Most recent storm shows why officials want changes in Chincoteague
Those who have been down to Chincoteague Island during the most recent rain storm, would have seen why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to relocate the recreational beach and parking lot – they’re both underwater.
Since 2003, officials tell 47 ABC $6 million dollars in tax payer money has been spent on repairing storm damage done to the beach. Roughly $3.2 million has been spent on repairing the parking lot after each storm and about $3 million has been spent on relocating the visitor’s center three times, each time further away from the ever nearing shore line.
The plan, or solution as some officials refer to is as, is to relocate the recreational beach 1.5 miles north to an area that would be more stable and ensured longevity. The current site of the recreational beach, which is located in between the ocean and Tom’s Cove, would still be open to the public for hunting, fishing and nature observation.
The recreational beach at Chincoteague has been a long time favorite for locals and tourists alike officials said, because beach goers can drive their car right up the waterfront, park, then take about ten steps and enjoy the beach.
However, it’s that convenience that makes the area such a liability according to Kevin Sloan, refuge manager at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The way he see’s it the cost it takes to constantly repair the area far outweighs the convenience beach goers enjoy now.
“If Joaquin had come ashore it would have completely wiped out the parking lot probably. We’d have to rebuild all that. That seems like an irresponsible investment of the tax payer’s dollars,” Sloan said Friday, during an exclusive tour the flooded beach and parking lot.
Sloan told 47 ABC that when storms hit that the waves often engulf the beach and overflow into the parking lot because both sit at roughly sea-level. The parking lot Sloan said, which is comprised of 3 inches of clay followed by seashells, is reduced to sand and water after the waves and rain leave leaving staff with the task of rebuilding.
Not all locals are against the relocation though, both Louis and Patti Bornes were at the beach Friday to see the storm in full force. The Bornes, who have lived in the area for eight years, have frequently visited the beach during storms to see the way the Atlantic Ocean tosses and turns. The Bornes said they were originally against the relocation, but after seeing the damage done this year and the price it takes to repair it, they’ve changed their minds.
“As I’ve seen the last few storms we’ve been here, the beach seems to be shrinking at this end anyway and there seems to be less and less beach every time they put it back together,” Louis said.
“I think it’s going to be expensive to move it, it’s going to be more expensive to leave it here with all the repairs that they’ve had to do,” Patti said.
The vision to relocate the beach isn’t a spur of the moment deal Sloan said, this has been something in the works for over two years. Last year, when the 2014 plan was submitted, a series of public meetings were held in addition to meetings with the Town of Chincoteague and the mandatory 90 day public comment period.
As a result of those comments and meetings several significant changes were made to the original plan, including maintaining seasonal ocean access by Beach Rd. for seasonal access, keeping access to Swan’s Cove bike trail in addition to keeping access for hikers on the service road.
The alternative to the plan, is to keep the beach where it is until the ocean consumes it. At that point a building of a new beach would begin further north. The problem with that Sloan said, is that it would leave Chincoteague without a beach for at least two years, which would cause the town to take a significant hit in their tourist numbers. Something Sloan said, they don’t want to see happen.
“We don’t want to cost the town money, we want to have smooth operations,” Sloan said. “We want to have a steady stream of tourists coming to the town and using the recreational beach on the refuge
