From the Greensboro News-Record (Access to Cape Point closed to protect nesting birds):
Off-road vehicle access to a popular beach on North Carolina's Outer Banks has been closed because rangers spotted breeding by endangered sea birds, an official said Wednesday.
Officials shut down access to Cape Point on Tuesday after American oystercatchers were seen two-tenths of a mile south of the ramp leading to the beach. Officials said the shoreline in the area was too narrow to allow enough buffer to protect the birds and allow vehicles at the same time.
... Holda said a section of the beach locally called "the bypass" normally would be used to drive around the closed area and on to Cape Point's mile-plus beach. But that area is eroded.
Paul Stevens, acting superintendent of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, said there currently isn't an alternative route to Cape Point to allow vehicles to skirt the birds.
Key Terms:
- The Point - a (very) popular shore fishing location, the only way to get all of your crap and beer out there is with a 4x4
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Piping Plover - a small little endangered bird who doesn't really want to cause trouble, inspires the bumper sticker slogan: "I like 'em fried."
A back-of-the-envelope benefit-cost analysis (and this) suggests that things aren't that bad for the anglers and if a modest number of people get $15 in benefits from the closure it is worth it.
