Mr. Finegan,

JTH supplied the document I was about to bring up myself. This designation is indeed not listed on the NPS website for the area, and has curiously disappeared and reappeared over the years for reasons unknown.

To those of us on the ground down here, it is very much not a triviality. It may be the keystone to our argument when this issue returns to court. Notice I didn’t say “If”…

*************************************************************************
In other news:

Eddie’s comment is spot-on.

Here’s a look at another look at the “slight of hand” moves that SELC uses in their favor. Look at the below “Google Earth” based map put out by the CHNSRA NPS. The area we are looking at is Hatteras inlet, with the South end of Hatteras Island visible on the right, and the North end of Ocracoke Island visible on the left.

Please pay particular attention to the area marked “Ramp 59”. Notice that an area marked in orange color, which denotes “Pedestrian Access Only” is bracketed by areas marked in red on both sides, which denotes “Closed for Resource Protection”. This means no human/canine entry at all, period. Once you reach one of these areas, you will see one of these this blocking your way, depending on whether it’s bird or turtle season:

Also, please note the immense buffer zone that surrounds this now-drowned turtle nest. You can see a family standing at the other side of the closure. A bit excessive, perhaps?

The only way you can access this seemingly “Open” area is by boat, and the inlet is not a place to be taken lightly due to ocean swells that enter it, and an approximately 3 knot current that runs through the inlet at all times except slack tides. You don’t want to take your canoe there, trust me.

The SELC talking heads would include this area in their touting of percentages of beach open, but it cannot be accessed! There have been many instances of this throughout this summer under the Consent Decree.