CAPE CHARLES, Va. (AP) - The Cape Charles Natural Area Preserve is being closed for repairs because unauthorized access has caused damage to areas that are off-limits to visitors, officials said Tuesday.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced the move in a news release. The closure goes into effect at 8 p.m. Wednesday and will last through at least Oct. 1.
Dot Field, Eastern Shore steward for the department’s natural heritage division, says visitors have been able to enjoy bird-watching and observe the Chesapeake Bay from a viewing platform at the preserve, but the department says some visitors have jumped off a boardwalk leading to the platform and gone through restricted areas, such as coastal maritime forest and across eroding dunes.
Visitors have also walked over a sandy shore that’s a habitat for the endangered Northeastern beach tiger beetle.
“Unfortunately, however, the urge to get outside during the pandemic has led to a steadily increasing level of visitation that is impacting the stability of the boardwalk and the sensitive natural communities it traverses,” Field said. “Temporary closure will allow repairs to be made to the compromised Chesapeake Bay overlook and will allow some recovery of the impacted natural communities.”
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