The National Park Service has announced the temporary closure of off-road vehicle Ramp 23, which is located approximately 0.3 of a mile south of Salvo on Hatteras Island.  The ramp is temporarily closed for shorebird breeding activity, as prescribed under the terms of the court ordered consent decree. 

The ramp is closed to both pedestrian and off-road vehicle (ORV) access and there is no through ORV access between Ramp 23 and Ramp 27.  The Ramp 23 parking lot remains open for public use and from the parking lot pedestrians can access the ocean shoreline south of the marked protection area.  Ramp 27 remains open for ORV use.

Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened or endangered species and species of concern including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, colonial waterbirds (three species of terns and black skimmers), and sea turtles.  Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and pets. 

Entering a posted resource protection area or destruction of closure signs, fencing or other government property are federal criminal violations, subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to six months.

For up-to-date information on currently open or closed areas, check the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s Google Earth maps at:  http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm