THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412060011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
The federal governments' decision to limit access to False Cape State Park through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge via the beach is very shortsighted and narrow-minded. As a lifelong Hampton Roads resident and lover of both facilities, I feel as though I've been cheated.
The Back Bay officials claim that hikers and bicyclists going to False Cape State Park are disruptive to the waterfowl. That's ludicrous! Patrons visiting either area are consciously trying to respect and hopefully observe the wide variety of waterfowl and wildlife they may encounter.
Every wildlife refuge that I've visited has encouraged visitation by cars, bicycles and foot traffic in regard to observing wildlife.
Both Chincoteague and Bodie-Pea Island National Wildlife refuges have wildlife drives where visitors can look at the ducks and geese from their vehicles. One can leave the vehicle and walk to the edge of the ponds and view the waterfowl with minimum disturbance. I feel that most waterfowl wintering on our refuges do tolerate respectful human interactions.
Both Back Bay and False Cape are wildlife oriented. However, False Cape is a more natural area with maritime forests, vegetated dunes, freshwater marshes and an impressive variety of flora and fauna. Back Bay, on the other hand, is mandated to alter the landscape in hope of increasing waterfowl visitation. This is done by bulldozing trees, digging ditches, plowing fields and planting vegetation to attract waterfowl.
Even with all of this artificial habitat created, Back Bay can't attract as many species of wintering ducks as the ponds and inlets around the Lynnhaven River and Lynnhaven Bay in the populated residential areas of north Virginia Beach.
Virginia State parks are ours to explore and enjoy. False Cape State Park is one of the pristine jewels in our great commonwealth. For the federal government to restrict our access to this unique recreational area is a disgrace and injustice.
If those who love our state parks and share these concerns protest, we can make a difference. My next letter will be to Bruce Babbitt, secretary of the interior, Washington, D.C.
GARY M. WILLIAMSON
Chesapeake, Nov. 24, 1994 by CNB