Oversand vehicle trails on Chappaquiddick have been partly reopened after a weekend of closures to protect nesting piping plovers, the Trustees of Reservations announced. All trails to Cape Pogue remain closed to vehicles.
Oversand vehicle trails on Chappaquiddick have been partly reopened after a weekend of closures to protect nesting piping plovers, the Trustees of Reservations announced.
“As promised we are reopening as soon as possible while still following state guidelines,” a Facebook post said Monday.
As of 2 p.m. on July 5, the southbound trail from the Dike Bridge to the Chappy side of Wasque had reopened.
“Our ecology staff reports that the broods that necessitated the restrictions have moved and show no sign of returning to our inside vehicle trails,” the Facebook post said.
All trails to Cape Pogue remain closed.
The complete closures to protect nesting piping plovers were announced by the Trustees last week.
East Beach and Leland Beach remain open to pedestrians, with parking available at the Dike Bridge and at Wasque Reservation. About 1.5 miles of beach remains open at Norton Point. The Trustees have canceled their lighthouse tours for the time being.
Speaking to the Gazette by phone last week, Trustees Islands manager Sam Hart said there were 26 pairs of plovers nesting this year on Chappaquiddick.
“We’re having a record-breaking year,” Mr. Hart said, noting the presence of nesting plovers at Wasque, Leland Beach and Cape Pogue. Two pairs are nesting right near the Dike Bridge, he said, forcing the need for a complete closure of trails due to the location of the nests. The birds are expected to hatch in the next day or two, Mr. Hart also said, meaning trails could be partly reopened soon depending on where the birds decide to feed. “We’re going to wait and see where they move,” he said.
The closures have caused a stir among some fishermen and beach users who formed a Facebook group to air comments.
Over the weekend the Trustees posted a statement on Facebook that appeared to respond to the concerns.
“We love that this community is passionate about accessing the Island’s incredible beaches and we also understand the disappointment that occurs when those beaches must be temporarily closed,” the statement said. “To that end, we thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts on the recent beach closures. The decision to close some areas of Cape Pogue was not arrived at lightly or without careful consideration, as finding the most appropriate balance between conservation and public access is at the heart of our mission and a responsibility we take extremely seriously.”
Over the holiday weekend, the Trustees also allowed Cape Pogue oversand permit holders use Norton Point on the Edgartown side, which normally requires a separate sticker.
Comments
This is very poor on the part
Paul E. Rudy Lancaster, PAThis is very poor on the part of the Trustees. You were going to make me buy a O/S permit when you knew that 100 percent of the beach would be closed to driving and on top of it all not tell me about the closures until after I purchased a permit. I don't know if this is true, but I was told that we go to all this trouble to protect these birds and then they fly south where they hunt them. If this continues, the trustees have seen the last of my family.
You lost me at "I don't know
Schools Out TisburyYou lost me at "I don't know if this is true...." but you'll spread it anyway. Plovers are federally protected, so your "sources" are wrong. And not bright. Have you ever seen a plover? What's to hunt? I'm sure the trustees are happy tourists like you will stay away.
I think the Trustees would be
Carol formerly ChilmarkI think the Trustees would be okay with that, Paul. You should have known this was likely to be done (and I support it!) - it happens almost every year. Go offroad in Moab.
It's a chance we take each
Jamie West tisburyIt's a chance we take each year when we buy our stickers Paul. No access is guaranteed ever and that is clearly stated on their website. As far as hunting endangered or threatened species of birds, I think someone fed you a line of bs. We all want to go and enjoy it trust me, but there are worse things in life....count your blessings and don't get bent on things we cannot change.
Thank goodness for the
Whit Symmes Wasque Farm, ChappyThank goodness for the plovers.They are the only thing that temporarily pauses TTOR $SUV$ theme park from destroying every inch of beach.
There has to be a balance.
LInda Talbott and Pepsi Live on ChappaquiddickThere has to be a balance. But this seems like drastic action to close the entire beach to homeowners and vacationers. 14 months with COVID and now travelers wanting to visit our beautiful island and the sanity it will give them with their families to be here again. BUT no OSV. I wonder how many even know after spending thousands of dollars to rent and purchase a $200 OSV sticker for 1 or 2 weeks. There is no balance here and in fact it ridiculous is embarrassingl. Why not fence these birds in and even a net over the wiring so predators do not get them. With all these scientific minds and technology it seems that this could
happen and even move them to a safe environment. Cmon think about it. I have been here since 1980s and first time I saw NO OSV on beaches. Unless this gets fixed soon for this year but also for future years we will along with family and friends will not purchase stickers or trustees products.
While I agree this is
Jamie West tisburyWhile I agree this is frustrating, I have to take a different stance on what you are saying as far as covid. So now that things are opening up we should open the beaches for people's sanity? That seems a but short sighted and selfish, because humans want something, that they should get it at all cost?? People should be happy we are turning a corner and reflect and use this past year and a half as a teaching tool. As far as the birds, it's the presence of too many humans that is the issue and can scare them off from their nesting sites abandoning their chicks.I fish Chappy religiously, but will wait patiently until they open it again. People are too quickly forgetting what a huge event we just went through, and should feel fortunate to come out of it hopefully unscathed. Right now just sitting on any beach for people that were stuck in major metro areas is probably bliss. Chappy will open again.
My biggest gripe is that the Trustees should absolutely limit the amount of passes sold and institute a daily cap on the number of vehicles allowed on the beach. Year round island residents should be offered passes first and then non-residents. Of course this is all my opinion and I am certainly not trying to sway you one way or the other.
Or another solution Jamie -
Jim EdgartownOr another solution Jamie - No more town only resident public beaches up island. Are you in favor of that? Because there isnt enough beach space on this island in July when these OSV closures start to come in. Opening up all the resident only beaches in Chilmark and the other up island towns would help.
Why only year round residents
bridget BostonWhy only year round residents offered passes first? Don't seasonal residents pay the same taxes as year rounders (and use far fewer of the services)?
The Trustee properties are a
T Bone Oak BluffsThe Trustee properties are a gift to our island. I trust their professionalism, knowledge, and judgement. The current adult whining is beyond the pale, and sounds much like a little kid crying "I'm taking my ball and going home." To those adults I say buh-bye. I vote plover over whiners.
Why do we let birds decide
Bob EdgartownWhy do we let birds decide where they wanna nest and where they want to feed. All that needs to be done is to chase the birds down the beach to a different location and then let them have that part there is no reason these birds should be able to go wherever they please. The trustees do not care about people that is very obvious.
Ummm....Bob, do you hear what
Jamie West TisburyUmmm....Bob, do you hear what you are saying? "There is no reason these birds should be able to go wherever they please"....but we can? The bird chooses it's nesting site, its called nature and that's how it works. I think maybe you might want to think about how ridiculous and ignorant your statement sounds. So what I hear, is let's chase the birds to another location so that we humans can continue to keep having fun? I think maybe an ornithology course might help you. Saying the Trustees don't care is a bit ridiculous, and when it comes to the birds, it is the biologist that makes the assessment for what is needed.
This is a great answer. It's
A summer visitor GburyThis is a great answer. It's honest, correct, and downright funny.
The beach is NOT closed to
Carol formerly ChilmarkThe beach is NOT closed to "homeowners and vacationers", unless they are unable to walk. Your comment greatly exaggerates the inconvenience. Most of us (thank God) support protecting this threatened species; it's not a big deal to walk a small distance from the parking lot. Good for your health!
Looks like the beach is open
Dmm NJ (visiting MVY 3x/year)Looks like the beach is open to walkers ! I'm relieved that when I visit for last 2 weeks of August I will be able to circumnavigate from east beach down to wasque then back along the road to my car at mytoi.
Now no oversand vehicles.
Go drive on a road -- not a
Driver ChappyGo drive on a road -- not a wildlife preserve.
most of these replies are
Local MVYmost of these replies are great examples of the island becoming something it never was and the utter ignorance and narcissism behind it. It’s as though the we owe the tourists some entitled access whenever they want access to beach OSV. Here’s another option: the Trustees could eliminate OSVs. The mandate of the Trustees isn’t to run a beach for tourists or islanders recreation. We year rounders aren’t too psyched about a third ferry terminal, no worker housing and tourists that think we owe then something because they rented a house amd didnt read the disclosure. The beaches close down every year and have for many years. Just like the people that complained about the Chappy Ferry line, you think you’re the first new people to discover these things as though we created the problem for you. Do us a favor Paul, please DO stay in PA.
Why closed to boats? Boats
William EdgartownWhy closed to boats? Boats do not harm shore birds.
I am a local business owner,
Peter Sliwkowski EdI am a local business owner, and full-time resident of Chappy. With the help of many other, we created the MV Beachgoers Access Group in May 2020. It is a group of Vineyard residents, business owners, and frequent visitors that is focused on preserving the balance between responsible beach access and active wildlife conservation on the Island.
I believe that we are the group Julia referred to in the article "The closures have caused a stir among some fishermen and beach users who formed a Facebook group to air comments."
In addition to our Facebook page which as of 7/8/2020, has 386 members. We have also been working on various initiatives which include commissioned a beach access analysis from MB Ecological Design Group. developed a survey to capture community sentiment (486 respondents to date), communications with TTOR both at a corporate and local level, researched how other properties which allow OSV access operate plus much more.
The primary goal of the MV Beachgoers Access Group page is to try to provide to the community relevant information regarding Beachgoer Access, obtain guidance on where the working group should focus, and insight into new information.
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