We went to another birthday party this evening - this one for Charlotte, who turned two today. The party was on the beach, which is now my new favorite place for children's birthday parties for one reason: easy cleanup! Yes, you have to put the food and tables away, but there's no need to sweep! Plus, you don't have to clean your house for guests if the party is on the beach...
Here are a few pictures from the celebration, which was lots of fun. Happy Birthday Charlotte!
Lachlan, Mariah Daisy, and Robert climbed and played on the dune.
Charlotte unwrapping presents, with a little help from Mommy.
A mom and daughter moment. No, Charlotte was not drinking the Corona, but it did make for a funny picture!
A kiss for the birthday girl.
7 comments:
I don't suppose that anyone would care to point out to Lachlan, Mariah Daisy, and Robert (or care to educate their parents) that climbing on the dunes is strictly prohibited within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore?
What's the fine for that offense these days?
Cite your source, "Anonymous". (My quick review of the CAHA regulations on nps.gov did not turn up any statement that climbing on dunes is strictly prohibited.)
Trampling dune GRASSES or other vegetation such as sea oats is not a good idea. As is clearly obvious from the picture, the kids were playing only on the SAND. Sand is not in any way, shape, or form endangered or scarce on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
There are really 2 issues as far as I'm concerned:
1. The dune system on Ocracoke is an un-natural one in that it was created by the Civilian Conservation Core in the late 1930s as part of FDR's New Deal. The dunes were/are intended to stop erosion and make Ocracoke habitable. NC 12 would be in danger of being washed out during storms without the dunes and any activity (no matter how small) can have unintended consequences for that environment.
2. Wildlife (including birds and turtles) use the dunes as nesting spots. Playing on the dunes can disturb their habitat. Unless you have a background in marine biology, or are a trained conservationist, how do you know the effects of trespassing in that environment?
If you say the party activity was only on the sand, then so be it, however, knowing kids, I'd be surprised if that was the only place they played.
The nps.gov site does say that visitors are not permitted in undisturbed dune areas and that organized parties and receptions are not permitted activities within the park, although I would hardly consider what was shown on your blog to be organized.
1. Other than the mis-spelling of Civilian Conservation Corps, your statement is correct.
2. Wildlife nests on the dunes are clearly marked, and the areas closed to prevent these types of issues. The kids were not in (or even anywhere near) a marked nesting area.
In addition to the sand, the kids also played in the ocean. They did not, however, play in or on or trample the dune grasses. You don't know these kids, as far as I know, and you weren't there, so you have no way of knowing or being surprised by where they did or did not play.
You are correct that our event is not what is meant by the restrictions on parties and receptions. Those rules are intended to cover large groups, such as weddings, etc.
I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but the first anonymous is correct. It is illegal to disturb the dunes and any vegitation. There are stricter regulations put in place by many municipalities, which include fines and other penalties, but the Park Service rules prohibit walking on the dunes. I worked for the National Park Service for many years and was stationed at Oregon Inlet Campground.
Yes, I did mis-spell part of the name of the CCC. I've found that when people stoop to the level of pointing out spelling or grammatical errors in a debate, it's usually because they are on the losing end of the conversation and wish to deflect attention from their weak position on the matter.
Until you produce evidence that you have some formal education in coastal ecology or environmental biology, I don't see how you can say that walking/playing/climbing on the dunes does not affect that environment.
I would suggest that you read Living by the Rules of the Sea by David M. Bush, Orrin H. Pilkey and William J. Neal for a perspective on what the demise of the dune sytem could spell for Ocracoke.
I would also suggest that you read Exploring Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores
By Molly Perkins Harrison. On page 28, Molly writes the following:
"The National Park Service Act of 1916 directs the National Park Service to manage its parklands 'to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as they will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations'."
"So the park is here not only for human enjoyment, but also for the wildlife to have a safe place to live. The park is here for us today and is should be the same for the people of tomorrow. In order for that to happen, we can abide by a few simple rules, right?"
"Climbing on the sand dunes that line the oceanfront is strictly prohibited. The dunes are very fragile, yet extremely important to the ground-nesting birds, and they prevent erosion. It is illegal to climb on the dunes or to pick any of the grasses, including sea oats, found on the dunes."
Well at least you're citing some sources now; thanks for that. A couple of additional great books about this area are Ribbon of Sand: The Amazing Convergence of the Ocean and the Outer Banks by Alexander and Lazell, and The North Carolina Shore and Its Barrier Islands (Living with the Shore) by Pilkey, Neal, Riggs and Webb.
Assuming that ALL contact with dunes, even just the sandy parts, truly is strictly prohibited, I have to say that there should be signs indicating that, and some kind of public education campaign should be undertaken to ensure more people are aware. It should be big and bold on the CAHA website. As I've mentioned before, I've searched - not
exhaustively (I didn't read every single word of the regulations), but more than briefly (I didn't just skim the regulations, either) - and I haven't found a simple clear statement saying that any contact with any and all parts of the dunes is prohibited. (Of course, Federalgovernment agencies do seem to have challenges with writing simple, clear statements!)
Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is the fact that, while the dune line protects the road and therefore the human inhabitants of Ocracoke (or, more specifically, their economic prospects), the creation
of dunes on the island - since it's not what nature intended or, if left alone, would do with barrier islands - has actually had a huge impact on the natural ecology. New ecosystems have been created, and some have been negatively affected, by the dunes. The availability of places for birds to nest has actually been reduced by the fact that the dunes are there. (Credit where credit is due: thanks go to James for reminding me of this side of the issue, and helping me think through it.)
Very few issues in life are as black and white as we might like for them to be.
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