(Corpus Christi, Texas)- The National Park Service, in an effort to prevent additional clean-up issues caused by vehicle traffic pressing oil into beach sands, has temporarily closed park beaches to driving. The beach driving closure will remain in effect until the clean-up has reached a satisfactory level to minimize further risks to park resources. The park will remain open to visitors wanting to access Bird Island Basin boat ramp, park campgrounds and the Malaquite Visitor Center. Hiking and swimming along park beaches are strongly discouraged due to hygiene reasons. Visitors to area beaches are advised to carry baby oil and paper towels to remove oil from the skin or shoes. The vehicle beach closure is to allow clean-up in the most efficient manner possible. As long as oil is on the surface of the sand it may be readily lifted off. Continued above average tides this week will mean that vehicles would be forced to drive through the mix of algae and oil droplets found at the high water line. This would serve to “plow” the oil down into the sand and make for much more difficult clean-up. That would then potentially keep the beaches closed for an even longer duration. As soon as the beach clean-up has reached a satisfactory level, the park will send out an additional press release to update area visitors and residents. For additional information, please call the Malaquite Visitor Center at 361-949-8068.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:06:30 +0000