Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 5:24 PM
Subject: Piping Plover Update


I met with George Price, Supt. of the National Seashore, this past Thursday to discuss what was happening on the issue of ORV beach closures due to nesting piping plovers. His staff, specifically Craig Thatcher, North District Ranger, has been reviewing different options which are used at other National Parks and in other states. They have also been reviewing the ideas generated at the public meeting held this past summer at the Province Lands Center. Craig has taken a lot of this information and provided it to the ORV sub-committee of the Cape Cod National Park Advisory Committee.



Their seems to be three segments of this issue – access to Race Pt Lighthouse as a lodging establishment, the whole self-contained recreational vehicle areas, and the general ORV “four wheel drive” vehicle situation. All have been affected, and each one of them have their own set of different situations. The Seashores game plan is this. Their will be an open meeting to the public on Sat., Dec 9, from 10 to noon, at the Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Pt Rd. The Seashore will present some of the options they have looked at as possible actions to minimize or lessen the impact of required closures due to where the birds nest/hatch/fledge. They will also take additional input from the public. The ORV sub-committee will then meet on Dec 12, at 6 pm, at Park Headquarters in Wellfleet. They will review all the input with the goal to form solid recommendations and provide them to the Cape Cod National Park Advisory Committee at its meeting on December 15.



With all of this, the Seashore will then continue to interface with the Fish and Wildlife agency to ensure they are on board with any recommendations.



It is critically important that the Seashore receive a lot of input via phone, letters and e-mail throughout this process, and above all, that people show up at the December meetings. Based upon some of the discussions I have had, I truly believe viable options are being looked at and seriously considered.



Please send your comments to the following:



Supt Price – 508-349-3785, ext 203, George_Price@nps.gov



Butch Francis, Chair of the ORV Sub-committee, highlandbutch@aol.com

I am 99% sure I will be there! Hope the stripers are still biting!:laugha:

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE

the author of this report and the person who wants to be contacted is Rich Wood at Nelsons Bait Tackle,, Provincetown Ma.

Good luck everyone!

Thanks for posting that Bob.

I am trying to get as large an e-mail distribution list as possible so that word can get out to people about any meetings or potential actions. Also, if we can continue to forward (bombard?) Govt. officials, Seashore personnel and who ever else it might take with our input and ideas, it just might help.

Based upon what the Seashore has done and is doing as we speak with the Dune Shack issue, we need to be all over the piping plover issue every step of the way.

Hope to see as many people as possible at the Dec meetings and if people want to be on the e-mail list please either PM me or e-mail at rich@nelsonsbaitandtackle.com.

I gotta thank you for your efforts, Rich. Much appreciated.

Good info.

Sent two lengthy emails yesterday!
Who else is in?
Lata,
Rick

not pooing on this thread,,,but you better add seals to that too.once they take up shop on a point or part of a beach...they'll close that section too...already been done on two beaches ..tip of north beach and brant point on nantucket...these water rats are going to be as tough as the bird's to work around.

Yea, you are right with the seals. Probably have to start investigating all the rules and regulations pertaining to them as well to see what options we have, if any. The pisser with them is that they actually screw up the fishing, while the birds screw up getting to the fishing spots. Oh well, another project.