Gulf Breeze, Fla. - Superintendent Dan Brown has released the annual Superintendent’s Compendium for 2019. The compendium is a comprehensive listing of how federal regulations and policies are implemented at the national seashore. Each year the park management team reviews the compendium and makes changes based on changing conditions, operations, community, and visitor comments received throughout the year, and resource issues.
In addition to minor clarifications, this year’s edition of the compendium includes several changes:
In Florida-
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Small area closures in the Fort Pickens and Perdido Key areas to protect Piping plovers.
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The elimination of Waterfowl Hunting Permits which was announced in 2018.
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State approved road legal vehicles are permitted within the Fort Pickens Area.
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New food storage guidelines for the Fort Pickens Campground.
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The Fort Pickens Campground Loop B is open to soft-side tents on the ground and generators are not permitted in this loop.
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The Fort Pickens Campground Loop D is open to soft-side tents on the ground, as well as hard-sided tents, cars, trucks, or vans, and generators are permitted in this loop except during quite hours.
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Trailers are not permitted in Fort Pickens Campground Loops B & D.
In Mississippi-
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All references to East and West Ship islands have been changed to reflect the reconnection of the islands by the US Army Corps of Engineers; the park will transition to calling the island Ship Island over the next two years.
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Groups of ten or more visiting the Mississippi wilderness islands (Horn and Petit Bois) must have a wilderness permit.
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New food storage guidelines for the Davis Bayou Campground.
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Improved language to comply with the Wilderness Act regarding visitors to the Mississippi wilderness islands (Horn and Petit Bois).
“Continuous review and evaluation of how federal regulations are implemented at Gulf Islands allows us to continue to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for park visitors while protecting the critical resources that make this place special," said Superintendent Dan Brown.
To improve access to the Superintendent’s Compendium, a new webpage has been developed which is indexed and allows for the use of the website’s search functions. This page and additional National Park Service regulations is available online at https://www.nps.gov/guis/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htm.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi, and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitat. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfIslandsNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/GulfIslandsNPS, and Instagram www.Instagram.com/GulfIslandsNPS.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice and Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice.
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Tags: press release news release news press gulf islands gulf islands national seashore rules
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
