Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - Beach Update - 6/23/2023
Duxbury Beach Access Update
June 23, 2023
The Town of Duxbury provides periodic updates on the status of avian activity currently inhabiting the Duxbury Beach and the potential impacts their presence may have on beach patrons. Since beach stickers are non-refundable, we provide this information to the public as soon as it becomes available so that individuals may plan accordingly in terms of whether or not they decide to make a purchase.
Hours of Operation
As of Friday, June 23 – Thursday, June 29th, the beach and parking lot hours will be 8:00AM – 9:00PM
NEW BEACH AND PARKING LOT HOURS STARTING FRIDAY JUNE 30TH: 8AM – 10PM
The Town and Duxbury Beach Reservation (DBR) have a strong partnership in the management of Duxbury Beach and each has their own distinct set of responsibilities. As has been the case for many years, the hours of operation for Duxbury Beach and the associated parking lots are determined by the Town of Duxbury and not the DBR. The Town determines the hours of operation based on a number of factors including but not limited to season of the year, weather, tides, avian activity and access to the oversand portion(s) of Duxbury beach and the Town’s ability to ensure safe and appropriate access.
Recent occurrences of vandalism at Duxbury Beach have been a source of great concern for both the Town and DBR and any further instances of those illegal activities will have an extremely adverse impact on the Town’s ability to continue to use Duxbury Beach. The Town is obligated to ensure that all beach patrons are following the applicable rules of conduct as noted in the Duxbury Beach Guide and the Town's Beach Use by-law. The Town is maintaining its commitment to providing enforcement of the applicable laws and will issue citations as determined by Duxbury Police.
As an additional means of helping prevent any further acts of vandalism, Police Department personnel will be present at/near closing time and making routine patrols throughout each night during the season to confirm that those areas remain vacated.
Beach Status
As of the morning of June 19, 2023, there are 43 pairs of Piping Plovers on Duxbury Beach which includes 12 active nests and 21 active broods. To date, 15 nests and 6 broods have been lost. All of the 5 historic colonies for Least Terns are now occupied and all have active nests that are being incubated and hatching is imminent.
Beach Access
All crossovers, the back road and cut outs will remain closed until further notice.
There are approximately 300 spots in the Resident Parking lot and 100 spots in the Non- resident Northern Lot for permit holders, both have access to multiple portable restrooms. There is also public parking at a fee at Duxbury Beach Park (Blakeman’s).
Once the birds have fledged, portions of the oversand vehicle corridors will be re-opened and patrons will then be allowed to visit those sections of the beach. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict or guarantee a steadfast oversand corridor re-opening date since these are wild animals and therefore are unpredictable. They may be susceptible to tidal over wash, predation, and mortality from exposure to severe weather, as well as unpredictable movements throughout their habitat on the beach. Restrictions are in place until the birds are able to fly for a specific distance, meaning these restrictions may or may not be incrementally altered. Also, many of these restricted areas may overlap to an extent in both space (area) and timing (time until chicks can fly) and may change based on movement of the chicks.
Beach Lifeguards
Weather permitting, Beach Lifeguards will be on duty 9AM – 5PM, 7 days a week. All Beach Lifeguards are trained in CPR, AED, and first aid. Please seek them out if you need medical attention.
Beach Operations has a beach wheelchair for use for those that need it. Please see a Beach Ranger at the guard shack for assistance.
Dog Areas and Sensitive Wildlife Areas
Dogs are allowed at Duxbury Beach Reservation. However, at this point in the season they are only allowed while on leash in the parking lots, along the roadways, and bayside south of the bridge outside of Sensitive Wildlife Areas, and on the ORV beach outside of Sensitive Wildlife Areas and north the Sensitive Wildlife Area signage.
Sensitive Wildlife Areas are in effect in several places on the beach. While beachgoers are invited to set up and enjoy these areas, it is with sensitivity to the chicks that are also using the beach. Within these areas, we ask that you do not drive, ride a bike, or play any large recreational games. There are several areas where full recreational activity is allowed. Currently, they are bayside north and south of the Powder Point Bridge until the Sensitive Species Areas signage and on the resident beach, and at Duxbury Beach Park between the signage.
Where to Find Updated Information
Please continue to check for the latest updates as conditions and circumstances can change with little or no advance notice based on activities of wild animals. This information will be updated if conditions change or as new information becomes available. For further information about Duxbury Beach conditions, please visit the Town of Duxbury Beach Operations website at:
https://www.town.duxbury.ma.us/beach-operations
The most up-to-date information pertaining to beach conditions including restrictions and access limitations may be found by following Duxbury’s Official Beach Operations Twitter feed at:
https://twitter.com/BeachDuxbury
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we continue to maintain as much pedestrian and ORV access as possible while managing protected species.