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Popular Assateague Island National Seashore Beach Access To Be Relocated

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Published Date

December 2, 2024

https://www.nps.gov/asis/index.htm

Public access to Assateague Beach, a broad, sandy crescent stretching out into the Atlantic on the east side of Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, will be moving soon, about two-and-half miles from its current location. 

The existing parking lot area, which is right on the sand fronting the most poular stretch of beach in Assateague Island National Seashore, will be left to the encroaching sea, which is moving westward at a speed of 10-13 feet per year and has been for some time. Storms have repeatedly swamped the beach in recent years, too. 

According to Reuters, Assateagu Island may have passed beyond a "geomorphic threshold" in which rising seas continue to cause significant and possibly irreversible damage to the island. 

This is why the beach access point is being moved. 

It's not neccesarily a popular decision, as the current beach parking lot is, well, right on the beach, and the new parking area will be at least 100 yards from the sand, according to Chincoteague Couniclmember Denise Bowden, as reported by WBOC Delmarva. 

"You're not going to get that beach experience there, especially when you're taking two or three kids, you got your coolers, you got your beach chairs, you know everything people take to the beach to enjoy for the day," said Bowden. 

Nevertheless, the decision has been made to move the beach access point to an area not immediately in the path of rising seas, to preserve the economic importance of a tourist draw on Assateague Island. 

The project to move the beach has been funded and is expected to begin in March, 2025, according to the Shore Daily News.

 

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Assateague Island National Seashore Asks NPS To Eliminate Restrictions On Beach Driving

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