[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Post Hurricane Floyd Conditions/Hatteras Island/Shorebirds



In a message dated 9/23/99 10:16:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
wgolder@audubon.org writes:

<< The southern NC beaches experienced a tremendous amount of overwash which 
has 
 created great expanses of open bare sand, prime habitat for beach-nesting 
terns,
 skimmers and the 2 prs. of piping plovers that nested just north of 
Wilmington. 
 This is especially true for the undeveloped barrier islands which should 
have 
 good conditions for during next year's breeding season. 
  >>

Here on Hatteras Island, overwash also occurred in areas at Pea Island on the 
Refuge, north of Rodanthe, and north of Buxton. However, rather than the 
blowout areas remaining (or even being allowed to partially remain by 
rebuilding the fake dune further back from the edge of the ocean), the NC DOT 
has already reconstructed massive fake dunes in the blowout areas. Of course, 
there will be the typical adverse impacts on listed and unlisted shorebirds, 
sea turtles, etc. that are associated with such coastal engineering projects. 

Perhaps worse than this, the effects of Dennis and Floyd have greatly 
increased pressure on the agencies (NPS, FWS) and others (Dare County, Corps, 
etc.) to do something to make Highway 12 "reliable" -- which, of course, will 
never be able to be accomplished here on a dynamic barrier island. There have 
been a lot of bad ideas advanced by locals and politicians to "solve the 
problem," and it remains to be seen what will happen. Those who are 
interested in watching shorebirds here on Hatteras and in shorebird 
conservation are urged to closely monitor this situation. In the next few 
months, decisions will be made which could -- and likely will -- adversely 
impact many of the shorebird species. 

If anyone would like to be given further information regarding future 
developments with coastal engineering projects to keep Highway 12 open and 
the effects on shorebirds, please directly e-mail me. 

Sidney Maddock
Environmental Analyst
Biodiversity Legal Foundation
P.O. Box 1359
Buxton, NC 27920
(252) 995-3312