After the Reunion in October many of us visited ASSATEAGUE LIGHTHOUSE and viewed the Assateague Island National Seashore, so I thought this issue might interest a few lighthouse people.
ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE
Two years ago, the National Park Service determined that jet skis are inappropriate in most of Assateague Island National Seashore. But the agency allowed jet ski use to continue in three areas of the park. The Park Service is taking public comment on jet ski use in Assateague.
A SPECIAL PLACE
This windswept, 37-mile-long barrier island off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia is best known for its wild horses, but it's also home to a breathtaking array of more than 300 bird species. Visitors can see a dramatic landscape with dunes, marshes, and forest as well as the surrounding waters. This is a haven for millions of people living in the mid-Atlantic region who find this an easily accessible place to view wildlife.
Park Service staff have reported seeing jet skis harassing dolphins, speeding into a Pod and maneuvering to stay right over it, forcing the mammals to surface to breathe within a few feet of the racing thrill Machines.
CONTINUED JET SKI USE AT ASSATEAGUE?
The Park Service is considering issuing a new rule that would allow jet skis to continue using parts of the park for the foreseeable future.
IF YOU THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RULE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW JET SKIs IN THIS PARK, SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO THE PARK SERVICE TELLING THEM SO.
The Park Service is accepting comments through July 5th only. You can send comments from
http://www.wilderness.org/takeaction/?step=2&item=1613 or contact the
agency directly. If you have personal experience of Assateague, by all means say so in your comments.
Send your comments to:
Michael Hill, Superintendent
Assateague Island National Seashore
7206 National Seashore Lane, Berlin, MD 21811
Email: Regina_Jones-Brake@nps.gov
[This message has been edited by Suzanne Murphy (edited 06-16-2002).]
Bob 