Trampling, ORVs, and other human impactsTrampling, ORVs, and other human impacts

Doug Piatkowski and Brannon QuelDoug Piatkowski and Brannon Quel

•The advent of motor vehicles The advent of motor vehicles has proved to be no exception.has proved to be no exception.

•Prior to the development of Prior to the development of the Jeep in WWII, people used the Jeep in WWII, people used “beach buggies” to access “beach buggies” to access previously distant location on previously distant location on the beach.the beach.

•People have been using People have been using alternative methods of alternative methods of transportation to visit the transportation to visit the beach for centuries.beach for centuries.

•The beach buggies were The beach buggies were usually beat-up, old cars.usually beat-up, old cars.

•The tires were oversized, The tires were oversized, completely bald, and deflated completely bald, and deflated to half the recommended tire to half the recommended tire pressure.pressure.

•If the car stopped working If the car stopped working they were usually abandoned.they were usually abandoned.

•During the late 60s and early During the late 60s and early 70s there was a boom in off-road 70s there was a boom in off-road vehicle production.vehicle production.

•ORVs were now being ORVs were now being marketed for recreational uses. marketed for recreational uses.

•The boom in ORV use drew the The boom in ORV use drew the attention of the U.S. Department attention of the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Nixon of the Interior during the Nixon Administration.Administration.

•A report to Nixon included the A report to Nixon included the recommendation that recommendation that “Recreation use should be “Recreation use should be regulated to minimize conflicts regulated to minimize conflicts with natural conditions and with with natural conditions and with other uses of public land.other uses of public land.

Executive Order 11644 (Feb 1972)Executive Order 11644 (Feb 1972)

““Ensure use of off-road vehicles on public lands will be controlled Ensure use of off-road vehicles on public lands will be controlled and directed so as to protect the resources of those lands…and to and directed so as to protect the resources of those lands…and to

minimize conflicts among the various uses of those lands.”minimize conflicts among the various uses of those lands.”

•Our beaches attract Our beaches attract millions of visitors and millions of visitors and generate tremendous generate tremendous revenue annually.revenue annually.

•People bring their vehicles People bring their vehicles to the beach and many to the beach and many believe it is their right to believe it is their right to drive on the beach.drive on the beach.

•The beach and dune The beach and dune ecosystem is a fragile ecosystem is a fragile environment that cannot environment that cannot cope with the impacts from cope with the impacts from off-road vehicles.off-road vehicles.Daytona Beach, Florida

Vegetative Impacts of ORVsVegetative Impacts of ORVs

•ORVs can directly and indirectly impact dune plant species.ORVs can directly and indirectly impact dune plant species.

•When ORVs drive directly over the plants, they crush the When ORVs drive directly over the plants, they crush the stems and can expose the roots.stems and can expose the roots.

•When the roots are exposed to the sunlight and high When the roots are exposed to the sunlight and high temperatures it can kill the plant.temperatures it can kill the plant.

•This reduces species abundance and diversityThis reduces species abundance and diversity

•When the plants have been removed it increases the When the plants have been removed it increases the susceptibility of blowouts.susceptibility of blowouts.

•Blowouts, in turn, can increase the frequency of overwash from Blowouts, in turn, can increase the frequency of overwash from storms and spring tides.storms and spring tides.

•According to Dr. Paul Hosier, “It’s like the dutchboy taking his According to Dr. Paul Hosier, “It’s like the dutchboy taking his finger out the dike (finger out the dike (CoastwatchCoastwatch 1980).” 1980).”

BlowoutBlowout

•When ORVs are driven on the dune, the sand moves When ORVs are driven on the dune, the sand moves downslope, flattening the dune rapidly.downslope, flattening the dune rapidly.

•Driving at the toe of the dune will destroy the strand line, Driving at the toe of the dune will destroy the strand line, which is the growing point of embryonic dunes. which is the growing point of embryonic dunes.

•It takes a matter of days to destroy a dune and years to build It takes a matter of days to destroy a dune and years to build it back.it back.

Impacts on Dune SystemsImpacts on Dune Systems

Driving an ORV on the beach homogenizes the sand and makes Driving an ORV on the beach homogenizes the sand and makes it hard to walk in.it hard to walk in.

Bald Head Island, no vehicular traffic

Ft. Fisher, beach is open year-round to ORV traffic.

A look at Fort FisherA look at Fort Fisher

Colonial waterbird nesting area closed to ORV traffic

Impacts of ORVs on Sea TurtlesImpacts of ORVs on Sea Turtles

•Many beaches are closed to ORV traffic during the sea turtle Many beaches are closed to ORV traffic during the sea turtle nesting and hatching season (May – November).nesting and hatching season (May – November).

•The beaches that remain open pose several threats to nesting The beaches that remain open pose several threats to nesting females and their hatchlings.females and their hatchlings.

•ORVs on the beach during the nesting season can increase ORVs on the beach during the nesting season can increase the frequency of turtle false crawls (ie aborted nesting the frequency of turtle false crawls (ie aborted nesting attempts).attempts).

•The lights from the ORVs are very bright and may frighten The lights from the ORVs are very bright and may frighten the turtle off.the turtle off.

•The false crawl to nest ratio of a beach can be an indicator of The false crawl to nest ratio of a beach can be an indicator of beach quality. Ft. Fisher State Park is open year round to beach quality. Ft. Fisher State Park is open year round to ORV traffic and this past season had 4 nests to 38 false crawls ORV traffic and this past season had 4 nests to 38 false crawls whereas Bald Head Island had 51 nests and 68 false crawls. whereas Bald Head Island had 51 nests and 68 false crawls.

Sea Turtles Con’t.Sea Turtles Con’t.

•If a nest is not conspicuously marked, the ORV may run it If a nest is not conspicuously marked, the ORV may run it over.over.

•During the hatching season the ORVs can easily run over the During the hatching season the ORVs can easily run over the hatchlings.hatchlings.

•Since hatchlings exhibit phototropism, they can crawl Since hatchlings exhibit phototropism, they can crawl towards the headlights of ORVs.towards the headlights of ORVs.

•The deep ruts from tire tracks can trap the hatchlings, The deep ruts from tire tracks can trap the hatchlings, making it difficult for them to crawl out.making it difficult for them to crawl out.

Path hatchlings take when tracks on are a beachPath hatchlings take when tracks on are a beach

Impacts on ShorebirdsImpacts on Shorebirds

•Many shorebirds nest in open areas of the sand (ie Terns, Many shorebirds nest in open areas of the sand (ie Terns, Plovers, Skimmers).Plovers, Skimmers).

•ORVs can directly run over the nests or frighten the mothers ORVs can directly run over the nests or frighten the mothers away, leaving the eggs vulnerable.away, leaving the eggs vulnerable.

•Once the chicks have hatched, one defensive instinct is to Once the chicks have hatched, one defensive instinct is to crouch in depressions. This can unfortunately be tire tracks crouch in depressions. This can unfortunately be tire tracks from ORVsfrom ORVs.

•This has led to some beach closings due to Piping Plover This has led to some beach closings due to Piping Plover nests (a federally protected shorebird)nests (a federally protected shorebird)

Environmentally sensitive bird nesting area on Ft. FisherEnvironmentally sensitive bird nesting area on Ft. Fisher

Closed from 1 April to 31 AugustClosed from 1 April to 31 August

General Beach Driving RegulationsGeneral Beach Driving Regulations

•Drive on wet sand and observe 25-mph speed limit.Drive on wet sand and observe 25-mph speed limit.

•Avoid wildlife and critical habitats.Avoid wildlife and critical habitats.

•Don’t drive on vegetative areas.Don’t drive on vegetative areas.

•Don’t overload the vehicles.Don’t overload the vehicles.

•Don’t Drink and Drive!!!! (ie Ft. Fisher)Don’t Drink and Drive!!!! (ie Ft. Fisher)

ORVs should be driven in the ORVs should be driven in the intertidal beachintertidal beach

Use designated crossovers to access the beachUse designated crossovers to access the beach

Other Human ImpactsOther Human Impacts

Beach RenourishmentBeach Renourishment

Beach RenourishmentBeach Renourishment

--From 1960 to 1990, the population of coastal areas From 1960 to 1990, the population of coastal areas increased form 80 to 110 million and is projected to reach increased form 80 to 110 million and is projected to reach over 160 million by 2015over 160 million by 2015

-Money invested along coastline – permanent structures-Money invested along coastline – permanent structures

-Disruption of natural erosion and accretion processes-Disruption of natural erosion and accretion processes

-Desire for beach renourishment to protect private -Desire for beach renourishment to protect private propertyproperty

-NC has 320 miles of shoreline – 8 miles have -NC has 320 miles of shoreline – 8 miles have renourishment programsrenourishment programs

-Recent large scale project to renourish Brunswick county -Recent large scale project to renourish Brunswick county beaches – provide sea turtle habitatbeaches – provide sea turtle habitat

Effects on Sea Turtle NestEffects on Sea Turtle Nest

--Indirect effects Indirect effects

-Temperature -Temperature

-Moisture content-Moisture content

-Compaction-Compaction

-Oxygen diffusion-Oxygen diffusion

-Direct effects-Direct effects

-Burial of existing -Burial of existing nestsnests

Effects on Nest Cavity ConstructionEffects on Nest Cavity Construction

-Increase in numbers of false -Increase in numbers of false crawlscrawls

- Scarp formation- Scarp formation

-false crawl -false crawl

-lay on scarp/collapse -lay on scarp/collapse

-Inability to dig chamber-Inability to dig chamber

-Abandoned egg -Abandoned egg chamberschambers

--

Dune WalkoverDune Walkover

-In order to prevent -In order to prevent trampling of vegetationtrampling of vegetation

-Trampling of -Trampling of vegetation can lead to a vegetation can lead to a blowoutblowout

Prickly pear cactusPrickly pear cactus

Opuntia stricta dilleriiOpuntia stricta dilleriiSpanish bayonetSpanish bayonet

Yucca aloifoliaYucca aloifolia

Defensive MeasuresDefensive Measures

Dune ProtectionDune Protection

-Posted signs-Posted signs

-Literature-Literature

-education-education

Hosier, P. E., M. Kochhar and V. Thayer. 1981. Off-road vehicle and pedestrian track effects on the sea-approach of hatchling loggerhead turtles. Environmental Conservation, 8(2):158-161.

Hosier, P. E. and T. E. Eaton. 1980. The impact of vehicles on dune and grassland vegetation on a southeastern North Carolina Barrier Beach. J. App. Ecol. 17:173-183.

Hosier, P. E. 1980. Recreational Off-road Vehicle Impacts in Coastal North Carolina. Carolina Planning 6(2):34-40.

Hosier, P.E. and T. Eaton. 1979. Making Tracks: A guide to off-road driving at the coast. UNC Sea Grant Publication 79-06

Hoover, B. 1973. Proc. Annual Meeting. Assoc. Midwest Fish Game Conervation. 40: 39-49.

Caution: ORVs can be hazardous to a dune’s health. Coastwatch. May 1980

Stick, David. 1985. Bald Head: A history of Smith Island and Cape Fear. Broadfoot Publishing Co. Wilmington, NC.

Benedict, M. A. 1978. The preparation of an off-road recreational trail map of the province lands, Cape Cod: Procedures, Observations, and Management Suggestions. National Park Service Cooperative Research Unit Report Number 27.

Town of Nags Head Regulations Governing Off Road Vehicles 1979-1980.

Badaracco, R.J. 1976. ORVs: Often Rough on Visitors. Parks & Recreation. September 1976.

http://www.seashell.com/kbphotos.htm

http://www.outerbanks.org/generalinfo.htm

ReferencesReferences