As we move forward in our fight against the National Park Services' "final ORV rule" many people are becoming involved in the issues here that had quit out of frustration as well as others who are relatively new, having only now, just begun to hear about the happenings on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands concerning beach access issues.
Of course, one of the things that we need done in an effort to stem the tide of this NPS land grab is for those concerned to contact media outlets and especially your elected representatives, and often. The age old phrase "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" applies here in grand fashion.
It's important though, that we all "sing the same song", per se, so that our communications are heeded and we don't end up confusing those that we wish to listen to our plight.
So here are some basic points that should help. At least that's my hope.
First off, this is not a park; not a national park either. As congress established the various areas that would fall under the administration of NPS, these areas were given specific designations. If you look through the "park system", you will find for example, national monuments, national parks, national wilderness areas, national forests, national recreational areas, national seashores, etc.
Here however, you find the nations first national seashore and the nations ONLY National Seashore Recreational Area. The true, legal, and proper name for this area is Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area or CHNSRA and NPS hates it.
So while referring to this area, please never use the term "park" but always Seashore, Recreational Area, Recreational Seashore or something similar, but never "park".
This is important because it rams home to NPS and whoever you may be talking to, the purpose of this Seashore as established by congress.
2) Congress mandated that this area be set aside for recreational use in 1937 and added the term recreational area in 1940 stating that the area be set aside and dedicated for the "benefit and enjoyment" of the American people. (Its hard to enjoy a place you cant visit)
3) Less than 3% of all wildlife mortality on these beaches since 1952 (when the Seashore was founded) can be attributed to humans and never has there been documentation of a piping plover having been harmed. Over 97% of all turtle and bird mortality and harm here has been attributed to storms and predation. This is reflected within the NPS records.
4) Four years of limited access under the consent decree showed no appreciable gains in wildlife reproductive success but did have a devastating impact on the economy of the islands and the overall visitor experience.
5)Many former visitors are publicly vowing to never return if these restrictions remain in place including the fees now charged for beach driving which are not charged to pedestrian visitors to the Seashore, forcing one user group fund the activities and infrastructure required by another.
6) The ban on night driving is based upon supposition and not science.
7) The NPS assertion that there are 2.2 million visitors to the Seashore annually is a fallacy as that would require that over 17,400 visitors were here every day of the year.
8) The newly established pedestrian only areas over lap with traditional bird nesting areas which will preclude even pedestrian access.
9) There is no meaningful access for mobility impaired persons.
And these are just some of the talking points about this final rule that can be shared with congress and your friends and who ever you think might be able to help us.
This is Americas Beach, not the private playground of NPS and their environmentalist buddies.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Well, Today I Went And Saw The Elephant
Now that may seem like a funny thing to say but back during the War for Southern Independence (1861-1865), the phrase was referred to as having gone to battle. For example, one soldier would ask another "have ya seen the elephant?" meaning had they been in the fight yet.
Well today, I saw it up close and even watched an educational film about it. Yes folks, I, and a group of friends, became the first graduating class of the new NPS "rule" that went into effect at 12:01 am this morning.
When I arrived I was surprised that so few where there but I was to glad to find that I knew just about everybody present. One by one we filed into the front office and were greeted by NPS staff who handed us a clipboard with a form to fill out with all of our pertinent information which then had to be checked against our license and vehicle registration.
Mind you, this is all being done in a relatively small trailer so there were only but so many clipboards and not much room to sit or maneuver even though there were perhaps ten of us in the room.
Permit Trailer
From there, we were shuttled, after our papers were inspected, into the "theatre" which I believe has 15 seats, to learn how to drive on the beach. With all due respect, cough, cough, even the NPS employees that I have helped dig out over the years would have learned nothing from this film except to pick up trash which they simply wont do. I don't know how much we, the taxpayer, paid for this film, but can we have our money back please? Though I must admit, NPS finally came out and said 2WD vehicles are NOT recommended, albeit still allowed.
From there, we came to a small door where two NPS staff took our funds and issued the permit. A lengthy process at best as everyone gets packed up into the hallway. As we were standing there, I could hear the movie begin yet again so at least NPS has a system in place. But come the holiday weekends, there is no way they will be able to process the numbers of visitors that wish to access the Seashore.
I might add that at no point during this film did NPS mention the carrying capacities that are part of the new "rule" which I find exceptionally deceptive. They will move you through this entire process, let you pay for your permit, but never inform you that you may not be allowed on the beach to get where you want to go via your vehicle because of this arbitrary and capricious "carrying capacity".
Mark my words folks, it was simple with just ten folks, but things aren't going to be so much fun for NPS when a family from far away comes down and goes through this process only to find they cant access the beach.
Well that was my experience. I can only imagine the nightmare that will follow.
If you have questions, I suggest you e-mail Cyndy Holda at Cyndy_Holda@nps.gov
I would also ask that you join either OBPA, www.obpa.org or
NCBBA, www.ncbba.org and help us fight the fight for free and open beach access.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Well today, I saw it up close and even watched an educational film about it. Yes folks, I, and a group of friends, became the first graduating class of the new NPS "rule" that went into effect at 12:01 am this morning.
When I arrived I was surprised that so few where there but I was to glad to find that I knew just about everybody present. One by one we filed into the front office and were greeted by NPS staff who handed us a clipboard with a form to fill out with all of our pertinent information which then had to be checked against our license and vehicle registration.
Mind you, this is all being done in a relatively small trailer so there were only but so many clipboards and not much room to sit or maneuver even though there were perhaps ten of us in the room.
From there, we were shuttled, after our papers were inspected, into the "theatre" which I believe has 15 seats, to learn how to drive on the beach. With all due respect, cough, cough, even the NPS employees that I have helped dig out over the years would have learned nothing from this film except to pick up trash which they simply wont do. I don't know how much we, the taxpayer, paid for this film, but can we have our money back please? Though I must admit, NPS finally came out and said 2WD vehicles are NOT recommended, albeit still allowed.
From there, we came to a small door where two NPS staff took our funds and issued the permit. A lengthy process at best as everyone gets packed up into the hallway. As we were standing there, I could hear the movie begin yet again so at least NPS has a system in place. But come the holiday weekends, there is no way they will be able to process the numbers of visitors that wish to access the Seashore.
I might add that at no point during this film did NPS mention the carrying capacities that are part of the new "rule" which I find exceptionally deceptive. They will move you through this entire process, let you pay for your permit, but never inform you that you may not be allowed on the beach to get where you want to go via your vehicle because of this arbitrary and capricious "carrying capacity".
Mark my words folks, it was simple with just ten folks, but things aren't going to be so much fun for NPS when a family from far away comes down and goes through this process only to find they cant access the beach.
Well that was my experience. I can only imagine the nightmare that will follow.
If you have questions, I suggest you e-mail Cyndy Holda at Cyndy_Holda@nps.gov
I would also ask that you join either OBPA, www.obpa.org or
NCBBA, www.ncbba.org and help us fight the fight for free and open beach access.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The Long Awaited Day Has Come
Thanks to all that never lost faith and continued to support our efforts for free and open access.
For Immediate Release:
For Immediate Release:
Local Community Group Challenges New National Park Service Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions at Cape Hatteras Proper review of alternatives and socioeconomic impacts required, says group’s filing. Buxton, NC (February 9, 2012) – The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA) t...oday filed suit challenging the National Park Service’s (NPS) issuance of a new management plan and special rule regulating off-road vehicle (ORV) use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit NPS from imposing severe new restrictions on ORV use within the Recreational Area in accordance with the agency’s recently released Cape Hatteras ORV Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement and Special Regulations governing ORV management at the Recreational Area. Since before the establishment of the Recreational Area, ORV access to and over the beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks has been fundamental to the use and enjoyment of the area by residents, visitors, and local businesses. “The Park Service’s new ORV management plan and rules, if implemented, will have a devastating effect on our unique, local shore-oriented culture and economy,” said John Couch, President of the Outer Banks Preservation Association (OBPA). “The OBPA and CHAPA have fought to keep the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area beaches free and open to residents and visitors since 1977. OBPA and CHAPA continuously have maintained that reasonable ORV access and bird and turtle species protection are not mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, the Park Service overlooked reasonable recommendations and information that OBPA and CHAPA put forth during the planning process that would have resulted in an ORV management plan and rules that both protect wildlife resources and ensure reasonable ORV access to and over the area’s beaches.” Throughout the ORV planning and rulemaking process, CHAPA’s goal has been to work with NPS to develop a comprehensive ORV use and management plan that will meet the concerns of protecting the Recreational Area’s resources without compromising the distinctive lifestyle and economic health of the islands that make up the Outer Banks. CHAPA has advocated the protection and preservation of Seashore beaches within a framework of responsible and meaningful access to the ocean beaches and sound for all users, including pedestrians and properly licensed drivers and their vehicles. According to the complaint filed by CHAPA in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the imposition of new, severe restrictions was “foreordained from the time that NPS began its planning process.” As set forth in the complaint, the Park Service’s planning and environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act was plagued by a series of failures. These include, among others: a failure to give meaningful consideration to views, data, or information that were contrary to NPS’s desire to impose more severe restrictions on ORV access and use; a failure to look at reasonable alternatives, including smaller and more flexible buffer and closure areas; and a failure to properly assess impacts on the local economy. The complaint asks the court to determine that NPS acted improperly and to prevent NPS from implementing its final ORV management plan and rules. ### The Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance (CHAPA) is a project of the Outer Banks Preservation Association (OBPA), which is dedicated to preserving and protecting a lifestyle historically prevalent on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and specifically at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area (CHNSRA). With over 10,000 active members (representing over 38 states and Canada), OBPA and CHAPA work to protect and preserve local beaches within a framework of free and open beach access for all users, including properly licensed drivers and vehicles. Contacts: John Couch President OBPA president@obpa-nc.org Jim Keene Director, North Carolina Beach Buggy Association contactus@ncbba.org David Scarborough Treasurer OBPA treasurer@obpa-nc.org
http://www.obpa-nc.org/Rule/CHAPA-complaint.pdf
http://www.obpa-nc.org/Rule/CHAPA-complaint.pdf
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Friday, February 3, 2012
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, in days when I was much younger, I fell in love with a magical place named Cape Hatteras.
Set miles out to sea from the North Carolina mainland, it stands as a unique and very special place where wind and tides shape the shore, where the sea surrounds, where wildlife was abundant, and fishing often spectacular. This is a place where one can stand on Cape Point and watch the sun rise over one shoulder and set over the other, both events occurring over the ocean, without ever having to move an inch.
It is a place that inspires song, works of art, and poetry, a place that digs deep into the soul and brings forth emotions not felt in the "real" world as an off-island experience is often called down here.
There is just something extraordinary about this place. Something intangible and indescribable. Something that you have to visit here to grasp. Once done however, once discovered, leaving this place leaves one with a sense of longing that can never be satisfied until they return. Many generations, many families, have been raised on the traditions surrounding these beaches whether they were raised here or came from afar.
We're not like the northern beaches of Nags Head and the like. There aren't endless miles of development down here. Instead, eight small villages dot the map and make up such a small portion of these islands that once through them, you hardly remember they exist at all.
But now our Federal Government wants to shut down all of our beaches and absolutely destroy our entire economy. And according to Cyndy Holda, Chief Information Officer for the National Park Service around these parts, as per a "press release" on the first of February, this, among other things, is being done to preserve our unique Island culture.
Right, so you shut down our beaches, starve our economy, make it virtually impossible for anyone to get out to the beach so you can preserve our culture. And if that isn't enough, you're going to charge us for the privilege of destroying our way of life to boot so you can preserve our culture.
NPS has made some spectacular claims in the past, but this one tops them all, it surely does.
I think that you and Mr Murray owe a substantial apology to all the residents of these islands and the American people at large. You should carry your head in shame.
I don't know what sort of kool aid you consume Madame Holda, but how you believe that by destroying a way of life and the culture that has been extant since before your agency arrived on these islands is tantamount to preserving same, is beyond me. It's obviously beyond you as well..just not in the same way.
You cannot destroy to preserve.
That's all I have to say except I look forward to the day where you are removed from your job.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Set miles out to sea from the North Carolina mainland, it stands as a unique and very special place where wind and tides shape the shore, where the sea surrounds, where wildlife was abundant, and fishing often spectacular. This is a place where one can stand on Cape Point and watch the sun rise over one shoulder and set over the other, both events occurring over the ocean, without ever having to move an inch.
It is a place that inspires song, works of art, and poetry, a place that digs deep into the soul and brings forth emotions not felt in the "real" world as an off-island experience is often called down here.
There is just something extraordinary about this place. Something intangible and indescribable. Something that you have to visit here to grasp. Once done however, once discovered, leaving this place leaves one with a sense of longing that can never be satisfied until they return. Many generations, many families, have been raised on the traditions surrounding these beaches whether they were raised here or came from afar.
We're not like the northern beaches of Nags Head and the like. There aren't endless miles of development down here. Instead, eight small villages dot the map and make up such a small portion of these islands that once through them, you hardly remember they exist at all.
But now our Federal Government wants to shut down all of our beaches and absolutely destroy our entire economy. And according to Cyndy Holda, Chief Information Officer for the National Park Service around these parts, as per a "press release" on the first of February, this, among other things, is being done to preserve our unique Island culture.
Right, so you shut down our beaches, starve our economy, make it virtually impossible for anyone to get out to the beach so you can preserve our culture. And if that isn't enough, you're going to charge us for the privilege of destroying our way of life to boot so you can preserve our culture.
NPS has made some spectacular claims in the past, but this one tops them all, it surely does.
I think that you and Mr Murray owe a substantial apology to all the residents of these islands and the American people at large. You should carry your head in shame.
I don't know what sort of kool aid you consume Madame Holda, but how you believe that by destroying a way of life and the culture that has been extant since before your agency arrived on these islands is tantamount to preserving same, is beyond me. It's obviously beyond you as well..just not in the same way.
You cannot destroy to preserve.
That's all I have to say except I look forward to the day where you are removed from your job.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
Friday, November 11, 2011
Of Water And NPS Misinformation (again)
It's a rare thing when I sit down to write these posts. So rare that from time to time I've had complaints about the delay but as I've often explained, I would prefer to be able to tie things together rather than toss out one little complaint after another. To me, it makes more sense to wait and if there is one thing that has proven itself repeatedly since I began to write this blog, If you wait long enough, the "darkside", identified as the National Park Service, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Defenders of Wildlife, or the Audubon Society, all of whom wish to severely limit human presence at Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area, your patience will prove to provide fodder for condemnation of their activities.
Those involved or familiar with this fight against the aforementioned environmental groups and their NPS cronies have also struggled to understand why it is so difficult to get any honest media attention relative to the happenings at the Seashore and the intentions of the "darkside". Granted, there have been exceptions occasionally though it remains true that the most trusted media source for information I could ever think of is the Island Free Press. http://www.islandfreepress.org/
There are of course, other blogs and media that deal with NPS issues and management practice here, most notably, the National Parks Traveller and its author, Kurt Repansheck who has written many a post regarding the Seashore over the last years, most of which take the words of the environmental groups and their NPS pets as gospel while often disregarding contradictory information provided by those of us that actually live or visit here.
Today was no exception as Repansheck decided to take on the very same standing water issues around the access points at ramps 43 and 44 as well as the campground by Cape Point that I and many others have been complaining about since September; to no avail. This is not a new issue nor are the complaints surrounding it. And as one may accurately surmise, relevant NPS complacency is not a new thing either.
Repanshecks first major error was to contact Cyndy Holda as a "reliable" source of information for his article. Though she may be the Chief Information Officer for the Seashore, generally speaking, the information she provides is almost consistently inaccurate, perhaps willfully untruthful, or a combination of both.
In his first paragraph, Repansheck states that our water tables were very high this year (information apparently provided by NPS) though he apparently doesn't realize that this portion of Hatteras Island was incredibly dry virtually all spring and summer and our entire water supply comes from well systems. Hardly a recipe for high water tables. Even Hurricane Irene only dropped 6.5 inches of water in the Buxton area where this problem lies, leaving us still far short of average rainfall for the area.
He then goes on to state that: "quick solutions, though, are not readily available, as various state and federal laws prevent the park from simply draining the water away."
This is simply untrue. As stated before, during my first post on this subject, as per Jan DeBlieu, North Carolina Coastal Federation, NPS needs do nothing more than get a permit from the N.C Division of Water Quality to drain this water to the level where the road and campground are clear and dry.
The next paragraph again shows Holda's ignorance and what's so amazing to me is that the very thing she uses as an excuse to prevent drainage is that which will allow USFWS to reconstruct the impoundments at Pea Island and replace their drain system that got destroyed during Irene because they are "grandfathered" in and can be repaired or replaced.
"While the national seashore has a drainage ditch system, it was built "decades ago before the Wetlands Protection Act and other modern environmental laws came into existence," says Cyndy Holda, the seashore's spokeswoman."
The following paragraph stunned me. "The ditches were meant to reduce water levels in and around Cape Point Campground, which was built in a wetland, but ironically the drainage system had no fixed outlet, so the system holds water rather than drains it."
First of all, the campground was built upon what had been the old radar site which photos from as far back as the 1940's show was very little wetlands and was surely not a campground.
Secondly, her claim that there is no "fixed" drainage outlet is patently false. contained within the "Assessment of Coastal Water Resources and Watershed Conditions at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Michael A. Mallin, Matthew R. McIver and Virginia L. Johnson Technical Report NPS/NRWRD/NRTR- 2006/351 is a very clear portrayal of the very thing she claims does not exist.
For example, on page 21, figure 2, a very clear drain and drain path is labeled. The author also goes on to mention that "Some are drained through a large pond area into the ocean, while some of the wetlands on the south side of the island (meaning the area around Cape Point) are drained through a gated culvert (plate 6)(shown below) operated by NPS.."
And for the record, here is the drain in action.
Clearly, either NPS through Cyndy Holda, or both intend to misinform. Her next quoted statement rings at least partially true though as explained in my blog post twice back, NPS got in trouble because they never bothered to get a permit, not because they drained the excess water.
"In years past, she says, the seashore staff would use heavy equipment to trench ditches to drain the water from wetlands areas and roads to the beach. However, when crews did that in 2004 the North Carolina Division of Water Quality issued a Notice of Violation to the seashore for violating state laws that prohibit draining wetlands, the spokeswoman added."
Perhaps the most frightening part is hearing that NPS might consider raising the roadway especially in light of the fact that prior to Hurricane Isabel in 2003, almost the entire drive from the entrance to that portion of the Seashore was green with pines and live oaks until you arrived at the campground entrance. Not to mention the unnecessary cost to taxpayers and if NPS's work on ramp 44 is any indication of whats to come..God help us all.
NPS destroyed these woods by not utilizing the drains that were extant and effectively created man made impoundments that hold water and killed the vegetation contained therein.
Ironically, The various mammalian species attracted to the very environment NPS created are slaughtered by the hundreds all the while putting human health at risk.
The hilarious part of Holda's statements comes when she refers to "the eastern part of lighthouse road" Presumably she refers to the northbound lane..yea right. Hey Cyndy..Lighthouse road generally travels north-south, not east-west. You, madam, continue to remain an embarrassment to this Seashore. Might I suggest you take some time off from advancing your agenda and actually educating yourself about how things work here? Or perhaps as you suggested to Bob Eakes, a shop owner that's been in business here for 30 odd years, you're young enough to find another line of work. That might work better for all of us. I still won't forgive for not moving the turtle nests I called you about years ago that NPS ended up plowing into the sea because they drowned.
And Kurt, with respect, next time you want to find out what's actually going on here, as in the Seashore, I suggest you talk to someone who knows. By the by, NPS would not be my first choice.
The National Parks Traveler article can be found here: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/11/high-water-table-wetlands-causing-flooding-cape-hatteras-national-seashore9010
Tight lines,
Wheat
Those involved or familiar with this fight against the aforementioned environmental groups and their NPS cronies have also struggled to understand why it is so difficult to get any honest media attention relative to the happenings at the Seashore and the intentions of the "darkside". Granted, there have been exceptions occasionally though it remains true that the most trusted media source for information I could ever think of is the Island Free Press. http://www.islandfreepress.org/
There are of course, other blogs and media that deal with NPS issues and management practice here, most notably, the National Parks Traveller and its author, Kurt Repansheck who has written many a post regarding the Seashore over the last years, most of which take the words of the environmental groups and their NPS pets as gospel while often disregarding contradictory information provided by those of us that actually live or visit here.
Today was no exception as Repansheck decided to take on the very same standing water issues around the access points at ramps 43 and 44 as well as the campground by Cape Point that I and many others have been complaining about since September; to no avail. This is not a new issue nor are the complaints surrounding it. And as one may accurately surmise, relevant NPS complacency is not a new thing either.
Repanshecks first major error was to contact Cyndy Holda as a "reliable" source of information for his article. Though she may be the Chief Information Officer for the Seashore, generally speaking, the information she provides is almost consistently inaccurate, perhaps willfully untruthful, or a combination of both.
In his first paragraph, Repansheck states that our water tables were very high this year (information apparently provided by NPS) though he apparently doesn't realize that this portion of Hatteras Island was incredibly dry virtually all spring and summer and our entire water supply comes from well systems. Hardly a recipe for high water tables. Even Hurricane Irene only dropped 6.5 inches of water in the Buxton area where this problem lies, leaving us still far short of average rainfall for the area.
He then goes on to state that: "quick solutions, though, are not readily available, as various state and federal laws prevent the park from simply draining the water away."
This is simply untrue. As stated before, during my first post on this subject, as per Jan DeBlieu, North Carolina Coastal Federation, NPS needs do nothing more than get a permit from the N.C Division of Water Quality to drain this water to the level where the road and campground are clear and dry.
The next paragraph again shows Holda's ignorance and what's so amazing to me is that the very thing she uses as an excuse to prevent drainage is that which will allow USFWS to reconstruct the impoundments at Pea Island and replace their drain system that got destroyed during Irene because they are "grandfathered" in and can be repaired or replaced.
"While the national seashore has a drainage ditch system, it was built "decades ago before the Wetlands Protection Act and other modern environmental laws came into existence," says Cyndy Holda, the seashore's spokeswoman."
The following paragraph stunned me. "The ditches were meant to reduce water levels in and around Cape Point Campground, which was built in a wetland, but ironically the drainage system had no fixed outlet, so the system holds water rather than drains it."
First of all, the campground was built upon what had been the old radar site which photos from as far back as the 1940's show was very little wetlands and was surely not a campground.
Secondly, her claim that there is no "fixed" drainage outlet is patently false. contained within the "Assessment of Coastal Water Resources and Watershed Conditions at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Michael A. Mallin, Matthew R. McIver and Virginia L. Johnson Technical Report NPS/NRWRD/NRTR- 2006/351 is a very clear portrayal of the very thing she claims does not exist.
And for the record, here is the drain in action.
Clearly, either NPS through Cyndy Holda, or both intend to misinform. Her next quoted statement rings at least partially true though as explained in my blog post twice back, NPS got in trouble because they never bothered to get a permit, not because they drained the excess water.
"In years past, she says, the seashore staff would use heavy equipment to trench ditches to drain the water from wetlands areas and roads to the beach. However, when crews did that in 2004 the North Carolina Division of Water Quality issued a Notice of Violation to the seashore for violating state laws that prohibit draining wetlands, the spokeswoman added."
Perhaps the most frightening part is hearing that NPS might consider raising the roadway especially in light of the fact that prior to Hurricane Isabel in 2003, almost the entire drive from the entrance to that portion of the Seashore was green with pines and live oaks until you arrived at the campground entrance. Not to mention the unnecessary cost to taxpayers and if NPS's work on ramp 44 is any indication of whats to come..God help us all.
NPS destroyed these woods by not utilizing the drains that were extant and effectively created man made impoundments that hold water and killed the vegetation contained therein.
Ironically, The various mammalian species attracted to the very environment NPS created are slaughtered by the hundreds all the while putting human health at risk.
The hilarious part of Holda's statements comes when she refers to "the eastern part of lighthouse road" Presumably she refers to the northbound lane..yea right. Hey Cyndy..Lighthouse road generally travels north-south, not east-west. You, madam, continue to remain an embarrassment to this Seashore. Might I suggest you take some time off from advancing your agenda and actually educating yourself about how things work here? Or perhaps as you suggested to Bob Eakes, a shop owner that's been in business here for 30 odd years, you're young enough to find another line of work. That might work better for all of us. I still won't forgive for not moving the turtle nests I called you about years ago that NPS ended up plowing into the sea because they drowned.
And Kurt, with respect, next time you want to find out what's actually going on here, as in the Seashore, I suggest you talk to someone who knows. By the by, NPS would not be my first choice.
The National Parks Traveler article can be found here: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/11/high-water-table-wetlands-causing-flooding-cape-hatteras-national-seashore9010
Tight lines,
Wheat
Thursday, November 10, 2011
An Update On The Flooding Situation At 43-44 And The Campground
Well folks, since my last post we still have issues with standing water and hoards of mosquitoes in the same areas as before which has again been compounded by the NPS refusal to protect this area and the residents and visitors of CHNSRA by rebuilding the ocean dune structure along this area.
The net effect of their inaction and excuses has created many an issue for visitors and residents as mentioned before, but it also serves to deny pedestrian access an this area as the small parking lots have remained flooded.
Another concern of course is that anyone traversing these flooded areas on foot are going to be exposed to coliform bacteria. And the more evaporation that occurs, the greater the concentrations and the greater the likelihood of disease being transmitted to both humans and animals.
So I went out again equipped with the camera to record this prime example of dysfunctional NPS management. Interestingly, the water levels had receded quite a bit since yesterday which I found rather odd considering how long and how deeply this area has been flooded.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that NPS had cut drains to move water from the parking lots to another area that generally remains somewhat dry.
Here is the drain cut this morning.
Heavy equipment track by the drain.
Well at least explains why some of the water is gone. What it doesn't explain is why now and why did it take so long for these people to get up and do something?
Of course the campground is still somewhat flooded and horribly loaded with mosquitoes. I was overwhelmed within seconds to take this picture. Note the deer..they poop where the go, into the water or not.
So, it looked like to me that NPS was finally trying to clear the ramps and parking lots though at the time I was there, more needed drained though it was flowing out, albeit slowly, during my visit. There is still a ways to go.
Underwater parking available at the fish cleaning station complete with the NPS mandated "preserve sightscapes" orange dumpster.
The road leading to the pedestrian parking by ramp 43.
As you can see. there is a lot more outflow that needs to flow occur before they become open for safe access for pedestrians and available for parking for the visiting public.
In a phone conversation that started only minuets after I returned home, the question as to why now, why after all this time has NPS finally acted? The answer was short and simple, "it's because this is ""Wings Over Water"" weekend". The weekend that members of the very organizations who want this Seashore shut down to a "normal" visitor, flock to the islands to watch shorebirds and migrating waterfowl. The very people who have brought lawsuits against NPS to curtail access to CHNSRA for all but themselves. The same people who a few years ago were given keys to the otherwise closed campground while access through same to ramp 45 was not allowed for anyone else.
So in the end, this is not just one more example of incompetence on the part of NPS, but also a glaring show of outright prejudice against the majority of visitors to these public lands.
Once again I'm disgusted and outraged.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
(Authors note: if you're interested in my rebuttal to Kurt Repanshecks 11/11/11 article in his National Parks Traveller article, it's available here, as he obviously wont publish it..) http://wheatseyeonhatterasislandnc.blogspot.com/
The net effect of their inaction and excuses has created many an issue for visitors and residents as mentioned before, but it also serves to deny pedestrian access an this area as the small parking lots have remained flooded.
Another concern of course is that anyone traversing these flooded areas on foot are going to be exposed to coliform bacteria. And the more evaporation that occurs, the greater the concentrations and the greater the likelihood of disease being transmitted to both humans and animals.
So I went out again equipped with the camera to record this prime example of dysfunctional NPS management. Interestingly, the water levels had receded quite a bit since yesterday which I found rather odd considering how long and how deeply this area has been flooded.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that NPS had cut drains to move water from the parking lots to another area that generally remains somewhat dry.
Well at least explains why some of the water is gone. What it doesn't explain is why now and why did it take so long for these people to get up and do something?
Of course the campground is still somewhat flooded and horribly loaded with mosquitoes. I was overwhelmed within seconds to take this picture. Note the deer..they poop where the go, into the water or not.
So, it looked like to me that NPS was finally trying to clear the ramps and parking lots though at the time I was there, more needed drained though it was flowing out, albeit slowly, during my visit. There is still a ways to go.
As you can see. there is a lot more outflow that needs to flow occur before they become open for safe access for pedestrians and available for parking for the visiting public.
In a phone conversation that started only minuets after I returned home, the question as to why now, why after all this time has NPS finally acted? The answer was short and simple, "it's because this is ""Wings Over Water"" weekend". The weekend that members of the very organizations who want this Seashore shut down to a "normal" visitor, flock to the islands to watch shorebirds and migrating waterfowl. The very people who have brought lawsuits against NPS to curtail access to CHNSRA for all but themselves. The same people who a few years ago were given keys to the otherwise closed campground while access through same to ramp 45 was not allowed for anyone else.
So in the end, this is not just one more example of incompetence on the part of NPS, but also a glaring show of outright prejudice against the majority of visitors to these public lands.
Once again I'm disgusted and outraged.
Tight Lines,
Wheat
(Authors note: if you're interested in my rebuttal to Kurt Repanshecks 11/11/11 article in his National Parks Traveller article, it's available here, as he obviously wont publish it..) http://wheatseyeonhatterasislandnc.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 10, 2011
I Was Asked A Question
Sometimes it seems as though if I sit back and wait long enough, the National Park Service will yet again create a situation, or allow a situation to occur, that boggles the mind. In fact, when it comes to how this region is managed by both NPS and USFWS, at least for those of us that pay attention to the details, the reality of same can be staggering.
The other day, during discussions regarding the incredible mosquito outbreak here on Hatteras Island, I was asked by my good friend Kim, a very talented local artist, "why is it that this Seashore is so poorly managed and why does NPS let it fall apart like they do?"
That, of course, is a question I cannot answer because it makes no sense to me either. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area is the nations first National Seashore and to date is the only National Seashore Recreational Area in this vast country we call home. Visitors arrive here from all over the United States, Canada and even Europe. What they find upon arrival is becoming an embarrassment to the people of this nation as it becomes increasingly obvious that NPS neither cares for this area and is intent upon the idea of driving humans away from a resource that they have been told by congress to develop for recreational use as needed.
I think it is a fair assumption that in order to follow the stated direction of congress, NPS would be required to maintain this Seashore and its regions for the purpose of recreational use as directed.
As many are aware, at the end of August this year, Hurricane Irene took a long slow voyage through the Pamlico Sound which ended up dumping about six and a half inches of rain here in Buxton, the "elbow" of Hatteras Island. This is the point where the island turns Southwest and terminates at Hatteras Inlet, separating Hatteras from Ocracoke Island. because of the way the storm passed, the southern end of the island fared reasonably well though our neighbors to the north, Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo were hit with extreme soundside flooding which came with such force it destroyed significant sections of our lifeline, N.C. 12, wiped out many homes and businesses and even broke through or flowed over the ocean side dunes.
What compounded the issue was a low pressure system, that for a time, was stuck on the Great Lakes which drew a significant amount of moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. Adding insult to injury, another low formed off of the coast of Florida as the front moved East. The result was that Buxton, alone, received over two feet of rain in one month.
And then came the amazing swarms of mosquitoes, many of which were Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, known carriers of the West Nile Virus.
An assault by spraying was initiated by Dare County which had some effect but within days another "hatch" would occur and we were back to square one.
What was appalling, and still is, concerns the flooding of the area around the NPS managed campground near Cape Point and the road leading to that area and ramps 43 and 44.
This is not a new issue by any means. It has in fact, been a point of contention between residents of Hatteras Island, visitors to our incredible resource, and NPS since Hurricane Isabel, Sept. 18th 2003. Many times visitors and residents alike, have complained about this consistent flooding to NPS who promptly turn a blind eye to the situation. It has in fact been the subject of many a discussion an various and sundry internet forums and yet nothing has been done.
For years, the blame for this ongoing issue has been placed upon the shoulders of Jan De Blieu who works for the North Carolina Coastal Federation and stories of lawsuits connected with this flooding and the demise of the maritime forest all seem to have ended up in her lap.
Something just didn't seem to add up in this explanation so I took the opportunity to call Ms. De Blieu so I would have an explanation from "both sides" of the issue. As it turns out, though it can sill be said that there are "two sides" to this issue, Jan De Blieu isn't one of them, instead, with no surprise, the other side is the National Park Service.
Since Hurricane Isabel, a once healthy maritime forest has been flooded and essentially destroyed, turning it into a swamp and an obvious haven and breeding ground for mosquitoes. Another side effect of this action has been the inundation of the campground at Cape Point though now it seems that the latest excuse for not draining the area is according to Mike Murray "we don't drain wetlands". Prior to that the issue was coliform bacteria, aka E coli, that supposedly prevented responsible management and maintenance of this area. Sometime around 2005/2006 I proposed that NPS either buy or lease a portable water treatment unit which, as I remember, was capable of treating upwards of 6000 gallons per hour and would have allowed for the safe discharge of fluids either into the sound or the ocean but that.of course, has never been considered.
To give the reader an idea of how serious this problem can become, I present a couple of photos taken after the major rain event and it's effects. Credits go to myself and Kim Mosher who took the campground photo (the 2nd).
As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of water here, enough that even the wind can move it with ease. You might also notice in the wake left by the truck, that the color of the water is a "tea brown" caused by rotting vegetation. The part that's missing is the stench and the inordinate number of mosquitoes which are breeding in these waters and the obvious threat to human health. Not just from the mosquitoes, but from the septic system at the campground which could easily float, the bacteria contained therin, and the threat to the aquifer that both residents and visitors to this island rely upon for fresh water as our supply comes from the wells established here and not upon water pumped from up north. (meaning Nags Head and points beyond)
The blame for this issue is not Jan De Blieu's but rests squarely in the lap of NPS. The issue she raised back in 2003 was that NPS had constructed drains to allow water from the ocean overwash as a result of Hurricane Isabel without applying for an emergency permit from the North Carolina Department of Water Quality. Shortly after Isabel hit the island, Ms. De Blieu flew over the island to survey the impact and discovered these new drains, then contacted the state to inquire about the permits which are required by law. As it turns out NPS and Superintendent Larry Belli had never applied for the permits and had taken matters into their own hands.
The concern of course was that significant amounts of E.Coli bacteria would be entering the ocean which could infect fishes and swimmers coming into contact with these waters. NPS also neglected to post warning signs of this hazard as they are required to do. So without further ado, here is a picture of this drainage in the works, post Isabel, 2003.
As you can see, that's some rather nasty looking stuff headed south and was one of apparently three drains cut by NPS to deal with the flooding.
So let's stop blaming someone who was just doing her job and put the fault where it belongs. What's happening at the Seashore rests clearly within NPS responsibility and of late, we've seen yet another glaring example of the services' intentional mismanagement of our trust and the area we gave them to protect.
It's sadly ironic that NPS claims that they must close vast areas of our recreational area to, as they advertise, "preserve for future generations" while at the same time, they destroy a maritime forest, which by law they are required to preserve, and so blatantly create and preserve public health hazards that can serve no real purpose other than to drive residents and visitors away from our treasured resource.
The fact is, NPS could obtain a permit to drain this area if they applied for an emergency permit from the NCDWQ. Obviously, they're not interested and would rather drive us away and subject the residents and visitors to potential infections of West Nile Virus. Not to mention the damage done by this standing water to public vehicles, which by the way, include those driven by NPS as we own them too.
Well Mr. Murray, you may not drain wetlands that your service created in violation of federal law, but I warrant that you will be hard pressed to define the paved road leading to Cape Point as a wetland. Furthermore, considering the decades of photographic evidence showing this area as being rather dry, especially the road and campground area, I doubt you'll have much luck there either.
Since neither you nor your propaganda minister, Ms. Holda, seem to be able to properly manage this Seashore, might I suggest you apply for a position in Alaska counting Polar Bears? At least there you could have just about all the "primitive wilderness" you could care to.
Well, I'm done with my rant but I still cant answer Kim's question. Why is the Park Service letting this Seashore become so degraded?
Tight Lines,
A very ticked off Wheat.
The other day, during discussions regarding the incredible mosquito outbreak here on Hatteras Island, I was asked by my good friend Kim, a very talented local artist, "why is it that this Seashore is so poorly managed and why does NPS let it fall apart like they do?"
That, of course, is a question I cannot answer because it makes no sense to me either. Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area is the nations first National Seashore and to date is the only National Seashore Recreational Area in this vast country we call home. Visitors arrive here from all over the United States, Canada and even Europe. What they find upon arrival is becoming an embarrassment to the people of this nation as it becomes increasingly obvious that NPS neither cares for this area and is intent upon the idea of driving humans away from a resource that they have been told by congress to develop for recreational use as needed.
I think it is a fair assumption that in order to follow the stated direction of congress, NPS would be required to maintain this Seashore and its regions for the purpose of recreational use as directed.
As many are aware, at the end of August this year, Hurricane Irene took a long slow voyage through the Pamlico Sound which ended up dumping about six and a half inches of rain here in Buxton, the "elbow" of Hatteras Island. This is the point where the island turns Southwest and terminates at Hatteras Inlet, separating Hatteras from Ocracoke Island. because of the way the storm passed, the southern end of the island fared reasonably well though our neighbors to the north, Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo were hit with extreme soundside flooding which came with such force it destroyed significant sections of our lifeline, N.C. 12, wiped out many homes and businesses and even broke through or flowed over the ocean side dunes.
What compounded the issue was a low pressure system, that for a time, was stuck on the Great Lakes which drew a significant amount of moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. Adding insult to injury, another low formed off of the coast of Florida as the front moved East. The result was that Buxton, alone, received over two feet of rain in one month.
And then came the amazing swarms of mosquitoes, many of which were Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, known carriers of the West Nile Virus.
An assault by spraying was initiated by Dare County which had some effect but within days another "hatch" would occur and we were back to square one.
What was appalling, and still is, concerns the flooding of the area around the NPS managed campground near Cape Point and the road leading to that area and ramps 43 and 44.
This is not a new issue by any means. It has in fact, been a point of contention between residents of Hatteras Island, visitors to our incredible resource, and NPS since Hurricane Isabel, Sept. 18th 2003. Many times visitors and residents alike, have complained about this consistent flooding to NPS who promptly turn a blind eye to the situation. It has in fact been the subject of many a discussion an various and sundry internet forums and yet nothing has been done.
For years, the blame for this ongoing issue has been placed upon the shoulders of Jan De Blieu who works for the North Carolina Coastal Federation and stories of lawsuits connected with this flooding and the demise of the maritime forest all seem to have ended up in her lap.
Something just didn't seem to add up in this explanation so I took the opportunity to call Ms. De Blieu so I would have an explanation from "both sides" of the issue. As it turns out, though it can sill be said that there are "two sides" to this issue, Jan De Blieu isn't one of them, instead, with no surprise, the other side is the National Park Service.
Since Hurricane Isabel, a once healthy maritime forest has been flooded and essentially destroyed, turning it into a swamp and an obvious haven and breeding ground for mosquitoes. Another side effect of this action has been the inundation of the campground at Cape Point though now it seems that the latest excuse for not draining the area is according to Mike Murray "we don't drain wetlands". Prior to that the issue was coliform bacteria, aka E coli, that supposedly prevented responsible management and maintenance of this area. Sometime around 2005/2006 I proposed that NPS either buy or lease a portable water treatment unit which, as I remember, was capable of treating upwards of 6000 gallons per hour and would have allowed for the safe discharge of fluids either into the sound or the ocean but that.of course, has never been considered.
To give the reader an idea of how serious this problem can become, I present a couple of photos taken after the major rain event and it's effects. Credits go to myself and Kim Mosher who took the campground photo (the 2nd).
As you can see, there is a tremendous amount of water here, enough that even the wind can move it with ease. You might also notice in the wake left by the truck, that the color of the water is a "tea brown" caused by rotting vegetation. The part that's missing is the stench and the inordinate number of mosquitoes which are breeding in these waters and the obvious threat to human health. Not just from the mosquitoes, but from the septic system at the campground which could easily float, the bacteria contained therin, and the threat to the aquifer that both residents and visitors to this island rely upon for fresh water as our supply comes from the wells established here and not upon water pumped from up north. (meaning Nags Head and points beyond)
The blame for this issue is not Jan De Blieu's but rests squarely in the lap of NPS. The issue she raised back in 2003 was that NPS had constructed drains to allow water from the ocean overwash as a result of Hurricane Isabel without applying for an emergency permit from the North Carolina Department of Water Quality. Shortly after Isabel hit the island, Ms. De Blieu flew over the island to survey the impact and discovered these new drains, then contacted the state to inquire about the permits which are required by law. As it turns out NPS and Superintendent Larry Belli had never applied for the permits and had taken matters into their own hands.
The concern of course was that significant amounts of E.Coli bacteria would be entering the ocean which could infect fishes and swimmers coming into contact with these waters. NPS also neglected to post warning signs of this hazard as they are required to do. So without further ado, here is a picture of this drainage in the works, post Isabel, 2003.
As you can see, that's some rather nasty looking stuff headed south and was one of apparently three drains cut by NPS to deal with the flooding.
So let's stop blaming someone who was just doing her job and put the fault where it belongs. What's happening at the Seashore rests clearly within NPS responsibility and of late, we've seen yet another glaring example of the services' intentional mismanagement of our trust and the area we gave them to protect.
It's sadly ironic that NPS claims that they must close vast areas of our recreational area to, as they advertise, "preserve for future generations" while at the same time, they destroy a maritime forest, which by law they are required to preserve, and so blatantly create and preserve public health hazards that can serve no real purpose other than to drive residents and visitors away from our treasured resource.
The fact is, NPS could obtain a permit to drain this area if they applied for an emergency permit from the NCDWQ. Obviously, they're not interested and would rather drive us away and subject the residents and visitors to potential infections of West Nile Virus. Not to mention the damage done by this standing water to public vehicles, which by the way, include those driven by NPS as we own them too.
Well Mr. Murray, you may not drain wetlands that your service created in violation of federal law, but I warrant that you will be hard pressed to define the paved road leading to Cape Point as a wetland. Furthermore, considering the decades of photographic evidence showing this area as being rather dry, especially the road and campground area, I doubt you'll have much luck there either.
Since neither you nor your propaganda minister, Ms. Holda, seem to be able to properly manage this Seashore, might I suggest you apply for a position in Alaska counting Polar Bears? At least there you could have just about all the "primitive wilderness" you could care to.
Well, I'm done with my rant but I still cant answer Kim's question. Why is the Park Service letting this Seashore become so degraded?
Tight Lines,
A very ticked off Wheat.
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