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Martha's Vineyard Surfcasters
Martha's Vineyard
Surfcasters Association
P.O. Box 3053
Edgartown, MA 02539
By dbalon on 6/19/2017 10:58 AM

We have a number of tern and plover nests that will be hatching on Norton Point beginning tomorrow morning.  Accordingly, we will be closing much of Norton Point  to OSV access from a point 1/2 mile from the Gatehouse.    There is still at least one plover nest closer to the NP gatehouse but we will need to wait and see how it fares.  That nest is due to hatch next week after the 25th.  On Chappy, I don't believe that Leland Beach will be looking at additional vehicle closures for several more weeks which would come pretty close to the time when we should see some easing of the Cape Poge restrictions.  All difficult to predict given the uncertainty of nest and chick survival as we get later into the shorebird season.

 

I've heard from several fishermen wondering if we expect to have a complete closure of all OSV beaches and I believe we will be able to avoid that.  Have also answered several questions from fishermen wondering why we don't escort vehicles like several of the Cape Cod towns are trying to do?  If you recall we discussed this at the Surfcaster's Association Banquet this winter.  We have the necessary permits to escort vehicles but the vehicles would have to be escorted by one of the passengers in the vehicle (i.e., vehicles without a second person in the OSV will be turned away), access would be limited from 10 AM to 4 PM only, drivers will have to take a state-approved shorebird identification test, and we would have to charge vehicles a surcharge on top of the permit fee to pay the $40K state-mandated additional staffing and equipping for this program.  The Surfcasters I spoke with had no stomach for those kinds of limitations and additional fees.  This new program is not what folks might think it is.  It does not allow unfettered access to closed beaches and it is limited to designated choke points (for us, it is the Cape Poge Narrows and the south end of Leland).  

 

OK, so let's say we exercised the permit to allow for limited daytime access to Cape Poge north of the Narrows.  It would only allow access as far as Aruda Point as we have chicks at the Jetties along with a growing tern colony there.  If you could somehow get around the Jetties we have plover chicks both inside and outside at the Elbow.  So, lets look at the south end of Leland.  We have a plover nest there that will be hatching in the next week or two.  But that wouldn't help us if we implemented the escorting program through that area as erosion is preventing vehicles from rounding Wasque Point.  

 

Trustees staff are looking at all of the ways we can maintain access while still preventing injury to these chicks.  If we have missed something or if someone has another idea, please let us know.  As always, we appreciate the support of the MVSA.

 

We'll stay in touch.

Chris Kennedy

 

 Inline image

Christopher Kennedy

Islands Superintendent

By dbalon on 6/13/2017 9:35 AM
Some great June fishing reports are starting to come in along with some very respectable fish. Get out there and hit the water now before the summer crowds show up. This is one of the best months of the summer for fishing the Vineyard!

The June MVSA Newsletter is once again packed with all kinds of useful information. Especially the latest fishing report as well as a great article on Striped Bass Sensory Perception (both written by Brian McCarty (Thanks Brian!)).

Check out the full June report enclosed here. Just click on the link below:

By dbalon on 6/9/2017 2:26 PM

Message from Chappy Assistant Superintendent (Acting), Tony Lima:

 

We have some fresh and upcoming shorebird vehicle closures to let you know about. 

 

Starting from the Dike Bridge working north, the Swimming beach area will be closed to OSV traffic this coming weekend (June 10 and 11) from 9 AM to 5 PM.   Note:  OSV will be allowed on the Swimming Beach this weekend after 5 PM til the following morning).   The Swimming Beach will be opened 24 hours per day for OSV traffic from Monday, June 12 until Saturday, June 17 at 9 AM.  The swimming beach will be closed for the summer for OSV access from Saturday, June 17 until Labor Day.  

 

Staff have just found four plover chicks on the Oceanside between Aruda Point and the Narrows Crossover.   The Jetties North will remain closed due to erosion, and plover and tern nests on the eroded and narrow beach which prevents us from shifting the vehicle trail to avoid the nests.

 

Another area of note:   We have a nest on the elbow just west of the first crossover that is hatching today. The adults have been seen feeding on the bayside beach heading east on Cape Poge Bay.   To be in compliance with state and federal law, we will be closing the road to visitors starting at the Lighthouse on the inside trail.   The closure point at the lighthouse is to allow OSV's to safely turn around.   There is no additional publically accessible shorefrontage beyond this point along the inner trail to the closure line.  On the Oceanside, we will close the OSV trail  a couple hundred yards west of the chimney.  Thus you may still drive around the outside of the Lighthouse.

 

Wasque Point is still closed for OSV's to travel around the Point at the extreme southern end of the Leland Beach due to severe erosion.  However, this point appears to have been growing in size over the past few days.  Until it restores enough to safely allow OSV passage, it is impossible to drive from Chappy to Norton Point via the beach.  Finally, the outside beach opposite the Norton Point gatehouse is still closed for OSV access due to erosion.  You can safely access Norton Point via the inside roads.

 

Updated property maps are available at the gatehouses. 

 

If folks have any questions they should contact Tony Lima at Tlima@thetrustees.org or leave a message at 508-627-3599 and he will return the call as soon as he can.

All the best,

Chris Kennedy

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