Duxbury Beach – Piping Plover Update

Duxbury Beach – Piping Plover Update

June 17, 2016

Contact: Duxbury Harbormaster Coastal Natural Resources Department

(781) 934-2866 Ext. 5 / http://www.duxburyharbormaster.org

In keeping with the commitment made by the Town Manager to the public with regard to sharing information pertaining to the presence of Piping Plover on Duxbury Beach, the Town of Duxbury is providing periodic updates on the status of nesting pairs currently inhabiting the beach and the potential impacts that may be experienced by beach patrons. This information is being provided by the Endangered Species Officer in conjunction with the Duxbury Harbormaster’s office.

In prior years, the maximum 500 vehicle count (250 non-resident vehicles and 250 resident vehicles) in the Off Road Vehicle (ORV) corridor has been periodically reduced due to unfledged piping plover chicks. As has been done in the past, as nests hatch within the ORV corridor (1st and 2nd crossovers), bayside areas adjacent to the ORV corridor, Pedestrian Beach (Northern & Southern Resident Beach), Duxbury Beach Park, or any other areas of Duxbury Beach, access is restricted as mandated by state and Federal law and the Duxbury Beach Management Plan. We are committed to doing the very best we can to enable safe and appropriate access to occur.

As of June 17, 2015, there are now 22 Piping Plover nests in a number of areas on the beach. Further, the eggs have begun hatching in several nests along the beach and as result, there are now ORV restrictions in place and limitations to beach access. Of the approximately 11,000 linear feet available in the ORV corridor, all but 4,500 linear feet linear feet have been restricted. Areas restricted to motor vehicles and pedestrians have been fenced off with symbolic fencing (orange string and posts, along with “Area Closed” signage). Bayside/back road areas adjacent to these closures have been posted with speed limits not to exceed 5 MPH in accordance with the Duxbury Beach Management Plan.

At this time, the number of off road vehicles allowed on Duxbury Beach has been limited to 375 TOTAL. Specifically, these limitations allow for only 187 resident vehicles and 187 non-resident vehicles. Once the eggs have hatched and while the birds are still unfledged, these ORV access restrictions may still be in place until approximately July 25th however they may be lifted incrementally as conditions change. The Duxbury Beach Reservation, in cooperation with the Town of Duxbury, is providing free overflow parking to all (resident and non-resident) ORV beach sticker holders. Harbormaster staff are on-site and signage is in place to direct patrons to that parking area. Since these are wild birds in an open and often unpredictable natural environment, it is important to keep in mind that the number of nests, paired birds, access limitations and beach restrictions could all change at any given time. As conditions change, additional information will be provided to the public.

Current restrictions are in place on the resident pedestrian beach (bay and ocean side) and are marked with temporary symbolic fencing and signage. In these two areas, pedestrians (Dogs Prohibited) are permitted to walk down at the water line below the current high tide wrack line at that given time. There is a small portion restricted as well north on the first crossover which is under 200’ in length. These restrictions and future Permitted ORV restrictions may be (in part or whole) lifted after plover chicks are flying (28-35 days after hatched) however some areas may be restricted longer due to the presence of nesting Least Terns which are also protected, and considered by Federal Fish And Wild Life and State Natural Heritage a specie of special concern.

As mandated when restrictions occur, the maximum ORV limits may be reduced (below 250 Resident and 250 Non-Resident max ORVs allowed when no restrictions are in place) on the front beach to maintain compliance with the Duxbury Beach Management and Conservation Plan, and to maintain public safety and order. For example: ORV limits may be set down to 125 Resident and 125 Non-Resident ORVs (in some years these numbers have been substantially lower) based on a given area of ORV corridor restricted (in this case, approx. half of ORV corridor restricted). The maximum ORV limits must maintain a 50% Resident and 50% Non-Resident ORV count at the limit. However, there may be a differing number of ORV permits on the beach at a given moment under said limits (100 Resident ORVs and 120 Non-Resident) as long as neither number exceeds the limit set. A temporary ORV beach closure due to ORV limits or capacity being met in this example would occur when 125 Resident and 125 Non-Resident ORVs are on the front beach ORV corridor at one time. It is also possible for Non-Residents to meet the limit and be sent to the overflow beach area (follow the orange overflow lot signs) north of “Blakeman’s” bath house while still allowing Resident ORVs over the crossover(s) as they have not met the limit yet (this occurs frequently).

Typically, as a result of higher demand, non-resident beach access can be limited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. which can last until approximately 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. Once limitations on the beach are in place as a result of the presence of Piping Plovers, and higher demand for access is created as a result of warmer weather, earlier arrival times by beach patrons may help to ensure access (i.e., well in advance of 9:00 a.m. as noted above). We hope that this information will help to illustrate the importance of arriving early since access is provided on a first come, first served basis and can matter greatly if the weather is favorable for beach-going conditions.

Please continue to check for the latest updates as conditions and circumstances can change with little to zero notice based on activities of wild animals. This information will be updated if conditions change or as new information becomes available. For further information about Duxbury Beach conditions, please visit the Town of Duxbury Harbormaster’s website at: http://www.duxburypolice.org/home/news/harbormaster-beachnotifications.

The most up-to-date information pertaining to beach conditions including restrictions and access limitations may be found by following the Duxbury Harbormaster’s Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/Dux_HM

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to maintain as much pedestrian and ORV access as possible while managing protected species.