WELLFLEET, Mass-Cape Cod National Seashore Superintendent Brian Carlstrom announced the approval of the Shorebird Management Plan/Environmental Assessment (November 2018). With the National Park Service Northeast Regional Director signature on the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the plan is ready for implementation. “We are excited to begin implementing the Shorebird Management Plan with the goal to increase shorebird populations while maintaining and improving visitor access," said Superintendent Carlstrom.
The FONSI selects Alternative B: Increased Protection and Flexible Management, Plus Additional Management of Predator Impacts. With the new Shorebird Management Plan the national seashore will manage shorebirds to meet species recovery goals. This will be accomplished through a combination of flexible management at high visitation areas to maintain visitor access away from nests, increased visitor restrictions at certain places and times, and increased survival of chicks by non-lethal management of common nest predators.
A Draft Shorebird Management Plan was available for a 60-day public and agency review from November 9, 2015 through Jan. 11, 2016. Public comments included suggestions for new alternative elements or implementation ideas; questions about the adequacy of the data used; requests for more detail on proposed management actions; opposition to the use of lethal predator management; and opposition to the greatly increased restrictions on visitor use. An analysis of the comments and NPS responses to substantive comments is attached to the FONSI (Attachment A).
Official announcements about shorebird management will be posted to the national seashore’s website, on the park’s Facebook page, and on Twitter at @CapeCodNPS. Additionally, the FONSI will be posted to the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System.
Tags: shorebirds fonsi park planning news release
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
