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Cape Hatteras National Seashore Proposes Reduction In Wildlife Buffers, Draws Criticism From Conservationists

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Proposed buffer zone changes at Cape Hatteras National Seashore would give beach drivers more room to roam/Kurt Repanshek

Wildlife buffers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore would be reduced, some by 50 percent or more, under proposed guidelines released by the park staff Wednesday. 

Conservation groups immediately criticized the proposal, saying wildlife have benefited greatly and the local economy has not suffered under the current guidelines intended to protect piping plovers, a threatened species, as well as five species of sea turtles that are considered either endangered or threated under the Endangered Species Act.

A provision in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress in December and signed by the president gave the Interior Department, "in coordination with the State of North Carolina and accordance with applicable laws," 180 days to review and, if applicable, "modify wildlife buffers and designate pedestrian and vehicle corridors around buffers to allow access to areas that are open in the Seashore."

On Wednesday the Seashore staff released the results of its review. Under the proposed modifications, which are open for public comment through May 15, the following changes in buffers are planned:

* For American oystercatcher: There would be an ORV corridor at the waterline during nesting, but only when (a) no alternate route is available, and (b) the nest is at least 25 meters from the vehicle corridor. Buffers for nests and unfledged chicks would stay the same as they are now. 

* For piping plover: The buffer during nesting would be reduced from 75 meters to 50 meters for both pedestrians and ORVs. For unfledged chicks, the buffer would be reduced from 300 meters to 100 meters (pedestrians) and from 1,000 meters to 500 meters (ORVs). Where the standard 500 meter buffer blocks ORV access, the buffer may be reduced to no less than 200 meters to allow an access corridor along the shoreline. 

* For Wilson's plover: The buffer during nesting would be reduced from 75 meters to 50 meters for pedestrians and ORVs. The pedestrian buffer for unfledged chicks would be reduced from 200 meters to 100 meters, the same as for piping plovers. The ORV buffer for unfledged chicks would increase from 200 meters to a standard 500 meters. However, where an ORV corridor does not exist, the buffer may be reduced to no less than 200 meters to allow an access corridor along the shoreline.

* For least tern: The buffer for unfledged chicks would be reduced from 200 meters to 100 meters for both pedestrians and ORVs. The buffer for nests would stay the same.

* For common tern, gull-billed tern, and black skimmer: The buffer for these species during nesting would be reduced from 200 meters to 180 meters for both pedestrians and ORVs. For unfledged chicks, the buffer would be reduced from 200 meters to 180 meters for both pedestrians and ORVs.

* For sea turtles: The expansion buffer would be reduced to 30 meters (15 meters on either side), and, when light filtering fencing is installed, 5 meters minimum behind the nest. This buffer would be the same for vehicle-free areas, village areas, and ORV routes. Visitors would be able to walk behind the buffer or in front of a nest, walking as close as practicable to the surf line. For ORVs, visitors would use an existing corridor around a nest, if available. In the absence of an existing corridor, the shorter buffer behind the nest would allow ORVs to travel behind a nest where sufficient beach width exists. Where a turtle nest blocks access from one ORV area to another and no way around the nest exists, visitors could drive in front of the nest if NPS resources exist to monitor the nest and remove ruts.

For nests laid prior to June 1, the Seashore would retain the option of not expanding the buffer until day 60, unless signs of hatching prior to day 60 were detected. For nests laid after August 20, the Seashore would retain the option of not expanding the buffer for nests that block access to ORV passage. Nests laid after August 20 would be monitored daily for signs of hatching and managed appropriately to avoid impacts if signs of hatching are observed. Where signs of hatching are observed (e.g., depression), buffers would be expanded as outlined for nests laid prior to August 20.

The Seashore stipuated that those changes were dependent on the staff and funding being available to implement them.

Soon after the proposal was released representatives from the Southern Environmental Law Center, Audubon North Caroline, and Defenders of Wildlife issued statements opposing the changes as unnecessary.

"In the seven years under the National Park Service's science-based management of beach driving by ORVs, beach-nesting birds, sea turtles, and tourism have all thrived," the groups said in a joint release. "The current management plan safeguards beach-nesting wildlife and pedestrian beachgoers on national seashore beaches while still allowing beach driving within the park."

Jason Rylander of Defenders of Wildlife added that, "We all share the responsibility to protect the sea turtles and shorebirds that call Cape Hatteras National Seashore home. The National Park Service needs to stay true to its mission of science-based management. If these changes have a negative impact on imperiled beach wildlife, it will be critical to restore the current protective buffer zones."

While the groups pointed out that "(A)s many as 15 threatened piping plovers have fledged in a single year in the years since ORV management practices were implemented," during 2014 just five pipping plover chicks fledged, which reflected a fledge rate of 0.42, the lowest since 2004. As for sea turtles, the Seashore staff counted just 124 nests, the lowest tally since 2009 when there were 104. Conversely, the 2013 season produced a record 254 sea turtles nests on the national seashore.

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