Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update - 5/20/2024
Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update
5/20/2024
RESIDENT LOT AND CROSSOVERS
The lot is open seven days a week. The crossovers are open weather and tides permitting. A valid permit is required year-round to access the over-sand area.
Starting Monday, May 20th, Crossover hours will be as follows:
Monday thru Thursday: 8:00am-8:00pm
Friday thru Sunday: 8:00am-10:00pm
These hours are subject to change due to tides and extreme weather. We will continue to alter hours as the season progresses. Follow us on X at: https://twitter.com/BeachDuxbury to receive the most up to date information.
Memorial Day Weekend
Starting Friday, May 24th, Beach Rangers will be checking for Resident Lot stickers. The public will no longer have access to that lot and must park at Blakeman’s public parking lot for a $25 daily cash fee (ATM on site). Beach Rangers will also continue to check for current 2024 OSV stickers for the Backroad and Crossovers.
OSV DRIVING REGULATIONS
Please be aware while driving on the OSV beach you do not cross North or South of the designated OSV boundaries posts which are marked with DO NOT ENTER signs. Vehicles that violate this will result in fines and potential revocation of OSV Beach Permit. Also, please be aware that there is no access west of the dune posts due to rebar and rope that is designated as Sensitive Wildlife Areas. These areas can be hard to see so please be attentive while operating your vehicle in those areas.
2nd GUARD SHACK NORTH OF RESIDENT LOT
We now have a second Beach Ranger Guard Shack that will be checking Resident Lot Permits. This is located in the Northern part of the Resident Parking Lot.
DBR AVIAN ACTIVITY UPDATE
Below is an update from DBR:
“Currently, there are 37 Piping Plover nests at Duxbury Beach. DBR estimates that there are at least 40 pairs currently on the beach. Many of these pairs are still setting up territories and more Piping Plovers are likely to arrive within the next few weeks. We expect to find more nests in the coming days and weeks. Last year by May 13th there were 32 nests, out of a total of 46 pairs that ended up nesting.
Least Terns:
Least Terns continued to arrive throughout the week last week. They have been seen flying up and down the beach.
Crossovers, Dog Areas, and Sensitive Wildlife Areas:
Recreational activity south of Powder Point Bridge is open. All pull-outs are currently open. All Crossovers are currently open.
Dogs are allowed at Duxbury Beach. Currently, leashed dogs are allowed in parking lots, on roadways, bayside south of Powder Point Bridge, and Oceanside/bayside south of the North Poles. Daily, DBR Field Staff consistently report numerous dogs off-leash and in the area where dogs are not allowed north of the bridge.
Last summer DBR implemented new less restrictive access areas around unfledged Piping Plover chicks called “Sensitive Wildlife Areas”. Sensitive Wildlife Areas replace Restricted Areas that were used in the past. Sensitive Wildlife Areas were successful in increasing access to areas that would have otherwise been closed and will be implemented in late May when nests begin to hatch.
Sensitive Wildlife Areas:
- Beachgoers are allowed to set up beach blankets
- Delineated by large blue signs with white lettering
- Established around unfledged Piping Plover chick areas
- certain activities are not allowed, including dogs, bikes, vehicles, kites, and other beach sports adversely impacting chicks
Restricted Areas:
- No activities were allowed with in fencing
- Delineated by large red signs
As a reminder: The Town of Duxbury manages beachgoer and vehicle access on Duxbury Beach and as such, makes the decisions surrounding crossover and parking lot closures and opening/closing times. The Town and DBR work together to investigate and assess all options to maximize beachgoer access, and the Town makes the decision on how to implement the available options based on the nesting data DBR provides to ensure Duxbury Beach is compliant with state and federal law.”
DOG PERMITS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS
Permits to walk your dog on Duxbury beach are required year-round. Permits are on sale through the Town Clerk’s office, which is located in Town Hall. For complete information go to: https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/town-clerk. Resident permits and non-resident permits have slightly different requirements so please reach out to the Clerk’s office to get all the pertinent information.
All dogs must be on a leash year-round and must display the permit issued to their owner or be subject to fines and possible loss of privileges.
Please note these very important rules concerning dog access as of April 1st:
· All dogs are prohibited from the front beach, known as the Resident Beach, to the poles delineating the start of the 4x4 beach from April 1st to September 15.
· All dogs are prohibited from the bayside beach north of the Powder Point Bridge adjacent to the Resident Parking Lot from April 1st to September 15.
· Dogs and their handlers are prohibited from disturbing any endangered species or wildlife on Duxbury Beach. Dogs are not permitted to pass through Restricted Areas on the ocean side or bayside beach or dunes.
For all Rules and Regulations concerning dogs on the beach CLICK HERE.
Portable Restrooms
Portable restrooms have been delivered to the main parking lot, at the entrance of each Crossover and will be in the Northern Lot starting Friday May 24th.
Back Road Access and Beach Rules & Regulations
Each permitted vehicle is required by state regulators to have a copy of the Beach Rules & Regulations available while on the property. We have provided a QR code for easy access to the Rules & Regulations at the Guard Station, and will have other QR signs up at each Crossover.
Deterrence Project
Duxbury Beach Reservation, Beach Operations and Save Duxbury Beach are continuing to work with multiple volunteer groups to install bird deterrence measures at Crossover 2. You may see wood pallets and stakes with colored flagging up by the dunes to help deter birds from nesting. Please do not disturb any of these items, the goal of bird deterrence is to hopefully provide additional days of beach access on the OSV.
Click here to buy your 2024 Oversand sticker.
Please be sure to monitor our Twitter feed for the most up-to-date information including any changes to vehicular capacity or operational updates: https://twitter.com/BeachDuxbury