ranger helped some of the stuck visitors get unstuck. Before you give some of these guys hell get all the facts.
3. You got it right about the money hungry environmental special interest groups who delight in making people miserable and do so not for the birds but for control of people and lands and their pocketbooks.
4. I take exception to the guy griping about the grassroots folks who have spent many hours working, spent more personal monies than they should have had to to fight a bunch of fat cat rich environmental groups and honestly thought the NPS would give them a level field to fight on. In the 1970?s when I moved here permanently OBPA and NPS negotiated through meetings and hearings an ORV Draft Plan that was approved by both groups and sent to Atlanta for approval. It was a give and take effort that came out with a plan we could all live with. And yes it did not meet the freedom we wanted, but we could live with it. Of course we all know now that this draft plan was never signed off in Washington. This is the reason today the environmental groups have had the upper hand in court with NPS and us making the even playing field non existent. Another reason is that NPS seems to yes be in bed with these environmental groups and that fact should be investigated by the Attorney General?s to the fullest extent.
I am a member of the access colalition movement and stand proud of a group of individuals who not with money, but with heart and faith that will continue this fight until you bury us forever in the soil of a country built by generations of people like us. These are the foundation of Cape Hatteras Recreational Seashore and the heritage that will be preserved.
F&F,
That they didn?t notify the people to the south is probably because there was another ramp by which those persons could exit.
Should they have been notified?
Maybe, I don?t know.
You?re also expecting NPS staff to be omniscient and know by which route people have accessed the beach and by which route they would prefer to leave it.
You?re also operating under the impression and accepting a post hoc claim, that if notified, the persons who are now pointing fingers at others, would have packed up and left, and not continued fishing. I?m incredulous.
Plus, if their vehicles (improper tire pressure, low profile tires, etc) and/or skill levels weren?t up the driving that section of beach, they shouldn?t have driven on the beach in the first place, as you never know what the conditions will be when you drive out over a ramp (e.g. see Ginny?s post re:ramp 49).
How many people have you seen tear up a ramp or the beach (often leaving large holes for others to negotiate) because they refused to air down or were clueless as to how to negotiate its challenges? Thousands? Tens of thousands over the years? I know I have.
Plain and simple, if you get stuck, it?s your own fault, post hoc excuses aside.
Dear Crotalus.
“You’re also expecting NPS staff to be omniscient and know by which route people have accessed the beach and by which route they would prefer to leave it.”
That is correct. However the vistors to the beach were not asked what their preference was. They had no choice.
“You’re also operating under the impression and accepting a post hoc claim, that if notified, the persons who are now pointing fingers at others, would have packed up and left, and not continued fishing. I’m incredulous.”
The question is why they were not notified. After notification it’s on their heads. You can’t make a choice from one alternative.
“Plus, if their vehicles (improper tire pressure, low profile tires, etc) and/or skill levels weren’t up the driving that section of beach, they shouldn’t have driven on the beach in the first place, as you never know what the conditions will be when you drive out over a ramp (e.g. see Ginny’s post re:ramp 49).”
Again you miss the point. They may have never intended to drive that section of the beach. They were left with no choice.
“How many people have you seen tear up a ramp or the beach (often leaving large holes for others to negotiate) because they refused to air down or were clueless as to how to negotiate its challenges? Thousands? Tens of thousands over the years? I know I have.”
Now we get to the incredulous part of your argument. You are an elitist with years of beach driving and a distain for the general public who does not have your knowledge.
Were you born with this innate knowledge of how to drive the beach? Or was it aquired by experience?
I would have enjoyed the forced evacuation, would have been a test of my driving skills.
But sure would have liked the choice. It can be a nasty piece of beach that requires lot’s of judgment and skill. A quick trip back to 23 might have been the choice, if one was presented.
So the NPS made a mistake, and said so, it’s no reason to blame the general public for not having your level of beach driving skills.
John Alley,
I don?t think being able to read, and then applying that skill to the signs posted at every ramp, is elitist. YMMV.
And at proper tire pressure, there?s nothing very difficult on that stretch of beach. Although it is [was] a little easier, but less interesting, now the piling is no longer sticking straight out of the dune face partially blocking your path, as it was last winter.
And you should be properly aired down, no matter what section of beach you plan on driving.
So the law enforcement rangers evicted the recreational users inside the new closure but didn?t bother to even notify the users to the South of new closure. I think the blame is on both the resource and law enforcement rangers. Its another shining example of lack respect for the users of the park.
Crotalus, your really showing your colors. NPS personnel made a big mistake and that?s it. You can?t defend them, they have the elitist attitudes just like yourself.
Just thank goodness no birds were harmed ?.
Hey Crotalus,
You sure were clever in choosing your name, snake-man. I am curious as to why you are so hell bent to see access removed. What do you have to gain from it?
huh,
I?m sure Irene would appreciate it if you took your homo-erotic ramblings to somewhere where it?s more appropriate. Sorry about your inferiority complex, but perhaps if you came out of the closet, your self-esteem would improve.
Exbuxtonite,
So, I don?t jump on the demonize the NPS and their employees bandwagon for every slight, real and imagined, and that makes me against access? How did you arrive at that conclusion?
well Mr Rattlesnake, i am just curious why you are so anti-access. You must have some reason to be so consistantly againts access to the park. What is your motivation?
Birds? Turtles? Just like to see people suffer?
Im dyin? to get to know the real you.
Exbuxtonite,
You?re sorta dense, aren?t you?
Again, what have I written that makes you conclude that I am ?anti-access??
Plain and simple, I don?t care if law enforcement was there or not those employees that were present (resource, interpretive, etc.) should have had the courtesy to let those visitors close to the ramp know what was happening. Sorry Frank, I think Murray?s miscommunication appology is a weak one.
As for the area in question or any other narrow area, Croat is right travel at your own risk. That is I am opposed to closing such areas. That said, no visitor should be forced to travel such an area if they are not comfortable with the area. If you are not comfortable you will probably make a mistake with bigger consequences than simply getting stuck.
Stated more specifically, I always avoided the old narrows at Hatteras Inlet, avoided traveling any area under water, and avoided the stretch between 23 and 27. As such, if I had been at ramp 23 when they shut it down, I would either still be there today or I would have had the park service escort me out via ramp 23 but I would not have risked injury or damage to my vehicle by traveling a stretch of beach that I was not comfortable with.
Crot,
No I do think you are totally anti-access, but you sure like to stir the s___t pot and raise the hairs on folks back. And you state that you ?do not demonize the NPS and their employees bandwagon for every slight, real and imagined, and that makes me against access? ?
While there are those that do, most of us do not demonize most of the NPS islanders doing their job, but when you cross Oregon Inlet the number that we respect gets smaller and smaller, but these actions have been brought on their own shoulders.
Ginny has suggested tat Mike Murrays apology was weak at best, but what the heck more could he or anyone done to correct the mis-communication that occurred. I am sure he took measures to see that such miscommunications do not occur again and if he took any individual action with NPS employee the is a private matter not to be discussed with the public.
As I stated in the opening to my comment there would be folks on both sides that would not agree, but I forget some of us are never wrong!
Crot,
Get help before its too late.
Hello?
F&F,
I would take exception about who?s actually ?stirring the pot?.
Bob,
Thanks for caring.