6/30/1998 SOUTH CAPE BEACH ADVISORY Minutes

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concerns, and also believe these problems are the direct result of lack of funding for necessary personnel: 1. At the main entrance to the State facility, the path leading from the parking lot to the beach has been filled with deep, loose sand which greatly hinders the use of wheelchairs, infant strollers, and weight-bearing wheeled carts.. Loose sand has also filled up the lower part of the beach-side ramp to the observation deck. 2. There appears to be human intrusion into the dunes and resulting damage to the storm-resistant vegetation at various points. We've observed that the snow fencing at the site does not seem to serve any useful purpose, either for preventing unwanted human access or enhancing the proliferation of vegetation. We recommend, instead, that (1) extra planting of rosa rugosa, poison ivy and other native species tolerant of the site conditions be done to both discourage inappropriate human intrusion and to anchor the otherwise shifting sands, and (2) interpretative markers (such as the one entitled "Please Help Protect the Dunes" on the West side of the old, abandoned State parking lot) be installed in the immediate vicinity of the main entrance (we recommend on or near the observation deck). (Note: The locations of certain of the interpretive signs should be re- examined to see if they're in the most effective sites. The "Please Help Protect the Dunes" interpretive marker seems to be in a relatively remote area and would probably be more effective if placed in an area where more visitors would see it.) 3. Part of a boardwalk or ramp that was washed away during Hurricane Bob (1991) has semi-permanently lodged on the beach east of the Dead Neckjetty (in the foredune) and has been nearly covered by the sand. After winter storms and before the birds return to breed and nest, this should be retrieved. Otherwise, in a major storm, the structure is likely to be dislodged by wave action and then act as a very destructive battering ram. 2