THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050173
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Work has begun on a new public fishing area at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge that will provide year-round freshwater fishing at the refuge.
Meanwhile, the refuge's interior dikes re-opened May 1 for hiking, biking and wildlife observation. The dikes had been closed since Nov. 1 to protect migrating waterfowl.
The new fishing area is being constructed just a short walk south of the Visitor Contact Station in an area that's open year-round. It's already been the location for several Kids Fishing Days.
It's part of a $500,000 plan to improve visitor facilities in the northern end of the refuge, including construction of an observation platform, a new entry booth and information kiosk, and new trails.
To develop the fishing area, canals are being dug and the excavated material will be used to build a dike or berm. Once the banks are stabilized, a stonedust surface will be applied to make portions of it wheelchair accessible.
The dikes will create a loop that will add close to a mile to the existing trail system.
The new fishing area should be finished early next year.
Acting Refuge Manager Joe McCauley said the project will enhance usage for both people and wildlife. It will provide increased opportunity for wildlife-oriented activities like fishing and wildlife observation. It also will create a self-sustaining native fishery that attracts fish-eating wildlife like wading birds and birds of prey like osprey, falcons and hawks.
It's anticipated that fishermen will be pulling largemouth bass, bluegill, brown bullhead and chain pickerel from the water. But at first, fishing may be on a catch-and-release basis until adequate population levels are reached.
McCauley told a citizens group that another reason for the fishing area is ``in a sense to offset some of the restrictions we've imposed.''
The refuge closed most of its dikes last November for what was supposed to be seven months. Refuge studies showed that human activity was disturbing the wintering birds.
But the closure was shortened from June 1 to May 1 when refuge officials re-examined the closure after citizens and the state complained about the restrictions and how it blocked access to neighboring False Cape State Park.
State parks and federal refuge officials have agreed to a one-year planning process to hash out a long-term solution to the access dispute. They set a deadline of March 1, 1996, to reach an agreement.
In the meantime, the interior dikes below the new fishing area will close Dec. 1, 1995, and remain closed until the new agreement is in force March 1, 1996. by CNB