Tallying Up the Costs of a Beach ORV Ban

By LANA LEE CARY

By LANA LEE CARY

CLOSING OFF beaches in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to vehicular traffic would be foolhardy and short-sighted. As an avid fisherwoman and strong supporter of environmental protections, I feel there must be a compromise .

We have always driven the beach, reveling in the beauty and the solitude. Responsible use of our four-wheel drives is a priority, and we leave the beach cleaner by the removal of trash and storm debris.

There is no doubt of the economic devastation that would occur with the closure of beaches to vehicular traffic. Homeowners and business owners would realize the loss of revenue, as those who frequent the Outer Banks specifically for the freedom to drive the beaches would most likely decline to visit.

Large fishing tournaments would cease to exist. Participants in both the Hatteras Village and the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club tournaments generate thousands of dollars in local revenue. Factor in the everyday angler who can no longer justify a visit to the Outer Banks and you’ve just eliminated thousands more.

I spend an average of $1,500 to $2,000 per year visiting the island. Multiply that by the disenfranchised surf casters and you have a serious economic recession on your hands.

Other beach drivers, such as surfers, swimmers, bird watchers and the typical family picnickers also contribute to the local economy. Surf shops, tackle stores, gas stations, groceries, gift shops, real estate companies, hotels, cottage owners …there is no business that would go unscathed.

I also worry that a sharp economic decline would imperil the construction of a new Oregon Inlet Bridge. If the tax dollars are removed where would these funds come from? There would certainly be less concern for the replacement.

The residents of Hatteras and Ocracoke rely on this bridge for everything from supply deliveries to hurricane evacuation.

I’m surprised the state of North Carolina has not voiced its opposition to the proposed closures. The tax revenues generated by the almighty tourist dollar contribute greatly to the state coffers. Perhaps state officials assume their cash cow will be milked in the neighboring towns to the north: Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Duck and Corolla.

Unfortunately, those areas pose little interest to someone like myself who grew up watching the homogenization of Virginia Beach. If I wanted to experience “urban” beach living, I’d simply stay in Virginia. And so would my money.

When a locality has people who travel from as far away as Ohio and Canada to experience the uniqueness that is Hatteras Island, that says a lot. The beaches of Hatteras and Ocracoke are the draw. There is nothing quite like gliding the sands, windows down, with the smell of the salt and the sea spray in one’s face.

The use of a permit system to allow beach access may be the answer. Locals should not have to pay such a fee, or perhaps a sharply reduced fee. Permits could be purchased at daily, weekly, seasonal or yearly rates, much like a fishing license. Monies generated could be used to hire additional beach patrol personnel and cover the replenishment of beach grasses or sand .

I’d gladly pay such a fee, if it could be properly used to create a balance of economic and environmental stability.

It is my hope that common sense will prevail, and that a way of life we have all known and loved will not change. There is plenty of room for both birds and beach lovers amongst the sand and sea oats of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Lana Lee Cary is a Realtor who lives in Carrollton.

(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.