Recent article in papers about Assateague

[Heavy Duty]

I wanted to address a recent article in some local papers regarding OSV access, ponies and sika deer on Assateague put forth by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) www.npca.org.

The articles states the Assateague will be reducing the ponies herd numbers, sika deer population and considering changes to the OSV policy. These are all things we (AMSA) have been working very closely with the National Park Service (NPS) on and providing our input during the public comment periods. I have also published this information in the AMSA newsletter, on the AMSA web site ( www.keepersofthebeach.com ) and presented at several public forums in an effort to make people aware of the “State of the Beach”.

As co-chair of AMSA’s legislative committee, I am charged with monitoring and understanding the positions, issues and those organizations that take positions and actions that may affect Assateague Island. AMSA works closely with the NPS in assisting with balancing environmental protection and policies affecting the recreational use of the island.

There have been two public comment periods for input regarding the management plan of the Assateague Ponies. A formal plan will be announced later this year regarding the determination of the final plan. If you wish to have more details of the plans, please feel free to contact me or go to the Assateague web site. The sika deer population control method is planned to be managed by hunting. Over the past years, hunting has declined and as a result the deer population has increased. Lastly, the OSV use, as you are aware the permit fees will be changing next year. Along with this, the General Management Plan update process will begin. This is a multi-year very detailed process that will require much public input. I strongly encourage anyone who wishes to maintain access and see changes made to the OSV policy, voice your opinions loudly and strongly. Make sure you get involved. If you do not, these policies may change in way unfavorable to many. There are many well funded advocacy groups that will be working very hard to severely limit or remove vehicle access from Assateague. Put simply, we must all work together in order to preserve a way of life many of us grew up with and wish our children to grow up with. We have always supported responsible driving on Assateague and will continue to do so.

Moving forward, ASMA will be actively involved with Assateague’s General Management update and will make every effort to keep you informed. We are actively involved with the process that is progressing down at Cape Hatteras and will continue to do so. If ever you have any questions or concerns, please come to an AMSA meeting or contact me at hquillen@dmv.com.

Best Wishes, Good Fishing and I look forward to seeing you at the beach.

[AISURFFISH]

this is a copy of one of the reports howard if refering to!!!

please review


Top Stories

Assateague Island Resources Called 'Fair' In Report



By Cara Dahl, Staff Writer
Originally published August 31, 2007
BERLIN – Assateague Island’s natural resources are only in fair shape, according to a report by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
The NPCA cites problems with invasive species, over-sand vehicles, and water quality as significant factors in the rating of the Assateague Island National Seashore (AINS). The park earned a “fair” rating, scoring 75 out of 100 points.
“In general, we don’t have any disagreement with the findings of the report. We think it’s a pretty fair assessment of the current state of Assateague,” said Carl Zimmerman, AINS Chief of Natural Resources. “Obviously, we’re not satisfied with the resources in fair condition.”
Wild ponies, the most visible and potent symbol of Assateague Island, are not native to the island and have a severe impact on native vegetation. The current population of 140 equines should be reduced to a herd of just 80 to 100 animals, the report advises. AINS staff has been looking into benign ways to reduce the herd, now controlled through a contraceptive vaccine, for the last year. A new report on the herd reduction possibilities is due this fall.
Over-sand vehicles disrupt beach habitat for shorebirds and plants, including the threatened piping plover and seabeach amaranth plant. Ghost crabs and other invertebrate species also suffer, according to the report.
Cultural and archeological resources are also in trouble, with little funding available to investigate and preserve assets like the Assateague Coast Guard Station and shipwrecks like the steamer U.S.S. Despatch, the first presidential yacht, which sank off the island in 1891.
“The cultural resources, while they’re very nice in some cases, they have taken a back seat to managing the natural environment,” Zimmerman said.
Funding is a challenge in this area, he pointed out, as regional sites like the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Gettysburg battlefield are much higher profile.
Aquatic grasses, despite encouraging gains in recent years, have begun to decline again, as has water quality in the southern coastal bays, long thought to be in a better position than their northern cousins.
“Some of the issues we don’t have extensive control of,” Zimmerman said. “The best example of this is water quality in Maryland’s coastal bays.”
Water quality depends on the State of Maryland, Worcester County and local residents.
“We try to work with those folks to move forward,” he said.
Zimmerman would like to see Chincoteague Bay, which lies between Assateague Island and the mainland, designated a Tier III impaired water body.
“You’ve got water quality in the bays that isn’t as pristine as it should be, considering it’s a body of water next to a federally protected island,” Kathy Phillips, Assateague Coastkeeper, said. “The designation of Chincoteague Bay as a Tier III water body will help to increase buffers along the western shore of the bay and implement stronger nutrient reduction mandates. This will encourage less development and more land conservation.”
On the topic, Zimmerman added, “I think there’s a lot of discussion that needs to take place. It has to be a collective decision. I think it would help.”
A very public example of impaired water quality occurred last weekend, when swimmers at the southern end of the island, over the Virginia state line, were advised that the Atlantic Ocean was contaminated with fecal bacteria. The advisory, which did not close the beach or forbid swimming, was posted on Friday, but taken down early afternoon on Saturday.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction,” Zimmerman said.
Fifteen years ago, AINS would have been rated “poor” rather than “fair”, he said.
Progress has been made, but problems still exist.
“The water quality is the one that’s going to be the most challenging,” Zimmerman said. “People love to live on the coast. It’s the part of the country that’s had the highest growth in the last few decades. There’s a price to pay for that.”
While AINS has a lot of work to do, improvements are under way. Wildlife is being studied, a northern-end sand replenishment project is showing good results, and both piping plovers and seabranch amaranth populations continue to increase steadily.
Funding is crucial to improvements at the park, officials agree.
“The significant increase in national park operating funds now pending before Congress is sorely needed at Assateague,” said Joy Oakes, NPCA’s Mid-Atlantic senior regional director.
Despite Assateague’s popularity, the National Seashore lacks organized local support.
“One of the things Assateague [National Seashore] doesn’t have is a dedicated friends group and that’s one of the things we’d like to happen,” said Zimmerman.
A friends group, like the one that supports Assateague State Park, would advocate for the park and raise money.
“This is a little bit of a call to action for the community,” Zimmerman said. “We can’t do it alone. It takes a community effort by a lot of folks.”

[AISURFFISH]

http://www.npca.org/search.jsp?query=assateague


that is a link to all of the press releases for AI in the past few months to years