Holgate Limited Beach Access Proposed

by Bob DeLeonard

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association March 2000 Newsletter)

US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Federal Register of February 14 made public it’s decision to limit beach access for the Holgate unit of the Brigantine Wilderness Area. Under this directive, motor vehicle use by the public would be limited to the area below the mean high tide mark. The mean high tide mark is an 18.5 year average, not a day to day thing. At this time (Feb 19), I do not know where it falls. It may be 50 yards out in the ocean or it may be the entire peninsula. I wonder if USFWS knows. Their brochure on beach use shows it as the wet sand between the tides. This is wrong, although many people are not aware.

Because the limiting of beach vehicles is so controversial, the USFWS Acting Regional Director revolving door has provided a 30 day public review period before signing off on the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). This period ends on March 19. Note that this is a 30 day review period, not a 30 day comment period. Not a problem! USFWS does not care about your comments anyway. Never have. Never will. Your Representatives in Congress and your Senators would, however, would be very interested at this back door attempt to strong arm the voting public.

USFWS has chosen Alternative B of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), which was the Service’s proposed action all along. Besides limiting, or perhaps banning altogether, vehicle use on the beach, this alternative also triples the refuge staff, triples the operating budget, and makes provisions for “taking” additional land outside the boundary of the Refuge. The current staff level is 17. Alternative B would raise this to 42. Staff and projects funding for the next 15 years is currently $15.3 million. “B” would raise this to $54.2 million. Land protection is currently $19.7 million for 15 years. “B” would raise this figure to $57.7 million. Land protection for what? It is a federal Wilderness!

In 1973 when the Brigantine Wilderness area was being proposed, Holgate was not even going to be considered as part of it. The Department of the Interior did not want to include it because the public would never be able to get a true wilderness experience there. It was added at the last hour at the urging of the NJ Sierra Club, with backing of NJBBA, to prevent construction of an anticipatory bridge from the south, with provisions that existing access and usage prevail. Now 28 years later, USFWS wants to renege. Congressman Edwin B. Forsythe, for whom the refuge was named, was a beach buggy surf fisherman. He would be saddened and bitter at this attempt to circumvent his wishes.

     Bob DeLeonard is President of the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association (NJBBA),Executive Director of United Mobile Sportfishermen (UMS), and Beach Access Chairman for the Jersey Coast Angler’s Association (JCAA).   

 

[News Contents] [Top]