Transcript Document 7356812

Coastal Management Strategies II:
Seashores and Parks
Ethan Estey and Brannon Quel
The National Parks Service was formed in 1916 to manage
and regulate federal parks, monuments, and reserves
previously managed by the Department of the Interior
NPS Mission: "...to promote and regulate the use of
the...national parks...which purpose is to conserve the scenery
and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein
and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner
and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the
enjoyment of future generations."
There are several different categories of parks managed by the
NPS:
•National Park
•National Cemetery
•National Monument
•National Seashore
•National Preserve
•National Lakeshore
•National Recreational Area
•National River
•National Historic Site
•National Parkway
•National Memorial
•National Trail
•National Battlefield
General Management Policies for the NPS
•Endangered Species
•Wetland Management
•Exotic Species
•Pest Management
•Fisheries Management
Specific National Seashore Examples
•Cape Cod National Seashore
•Assateague Island National Seashore
•Cape Hattaras National Seashore
•Cape Lookout National Seashore
•Cape Canaveral National Seashore
Endangered Species
•The National Parks Service is required to follow the
guidelines of the Endangered Species Act.
•National Parks are an ideal setting for the recovery of
threatened and endangered plants and animals.
•130 of 967 endangered plants and animals are found in the
boundaries of national parks.
•Conserve endangered and threatened plant and animal
species and protect the habitat in which they live.
Wetland Management
•The NPS entered a 50:50 cost share operation with the U.S.
Fish and Wild Service to conduct wetland inventories for all
the national parks.
•Many wetlands in the parks has been afflicted with drainage,
pollution, diking, filling, and related activities, while other
wetlands have remained in perfect condition
•The parks have been mandated to protect wetlands and
restore areas that have been depredated by human impacts
Exotic Species
•The NPS defines exotic species as “those occurring outside
their native ranges in a given place as a result of actions by
humans”
•Parks must be maintained as naturally as possible. Their
definition of exotic species allows them to take action and have
them removed from the park so it can be restored to its natural
state.
•Exotic species can negatively effect the native landscape,
interfere with the natural food web, and hybridize with native
species.
•There are presently 535 projects to eradicate exotic species.
Pest Management
•Pest management includes all exotic species plus any native
species that jeopardizes the safety and health national parks
and the public (ie mice that carry disease)
•The NPS formed Integrated Pest Management to deal with
pests at a park-by-park basis.
•Pest populations are monitored and no actions are taken until
the population goes above the recommended threshold limit.
Fisheries Management
•The National Park Service has recognized that fishing is part
of the history and heritage of the park system.
•Recreational and commercial fishing is allowed designated
areas of the park.
•Areas may be closed to protect spawning and nursery area.
•Fisheries restoration of depleted stocks and endangered and
threatened species is a high priority in national parks.
Assateague Island National Seashore
Annual Budget: $2,958,000.00
Annual Visitation: 1,895,592
Park Covers 39,730 Acres
Assateague Island National Seashore
•Assateague Island National Seashore is a barrier island which is
located in both Maryland and Virginia.
•Management of the seashore is divided between three agencies.
•The Assateague Island National Seashore is managed by the
National Parks Service
•Assateague State Park is managed by Maryland’s State Park
Service
•Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge is monitored by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Maryland District
Assateague State Park (Maryland)
Assateague State Park (Maryland)
The primary mission of Assateague State Park is to
provide recreational use of its resources
Swimming, hiking, rollarblading,
pets, and driving on the beach (by
permit only) are allowed in the
Maryland District of the Park
There are several campsites at
Assateague that are open yearround.
Pony Management
The Assateague herd of
ponies are managed by the
National Parks Service.
The ponies are penned in
a confined area and
sterilization is used to
maintain the herd
Virginia District
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
•Established in 1944 as a refuge for migratory birds
•Is not named Assateague National Wildlife Refuge since all refuges
are named after a town, person, or wildlife species.
•This refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
recreation is not its primary mission.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Groundwater Management for Migratory Birds
•Maintains groundwater levels for 2600 acres of refuge with 14 moist
soil management units
•Can lower level of water in the spring to create a mudflat habitat
for shorebirds.
•Lower groundwater to concentrate fish is pools for water birds.
•During the fall the soil management units are closed to trap water
for migratory birds.
Sika Elk (Cervus nippon)
•Hunting is allowed on the island during posted seasons.
•Sika Elk are considered an exotic species and have no natural
predators on the island.
•Camping is not allowed at any
part of the Refuge.
•In-line skating and skate
boarding are not allowed in the
refuge.
•Pets are not allowed
inside the refuge (even if
they are in a car)
Pony Management
The Ponies on Chincoteague
are allowed to roam free and
graze
The heard is maintained
annually by the Chincoteague
fire department.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Annual Budget is $5,762,000.00
Annual Visitation is 2,772,420
Park Covers 30,321 Acres
•The Cape Hatteras National Seashore covers 70 miles of
shoreline over three barrier islands: Bodie, Hatteras, and
Ocracoke.
•The Seashore contains several state parks and the Pea Island
Wildlife Refuge.
•Prior to the addition of Highway 12, the Seashore attracted
approximately 200,000 people a year. Now it attracts close to
3 million.
•This increase in visitation has made it difficult to manage the
natural resources and accommodate recreation.
Land Use and Nesting Shorebirds
During the late spring and early
summer colonial shorebirds
(birds that nest in colonies such
as terns, skimmers, and oyster
catchers) and solitary shorebirds
(piping plovers) will mate and
construct nests on Cape Hatteras
National Seashore.
•The nests are simple
depressions in the open
sand.
•The nests typically contain
3-4 eggs that are small and
easily camouflaged.
•Park Rangers will monitor
the bird population during
the summer.
•If disturbed, many birds will “divebomb” intruders, leaving the nest
vulnerable to predators and solar
radiation.
•The park will close entire sections of
the beach to pedestrians, pets, and
vehicles.
•Due to the bird managment plans,
Cape Hatteras National Seashore has
been designated a “Globally
Important Bird Area” by the
American Bird Conservancy
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Annual Budget: $1,282,000.00
Annual Visitation: 558,043
Park Covers 28,243 Acres
•Cape Lookout National Seashore is 56 miles long and is
composed of South Core Banks, North Core Banks, and
Shackleford Banks.
•The Seashore is only accessible by private boat or public
passenger ferry.
•Even though there are no roads to Cape Lookout, some
ferries can transport ORVs to the island.
Sea Beach Amaranth
•Federally protected plant
species that grows at Cape
Lookout.
•Considered a pioneer species
since it grows on overwash
fans, new dune, and other
open sandy areas
•Amaranth is managed at Cape Lookout by closing off sections
of beach that it is present and allowing sand to move naturally.
Sea Turtles
•Loggerheads nest at Cape
Lookout during the summer
and Park Rangers and
Volunteers will mark nests as
they occur.
•Once the eggs get close to
hatching, all vehicular traffic
will be directed behind the
nests to allow the hatchlings a
smooth runway to the sea.
Wild Horses
•Shackelford Banks is home to
over 100 wild horses.
•The herd is left wild to roam and
graze, but park service does
manage the population
•Periodically, horses will be
rounded up off the island for
adoption.
•Contraceptive drugs are given to
minimize the birth rate.
Cumberland Island
National Seashore
Park covers 36,415 acres
1999 attendance: 44,127
Annual budget: $1,376,000
Cumberland Island
Located off the coast of Georgia near the mouth of
the St. Marys River
Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island
stretching 17.5 miles long
Fees: Day use $4 carload Annual $20
Camping:
No bathroom facilities
$2/day Backcountry (7 day max)
$4/day Sea Camp (7 day max)
Island Background
Human occupation began about 4,000 years ago
Shifted hands between Spanish, British, and Indians
1881 Carnegie family acquired 4,000 acres built
numerous mansions
1972 National Park Service procured most of the
land for National Seashore
Island Lighthouse
Lighthouse exists on north end of Cumberland
Island
Built in 1838, deactivated in 1915
Lighthouse is now privately
owned
No longer open to the public
Natural Aspect of Park
Large draw to the island is the beautiful scenery
and abundant wildlife
Salt Marshes (16,850 acres marsh, mudflats)
Important to wildlife as
1. nursery to juvenile animals
2. supports large population of
shellfish, plants, birds
Maritime Forest
Littered with huge oaks
and Spanish moss
Here there is numerous
wildlife such as white
tailed deer, raccoons, and
even armadillo (1974)
Dunes and beach
Eventually the forests give
way to rolling dune
Sandpipers, osprey,
loggerhead turtles
Cumberland Island Museum
Began in 1985 to preserve historical and biological
aspects
Run by board of directors and funded through
private donations
grants
gift shop
Has no exhibits or displays, visitors can look
through specimens, historical materials, and
maps
Cape Cod National Seashore
Park encompasses 43,604 acres
1999 attendance 4,944,963
Annual budget: $4,739,000
Cape Cod National Seashore
Found in Cape Cod Massachusetts
Two districts
North district located at Race Point,
Provincetown
South District located at Marconi Station,
South Wellfleet
Within park
over 40 miles of beaches
numerous kettle ponds
11 self guided nature trails
Major Attractions
Salt Pond visitors center
Built in 1965, Seashores main visitor facility
500,000 visitors annually
Has a variety of attractions:
shows movies on area every 1/2 hour
a number of trails (walking and bike)
bookstore
museum shows natural history
Activities Continued
Hunting
Can hunt on Seashore grounds for deer,
upland game, and migratory waterfowl
To minimize conflicts of interest hunting is
prohibited from March, 1 through August 31
All other state regulations apply
Fishing
Variety of fresh and saltwater species
Salt pond closed for flounder
Activities Continued
Beaches largest attraction to seashore
Swimming
There are six swimming beaches found
along the Cape’s oceanside
All have shower and bathroom facilities
All offer beach access by boardwalk
All are lifeguarded from June 26-August 29
Camping
There is no camping permitted
Programs
Joshua A. Nickerson Conservation Program
National Seashore Management Division
supported by fund
Group of scientists who monitor well being
of Cape’s natural resources
Current Projects
protecting nesting habitat of piping
plovers
restoration of salt marsh habitat in
Herring Run river area
Conservation Fund Cont.
Makes grants available for scientists and
students
designed to support research, social
science, and conservation at National
Seashore
Students and researchers write proposals
to compete for small grants to support
education and research
Programs Continued
Cape Cod Water Resources Management Program
Originated in 1981, updated in 1999
Prepared by Seashore staff and Univ. of Mass.
Goals include
1.provide information on park background
and water resource management issues
2.clarify NPSP legislation mandates
3.Encourage communication between state,
regional, and local authorities
Cape Canaveral National Seashore
Park covers: 57,662 acres
1999 attendance 846,512
Annual budget $2,024,000
Cape Canaveral
Park located in Florida and has two districts
North district is in Volusia County (near New
Symrna)
Visitors Center is open daily
South district is in Brevard County (near
Titusville
Closed to public during space shuttle operation
Canaveral National Seashore covers 57,000 acres
Has longest stretch of undeveloped beach in Florida,
24 miles
Park Information
Park hours Winter: 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Summer: 6:00 a.m-8:00 p.m.
Fees: There is a daily use fee
$5 per vehicle
$1 per walk in or bike
$28 annual pass
Beach Access
Beach access at both districts by boardwalks
which cross dunes
Lifeguards on duty from Memorial day to Labor
day from 10:00-5:45
There is no water available, no showers, and no
public telephones
Beach Safety
Cape Canaveral offers safety advice due to
numerous dangers
Rip Currents: swim across rip not directly
against it
Lightning: Central Florida is the lightening
capital of the world (get off the beach)
Portuguese Man of War: Contact park
ranger if stun. Apply mixture of 50% water
and 50% vinegar
Camping and Trails
Camping is Available in North District only
Backcountry from Nov.1-Apr.30
Designated islands year round
No facilities for R.V. camping
Trails
Four walking trails and 1 canoe trail located
in North District
Horseback riding is available in both districts
Wildlife
There are 1,045 plant species
Around 310 species of birds
Fourteen endangered species make their home in
the Cape Canaveral National Seashore
Sea Turtle
West Indian Manatee
Southern Bald Eagle
Florida Scrub Jay
Various Rules and Regulations
No pets are allowed on beach or in buildings
must be kept on leash in all other areas in
park
Metal detectors are prohibited
Fires allowed in contained grills only
No glass containers are allowed on the beach
Kennedy Space Center
Owns land managed by NPS and Merrit Island
Naional Wildlife Refuge
Joint effort by the three to
1. Protect from development
2.preserve history, wildlife, and diverse habitat
References
http://www.nature.nps.gov/
http://www.nps.gov/caco/management/index.html
http://www.nps.gov/cuis/
http://ww.nbbd.com/godo/minwr/
http://www.nps.gov/caha
http://www.nps.gov/calo/home.htm
http://chinco.fws.gov/
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/assa
teague.html
http://www.nps.gov/caco/home.html