Editor: This letter is in reference to reporter Kati Bexley's Record article "Matanzas Beach Reopens to Vehicles'' on Aug. 26.
As a former volunteer least tern monitor, I want to compliment St. Johns County Environmental Services Department for abiding by the mandates of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, which wanted the Fort Matanzas beach closed to vehicles, April 1 to Aug. 31, to protect the least terns' nesting season. It was tried to set aside a small portion for the least terns to build their nests in the sand. This didn't work well because the chicks were being run over by cars, because the drivers did not see the chicks in the sand.
Fort Matanzas is a national park, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has jurisdiction over this park, and they wanted the least terns protected while they were nesting. The purpose of a national park is to conserve the scenery and wildlife and leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.
Most Florida beaches do not allow beach driving. It doesn't seem to be a problem for beachgoers and people fishing. In fact, our neighbor to the south, Flagler County, has banned vehicular traffic on the beaches. It seems to be working, and people fishing are managing to get to the waterways to fish.
I have heard some people here in St. Johns County say "we have always driven on the beach.'' Since our national parks were created to protect our natural resources and wildlife, I am hoping that eventually driving will be prohibited at Fort Matanzas National Park beach to protect the least terns. Also, the ban would protect beachgoers from being run over by vehicles, as has happened to a few persons in the past in St. Johns County.
Gina Burrell
St. Augustine
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