Plan to help threatened shore creatures unveiled

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/25/07

BY ALEX BIESE

COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

SANDY HOOK — Officials presented a plan Saturday afternoon for protecting the
piping plover and other threatened and endangered species here.

"This has been a long time coming," said Karen Terwilliger, president of the
Virginia-based Terwilliger Consulting, Inc., which specializes in natural
resources conservation and communication.

Terwilliger gave a presentation to about 20 people, explaining the process she and the National Park Service went through to update the 1992 management plan for the piping plover.

Terwilliger said there is a "huge need" to update the 15-year-old plan, since it does not include current biological information on the protected bird or any
other shore animal or plant species.

Along with the piping plover, threatened and endangered species such as the
osprey, the northeastern beach tiger beetle and the seabeach amaranth plant can be found on Sandy Hook.


The piping plover population on Sandy Hook reached near-record lows in 2005 and 2006, and the reproduction rate has fallen below the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service goal of 1.5 chicks per nesting pair, Terwilliger said.

The Park Service first recognized the need for action last spring, and in June
and July it solicited comments and recommendations from resource agencies and members of the public.

Using the information received, Terwilliger and Park Service employees designed a new plan that would not impair park resources, while increasing beach-nesting bird reproduction.

"That's what this is all about," she said. "Sandy Hook's population has fallen .
. . and we need to manage and get it back to where it should be."

While three plans were considered, Terwilliger said the preferred plan, known as the Shoreside Species of Concern Conservation Plan, would integrate all federaland state-listed shore species into one management program.

Under the plan, Park Service employees would work toward improving public and employee education and enforcement of regulations relating to threatened and endangered species, Terwilliger said. Efforts would be made toward more management of predators such as the red fox, and the park would look to put up more fences and signs.

The goal of the plan would be to achieve an average population of 51 to 61 pairs of piping plovers with a reproduction rate of at least 1.5 chicks per pair for five years. Similar goals would be set for other species as well.

The Park Service will accept public comments on the plan through April 13.

Bruce Lane, a natural resource specialist with the Park Service, said if the
plan is approved, officials could begin to put it into practice this year.

Middletown resident Rosemary Bagwell said Sandy Hook needs to find a happy medium between the needs of visitors and those of wildlife.

"I just feel there should be a balance," she said. "It's a wonderful resource
that we have, and it needs a lot more protection to be kept this way.

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