FIRST. As proposed the posts on the front side will be set at 50' intervals (east/west) and extend to the water in zone 12 out to the lowest tide line. The high end of this line will be about 150' from the current roped dune line. The 150' gap allows automotive access completely around the park shore line. I am told that they should be painted bright red or orange and have "no driving beyond this point" signs on them. They are supposed to be 6" diameter PVC set in concrete. At this time there is no plan to rope between them. The posts that extend across the point are supposed to be 4" diameter and set at 100 foot intervals. They too will be set in concrete and have signs on them. They may be plain white. As these posts will be fairly substantial all kiters who sail at the point should take special care When launching, landing or riding in those areas. At high tides the posts may be partially submerged.
SECOND. The Red Knots are back in the park. Last year the Audubon was allowed to prevent any access to the shoal areas by cars AND pedestrians This proved to be mostly a non issue for kiters as the birds used areas that were unkiteable in most cases. Last year kiters sailed in the ocean outside the break north of the Red Knot line set by Audubon. That worked very well. Audubon was satisfied and we all had a good time kiting at the park. This year the same guidelines will apply with a few exceptions. The Audubon Will be allowed to "educate and encourage" the public not to walk out onto the shoals where red knots are feeding but, they can not deny access to pedestrians. However the park management plan reads that there should be no recreational activities beyond that line so there is a gray area that could be interpreted to exclude kiteing over the shoals. If you wish to sail off the point please have in your head a picture of a line from the south point of Talbot Island to the Atlantic shoreline of Huguenot Park. On east winds at low tide keep you kite outside the closest break between those two points. On north winds your kite will be over the ocean and its ok to ride the closest break. At higher tides the birds move off the point and there is enough water to kite over the shoals. What it boils down to is common sense. If you are close enough to make them fly you are too close. This guideline applies anywhere in the park. Every time a kiter causes birds to fly the Audubon is there to take a picture of it. So while the Red Knots are at the park and the volunteers are there please take special care to protect our access.
This post can also be found on
www.metrojacksonville forums under the public safety section.
To all those who have been following this thread,
At this time there is a small flock, about 50, Red Knots feeding at the park. The city is proceeding with its plans to place posts across the point from into the surf zone on the Atlantic side to into the water on the inlet side as per the management plan. When installed the point will be completely closed to automotive traffic during low tides while these birds are in the park. When the birds migrate out of the park driving access to the point will be restored during all tide levels. Driving/parking lanes will be provided for behind the line of posts. At higher tide levels the shoals are flooded and the birds move off the point. Driving on the shoals at high tide is also impossible. During this time the driving/parking lanes will be open and accessible above the mean high tide line. This will allow fishermen or people with small boats and PWC's access to the deep water, non surf launch areas on the north point during parts of the day from the Atlantic side and as tides permit on the pond side of the park.
Signs will be mounted on the posts instructing drivers not to drive beyond that line. In other words from that time forward there will be no driving on the shoals allowed. To begin with the city will place the posts about 100 feet apart for most of that distance. This is an attempt to lessen the eyesore, danger and maintenance associated with of a string of posts. People should make every effort to stay behind that line. Drivers that want to use the excuse that that they did not see the signs or posts (they will be brightly colored) can be cited and or removed from the park. Additionally if there are a significant number of violations more posts will be installed to shorten the distance between posts to 50 feet. Please remember that these restrictions are a compromise the city has worked hard for. The Audubon wanted to and was almost successful in achieving full time year round closure of more than 50% of the park which included the all of the north point and most of the pond area to automotive and pedestrian traffic. As it stands people may still walk out on the shoals at any time of the year. Audubon member volunteers will be in place to educate people about Red Knots and encourage them to maintain a reasonable distance from them if they choose walk on the shoals. Please help the park maintain as much access as possible by abiding by these new restrictions.
Later in the year when the fledgling birds begin to emerge from the dunes certain areas may be closed as needed. Further posts on this subject will follow new information.
