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CAPE COD

NATIONAL SEASHORE / MASSACHUSETTS recommended

JOHN W. BRIGHT / CHIEF, OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND DESIGN / 2-18-70 LESLIE P. ARNBERGER / SUPERINTENDENT / 4-7-70 approved

HENRY G. SCHMIDT / REGIONAL DIRECTOR / 10-7-70 Master Plan

National Seashore • Massachusetts SU M M AR Y 1

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES 5

REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYSIS 9

• ACCESS AND CIRCULATION 9 • POPULATION DATA 10 • REGIONAL POPULATION TRENDS 10 • PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES 11 • SURROUNDINGS AND EXISTING USE 11 • REGIONAL ANALYSIS 12

RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION 15

FACTORS AFFECTING RESOURCES AND USE 25

• LEGAL FACTORS 2 5 • CLIMATE 27 •FIRE HISTORY 27 • LAND STATUS 2 8

VISITOR USE OF RESOURCES 31 Table Of Contents

THE PLAN 35

• INTRODUCTION 35 •USE CAPACITY 36 • ACCESS AND CIRCULATION 36 • PUBLIC CONTACT, INFORMATION AND FEES 39 • RECREATION 41 • INTERPRETATION 4 5 • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 4 6 • RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR PROTECTION 47 • OFF-SEASON USE 50 • LAND ACQUISITION 51 • COORDINATED PLANNING 52 • MAINTENANCE 53 • HISTORIC STRUCTURES 5 4 • HIGHLAND LIGHT COMPLEX 56 • NAUSET LIGHT BEACH 56 • BAY SIDE 57

PRIORITY OF NEEDS 59

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 61

Summary

The Master Plan for preservation and use com plem ent those provided elsewhere. of Cape Cod National Seashore was prepared Seashore resources provide an exceptional in 1962, and approved in 1963, after review base for such outdoor pursuits as swimming, and recommendation by the Advisory fishing, surfing, hiking, and biking; for nature Commission. This is a second edition of the and history study; and for cultivating an 1963 plan, in a new format and with such awareness of man's relationship with his revisions as five years of experience in environment. However, many of these developing and managing dictates. resources are very fragile. This edition has three parts. The Purpose Factors affecting resources and their use and Objectives set the tone and provide include the provisions of the Act which general direction. The Regional Description authorized the Seashore, the presence of and Analysis, Resource Description and substantial amounts of privately owned and Evaluation, Factors Affecting Resources and town-owned land within the Seashore Use, and Visitor Use Sections set forth the boundaries, and a temperate climate which basic data which influence planning. The Plan makes off-season use possible. Significant Section presents planning recommendations aspects of visitor use include a high derived from the Purpose, Objectives, and percentage of day use by people staying on factual background. the Cape but outside the Seashore, very heavy Several factors influence planning for use in July and August with unusually lightuse Cape Cod National Seashore. First, the the rest of the year, and a tendency by visitors Seashore is an integral part of the to go to a given Seashore facility and spend Southeastern Massachusetts region. The considerable time there before moving on. region attracts visitors, provides overnight The Plan Section recommends the accommodations and offers many recreational facilities required to support recreation and facilities. The Seashore preserves much of the interpretation. In this, it closely follows the natural resource which attracts visitors to the first edition of the Seashore Master Plan. Cape, and provides recreational and Emphasis is given to correlating Seashore interpretive facilities which augment and planning and regional planning, particularly in

1 providing better access and in determing optimum capacities for both the Seashore and Cape Cod as a whole. Studies to determine the feasibility of increasing beach capacity by constructing parking lots just off Route 6 and providing public transportation to the beaches are suggested. A program to encourage off-season use is set forth. Environmental education is stressed. Continued cooperation with State and local agencies in resource management is emphasized.

LOCATION MAP

2 ROADS BEAC H ES ■ i — 4-lane Lim ited Access (Z ) T o w n ------2 -lane Limited Access @0 S ta te -- - -■ 3 o r 4 -la n e U n lim ite d A c c e s s (S/ National Seashore ------Major Town Roads ▲ GOLF COURSES ------Minor Town Roads R MARINAS; BOAT RAMPS ■ CAMPGROUNDS and TRAILER PARKS Es c a p e c o d n a t i o n a l s e a s h o r e X AIRFIELDS

THE CAPE COD REGION

3

I I Purpose And Objectives I I I I

The purpose of Cape Cod National prevailing or with the preservation o f Seashore is to assure this and future such historic sites and structures as generations the the opportunity to enjoy the the Secretary may designate: Provided I outstanding scenic, scientific, historical and That the Secretary may provide for recreational resources found here, and to gain th e public enjoyment and a greater appreciation of this environment and understanding of the unique natural, I man's relationship to it. historic and scientific features o f Cape Cod within the seashore by To achieve this purpose, the National Park establishing such trails, observation I Service will follow the objectives based upon points, and exhibits and providing the purpose of the Seashore as defined in the such services as he may deem desirable authorizing Act of August 7, 1961, and upon for such public enjoyment and I policies enunciated by the Secretary of the understanding: Provided, further That Interior. the Secretary may develop for appropriate public uses such portions Section 7 (b) (1) of the authorizing o f the Seashore as he deems especially I legislation states that: adaptable for camping, swimming, boating, sailing, hunting, fishing, the In order that the Seashore shall be appreciation of historic sites and I permanently preserved in its present structures and natural features o f state, no development or plan for the Cape Cod and other activities of convenience o f visitors shall be similar nature. I un dertaken which would be incompatible with the preservation of the unique flora and fauna or the I physiographic conditions now I I 5 Section 7 (b) (2) directs that: which will ensure an experience enriching to body, mind and soul. Development and In developing the seashore the Secretary management will be based on a thorough shall provide public use areas in such places knowledge of the visitor and the way in which and manner as he determines will not he uses the Seashore. diminish for its owners or occupants the value or enjoyment of any Improved property Provision of Facilities Visitor facilities located within the Seashore. within the Seashore will be planned and provided to attain good balance and diffusion On November 3, 1965, the Secretary of use throughout; creating patterns of use reaffirmed his awareness of the obligation to which will harmonize with uses in adjoining follow this legislative directive, stating that: communities, and preserving the Cape Cod atmosphere. Our job at Cape Cod Is clearly to protect the area and provide public Off-Season Use Use of visitor facilities access without damaging its throughout the year will be sought by beauty*** The Master Plan worked encouraging off-season visits by schools and out with the Cape Cod Advisory like groups, by encouraging activities suited to Commission is our blueprint. the different season, and by providing winterized facilities needed to support such No change In our plans, and no use. change in our policy will be made. The Cape Cod Act is assurance o f Research Inventory of Seashore resources this. will be completed and a plan for research which can be carried out in large part by cooperating Priority of Management The National Park academic and scientific institutions will be Service will continue to manage and develop prepared and implemented. the Seashore within the letter and spirit of the a u th o riz in g legislation; undertaking no Visitor and Resident Protection Protection development for the convenience of visitors will be provided to visitors and property which would be incompatible with the owners within the Seashore in cooperation preservation of the unique flora, fauna or with local authorities to enable them to physiographic conditions, or with the properly and safely enjoy the natural features preservation of historic sites and structures, and recreational facilities with a minimum of but developing and managing for public intrusion on private property owners' rights recreational uses specified in the Act those and a minimum damage to natural resources. portions of the Seashore especially adaptable for such use and so located and planned as Concessions All commercial visitor services not to diminish for its owner the value and will be supplied outside the boundaries, enjoyment of any improved property within except for existing facilities operating under the Seashore. suspension of condemnation certificates and those concessions required to provide minimal Service to Visitor The National Park Service essential services. will cooperate with permittees, concessioners, private enterprises and local governments to Comprehensive Planning for Use The assure that all services supplied the visitor National Park Service will encourage regional within the Seashore adhere to standards planning efforts and will cooperate with State and local agencies to the maximum extent recoved by archeological projects on Federal consonant with its responsibilities to the lands and to those archeological, historical American public in seeking solutions to and natural history specimens required for regional problems. effective interpretation and for a representative study collection. Primary Pattern of Use A pattern of use and development will be sought which will enable Visitor Information The National Park visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and charm Service will, in cooperation with State, local, of the Cape, obtain an understanding of its and private groups, develop an informational natural and man-made features, and program to acquaint all visitors with the participate in those recreational activities for facilities and services provided for their use which the Seashore is especially suitable and and to encourage a use pattern which avoids which are specified in the Act of August 7, overcrowding of some facilities and underuse 1961. of others.

Resource Management Programs The Interpretive Theme The story of Cape Cod Seashore will be conserved and protected is the history of natural forces and man's through effective management programs effect on this landscape. based upon a thorough knowledge of Seashore resources. Environmental Education The National Seashore will continue to develop and Architectural Theme All park structures will implement those phases of the Service's be so designed as to conform to the evolving Environmental Education program Seashore's architectural theme as exemplified applicable to this area and resources. by the facilities already constructed by the National Park Service. Cultural Facilities The National Park Service will cooperate in encouraging cultural Scope of Collections The Seashore, museum activities within the limits of existing facilities collections will be limited to those artifacts and staff.

7

Regional Characteristics And Analysis

Access and Circulation

Cape Cod is accessible by private car, intrastate bus, and by air. Bus service from Providence and Boston to Provincetown by way of Hyannis operates all year. Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis handles four flights per day from New York and two from Boston. During spring, summer and fall, airports at Chatham and Provincetown are served by a number of daily flights from Boston. Air, and ferry service to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are available. Still, most visitors arrive on the Cape by private car. The sketch shows the network of Interstate, United States and State routes which feed visitors from the northeastern seaboard megalopolis to the Cape Cod Canal and the two bridges linking the Cape with the mainland. United States Route 6, the Mid-Cape Highway, is the primary route from the canal to the rest of the Cape. This highway is four lane limited access from the canal to Yarmouth, two-lane limited access from Yarmouth to Orleans, unlimited access three and four-lane undivided from Orleans to North Truro, and limited access four-lane divided from North Truro to Provincetown. Massachusetts Route 28 and 6A, both

9 two-lane, winding low-capacity roads, parallel Information gathered from several sources Route 6 from the canal to Orleans, and serve during the 1967 season revealed that 30 as secondary access roads. percent of all visitors came from Access to the Seashore from Route 6 and Massachusetts and an additional 45 percent 28 is by spur roads, most of which are owned from the neighboring States of Connecticut, and maintained by the towns. The Seashore New York and New Jersey. These figures has no internal circulation system. The covered mainly people spending one or more network of town roads within the Seashore nights in or adjacent to the Seashore; those provides some internal circulation within driving to the Cape for the day would include sections of the Seashore, but to move from a much higher percentage of Massachusetts one section to another the visitor must return residents. Campers at the three private to Route 6. campgrounds within the Seashore included relatively high proportion of visitors from Canada (40 percent during the last two weeks POPULATION DATA of July). Orleans, adjacent to Seashore boundaries, Cape Cod is adjacent to a region provides most necessary community services containing the largest concentration of people except for a hospital. Hyannis, 30 miles from in the United States. This urban environment the Seashore, is the commercial and is a complex of cities, towns and suburbs transportation hub on Cape Cod with full stretching from Portland, Maine to Norfolk, range of community services. Boston and New Virginia. Nearly one-third of the Nation's Bedford, located 100 and 75 miles people live within a day's drive of the respectively from Seashore headquarters, are Seashore. the nearest metropolitan areas.

REGIONAL POPULATION TRENDS

Distance From Town Headquarters 1950 Pop. 1966 Pop. % Change

Provincetown 18 3,795 3,463 -8.4 Orleans 8 1,759 3,181 +80.8 Hyannis 30 4,235 5,139* * +21.1 New Bedford — Metropolitan Area 75 141,984 143,176* * +0.8 Boston Metropolitan Area 100 2,410,572 3,177,000* +31.8 Providence Metropolitan Area 100 760,202 735,000* -3.3

* 1964 Figure * * 1960 Figure

10 PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES Tennis courts and bowling alleys are available in several larger towns.

The Cape Cod region, a long established In addition to recreational facilities, the and enormously popular vacation area, offers Cape boasts a host of things to see. Ranging a tremendous number and variety of from animal farms through aquariums to art recreational facilities and features of interest. galleries, summer theaters and history Recreational facilities available on Cape Cod museums, there are over 50 such attractions and in the adjacent portion of Plymouth on the Cape. County include:

Camping Miles Standish State Forest (12,000 acres), Roland C. Nickerson State SURROUNDINGS AND Park (1,727 acres), Shawme-Crowell State EXISTING USE Forest (5,917 acres) and 21 private campgrounds contain 3,064 campsites—1,400 of which will handle Surrounding lands are similar to those trailers. within the Seashore in terrain, climate, vegetation and so forth. The only significant Swimming Including the six National difference is that the end moraine of the Seashore beaches now in operation, Cape upper Cape is more resistant to erosion and Cod has 112 publicly owned saltwater better adapted to intensive use than is the beaches with 22 miles of water frontage glacial outwash and ocean borne sand of the and 300 acres of usable beach. Parking for lower Cape and the Seashore. about 14,500 cars is available, giving a Most lands within Barnstable County, total daily capacity of about 150,000 which is virtually coterminous with Cape Cod, people. are privately owned. Exceptions include the Cape Cod Canal and some 1,132 acres of Golf Three public, two semipublic and assoicated lands and structures administered two member or guest 18-hole courses, by the Corps of Engineers, Camp Edwards, nine public or semipublic nine-hole Otis Air Force Base, Monomoy National courses, and four public par-three courses Wildlife Refuge, several Coast Guard are available. installations, Nickerson State Park, Shawme-Crowell State Forest, many Boating Marinas, boat yards or yacht town-owned recreation or conservation lands, clubs are found in most of the major and lands held for conservation by such waterfront towns. Boat liveries are found organizations as the Audubon Society. Private on seven of the 77 inland ponds of 20 lands are for the most part used for acres or more, including Great Pond and year-round or seasonal residences, or for Gull Pond within Seashore boundaries. restaurants, motels and other facilities to serve tourists. Agriculture has almost Fishing Charter and fishing party boats disappeared from the Cape, though cranberry are readily available. growing has recently staged a come-back on the Upper Cape. Commercial fishing and Other Stables are found in several shell-fishing have declined while salt water towns, and miles of lightly traveled sports fishing has grown tremendously. unpaved roads are available to ride on. Experiments to improve production of shell

11 fish are being carried out and may eventually Such a sanctuary would protect the ocean revive this activity. There is almost no waters around Cape Cod from all adverse industry. Much land is vacant. activities such as drilling within a three-mile In general, the land use pattern in the offshore limit. adjoining towns consists of one or more village centers, mostly a mixture of commercial and residential use, with scattered REGIONAL ANALYSIS residences throughout the remainder of the town. Generally, residences are most Cape Code National Seashore is distinctive numerous along shorelines, more scattered in for many reasons. Not the least of these is the the uplands. Strip commercial development is degree to which the Seashore affects and is prevalent along Route 28 between Hyannis affected by the region around it, and the and Chatham, and is beginning to develop complexity of this relationship. The Seashore along those portions of Route 6 where access has been superimposed on communities which is not limited. have been in existence for 300 years, and the Several land use trends are noticeable. authorizing legislation contains many First, as more summer visitors are attracted to pioneering provisions which provide for the Cape, more rental cottages, motels, relationships among Town, Commonwealth restaurants, gas stations and other facilities and Federal Governments. are built to serve them. Second, more and It is to Cape Cod, with its charming old more retirement homes are being built. Third, towns, its beaches, its marshes, wooded hills the upper Cape is attracting year-round and open heaths, its distinctive architecture residents who frequently commute to various and atmosphere, that visitors come. This metropolitan areas in the northeast. As a region is affected by the Seashore in three consequence, the permanent population of important ways. First, the Seashore preserves the Cape is increasing and higher percentage for public use an important and representative of new residential construction is intended for part of the scenic and recreational resources year-round use. It should be noted that the which are so important to the Cape. Second, rate of population growth and the percentage it provides for a range of activities, such as of new residential construction intended for biking, hiking and nature study, which are not year-round use both tend to be higher for the provided for to nearly the same degree upper Cape than for the towns adjoining the elsewhere in the region. Finally, the Seashore Seashore. provides recreational facilities, such as These trends have resulted in a marked beaches, which complement and supplement increase in the percentage of population aged like facilities provided elsewhere. 50 or over, and a decline in the percentage of The Seashore is also affected by the those between 20 and 49. region in several ways. First, most visitors are Two final factors in regional land use attracted primarily by the Cape as a whole, should be noted, both of which will have an and only in part by the Seashore. Most of affect on the Seashore. The first is the very those who visit the Seashore and use its strong wetlands preservation legislation facilities are day-users who are either recently enacted by the Commonwealth of permanent or seasonal residents of the Cape Massachusetts. This legislation virtually or are staying in campgrounds, motels or prohibits the filling in, draining, or other rental cottages. Second, recreation facilities destructive use of fresh water marsh lands. provided elsewhere on the Cape complement The second is the proposed Ocean Sanctuary Seashore facilities and play an important role proposed by the Commonwealth and in determining the demand for such facilities currently being considered by the legislature. within the Seashore.

12 Beyond these factors, the Cape as a whole relationship between and among the six and the Seashore face challenges common to adjoining towns and the Seashore. The town both; challenges which can be fully met only of Truro is a Seashore concessioner. Three of through close cooperation. Both the Cape and the towns now operate beaches within the the Seashore have optimum capacities for Seashore boundary and a fourth is considering development and use which can be exceeded doing so. Important town facilities, such as only with severe damage to the resources town dumps and the Provincetown Airport which attract visitors and permanent are within the Seashore, and the Seashore is residents. Present access to both is an important part of the watershed of four of inadequate, yet both have an interest in the towns. providing better access by means which do Owners of improved properties in the not pour more people into the region than it Seashore pay town real estate taxes, and look can accommodate. The upper Cape, with its to both the town and the Seashore for more stable soils, could accommodate uses for protection. Seashore visitors use town roads which there is a demand but for which the to reach Seashore facilities, and for pleasure less stable soils of the lower Cape and the driving. Town police and fire protection Seashore are not well suited. In short, the agencies work closely with the Seashore, Seashore and the rest of the Cape are so providing additional protection at less cost. In interrelated that neither can fully meet the all of these relationships, continued close challenges of the future without close cooperation on the part of both town and cooperation with each other and with other Seashore, recognizing the latter's State and local agencies. responsibility to the American public, is Close as is the relationship between Cape essential. Cod and the Seashore, even closer is the

13 14 Resource Description And Evaluation

The basic form of Cape Cod is the result or sand beaches of the Bayside, salt meadows of glaciation modified by post-glacial erosion. and hanging valleys, which are old glacial In the final stages of Wisconsin glaciation meltwater channels (pamet valleys) whose (from 10 to 15 thousand years ago), the heads have been eroded away, leaving notches backbone of the upper Cape, the Sandwich or hollows in the sand cliffs. Nowhere else in moraine, was deposited along the terminal the country is the story of glacial deposition edge of the ice sheet. A lateral moraine was and the action of sea and wind on a fragile deposited at right angles to the Sandwich land mass so vividly illustrated. moraine, east of the present shore of the As the glacier melted, plants moved in. lower Cape. Water from the melting glacier Eventually, the moraine and outwash plains carried sand, gravel and small rocks westward were covered with mature forests of from this second moraine and deposited it as hardwood or pine. Then, some 4,000 years an outwash plain. As the plain built up, it ago, man arrived, and began changing the covered blocks of ice left by the melting picture. Indians of the Archaic, Woodland and glacier. When these ice blocks melted, the Contact periods altered the ecology of the covering slumped in to form kettle holes. Cape by burning its forests. Those kettles reaching below the water table Still, the major changes came with form the numerous ponds present today. A t European settlement. By 1850, hardly a first this point the rising sea took over, cutting growth tree was left on the Cape. This away the glacial material and moving it cutting, together with slash and brush fires, laterally along the shores of the Cape. This grazing and farming, very substantially altered process, aided by the wind, has resulted in the ecology of the Cape. Today's landscape is such features as the 39-mile sweep of ocean the result of these factors plus the natural beach, the 15-mile scarp or sand cliff facing effects of the sea and wind. the Atlantic from Coast Guard Beach to This landscape can be divided into types Highland Light, the 8 square miles of dunes in or patterns, shown on the sketch and Provincetown, Nauset Beach and Monomoy described in the following pages. Island, the "islands" and connecting tombolos

15 The Great Beach A sand beach extends for this region, are connected to the mainland by 39 miles along the outer side of the Cape, a narrow sand barrier called "the G ut," and broken only by the narrow inlet of Nauset convey a sense of isolation from the Harbor. In Provincetown and Truro, the mainland. Above the northern half of the beach is wide, gently sloping, and backed by bayside beach roll extensive heathlands, high dunes. From Highland Light south to dimpled with deep-set kettle holes. Here, too, Coast Guard Beach, the beach is isolated are the Herring River and estuary, and the below high sand cliffs, and has few natural fresh water marshes of Duck Harbor and access points. South of Coast Guard Beach Bound Brooks. the Great Beach takes the form of a sand spit averaging less than a quarter-mile wide, and is backed by low dunes, salt marshes, and the open water of Pleasant Bay. Because the shoreline forms a convex curve, less than a mile of the beach can be seen in either direction from any point along it.

The Bay Side The shores of Cape Cod Bay impart a more serene mood than those of Great Beach. The Seashore includes 6-1/2 miles of Bay Beach from Jeremy Point northward. Here is an extremely wide foreshore, sloping gently into the calmer, warmer water of the Bay. Often this beach is stony, particularly at or below the tide zone, and at low tide the adjacent waters are shallow for hundreds of feet offshore.

Jeremy Point, Great Beach Hill and Great Island, the southern penisular extension of

16 OUTER BEACH

BAYSIDE

DUNES

PONDS & PAMETS

SOUTH WELLFLEET PLAIN

NAUSET MARSH

Dunes In Provincetown and Truro are eight Ponds and Pamets Within the towns of square miles of some of the most spectacular Truro and Wellfleet, lies an area of ancient dunes along the Atlantic coast. There are both river valleys and quiet, deep set freshwater stable and moving dunes up to 90 feet high, ponds, providing a striking contrast to the sunken forests (skeletons of trees first restless Atlantic nearby. Within this region are engulfed by sand and then exposed again), 20 named ponds, ranging in size up to 109 ponds and marshes, and areas of tangled acres and in depth to 55 feet below sea level shrubs and waving beach grass. with surface elevations from 6 to 9 feet above sea level. Attractive, too, are the valleys of the Pamet and Little Pamet Rivers, which lie north of the ponds amidst the most vigorously rolling topography of the area.

South Wellfleet Plains In South Wellfleet and North Eastham, a relatively level plain extends from Route 6 to the sea cliff. This plain has pitch-pine as its predominant cover.

Nauset Marsh South of the pitch-pine covered plain lies an area of rolling hills around Salt Pond Bay and Nauset Marsh. Within this area the outwash plain joins the eastern tip of the Sandwich Moraine. Here, the typical vegetation is that of old fields, with juniper, the most noticable tree. The central feature of this portion is Nauset Marsh, with its abundant wildlife and distinctive ecology.

17 1. BEECH FOREST — rare, most highly advanced climax 32. WELLFLEET HARBOR — classic example of tombolos vegetation in the seashore. connecting the former islands of Bound Brook, Griffin 2. Sand dunes — largely unvegetated. Great Island and Great Beach Hill to the Mainland, ends in 3. SUNKEN FORESTS — pitch pine, cranberry bogs Jeremy Point. covered by advancing dunes. 33. GREAT ISLAND NATURAL AREA - virtually undisturbed 4. Extensive marsh — dense stand of cattails. natural area, pine forest, heaths, salt marshes, fine 5. Cranberry bogs. elongated sand spit, oyster beds. 6. PAMET RIVER — valley formed from outwash channel 34. HERRING RIVER — only estuary in the seashore. connecting series of kettles; type area for origin of glacial 35. SALT POND — only kettle in the area connected to term "PAMET";fresh water marshes. the sea. 7. H ILL 177 — highest point in the seashore. 36. Red maple swamp. 8. HERRING RIVER — outstanding example of fresh water marsh. 9. Beech Woods (rare) with maple and pine. 10. GREAT POND — unusual kettle pond in which currents have formed sand bars to cut off four coves. 11. Glacial kettles — covered by plum-pine. 12. White cedar swamp. 13. FRESH BROOK — Concentration of riparian vegetation. 14. EASTHAM BOG AREA — Blueberry — azalea swamps and leatherleaf-pine stands. 15. Glacial till exposed. 16. EASTHAM KAME AREA — Old fields invaded by red cedar. 17. DOANE ROCK — geological site — glacial boulder of great size. 18. Buttonbush bog. 19. Beach grass and beach pea dunes. 20. NAUSET BEACH AND MARSH — example of barrier beach and resulting formation of salt water marsh, dunes, nesting site of roseate and arctic terns. 21. Tidal flats with heavy concentration of shorebirds. 22. POCHET ISLAND — relatively undisturbed island environment and biological area. 23. Tidal flats with heavy concentrations of shore birds. 24. HATCHES HARBOR — Salt to fresh water ecology resulting from old dike. Site of dead pine planation resulting from area being reinundated by salt water after being dry for years. 25. PROVINCELAND PONDS - Wildlife habitats, swamps and profusion of wading plants. 26. LONG POINT — Recurved sand spit, classic example of ocean currents at work and deposition of new lands. Excellent salt spray rose area. Nesting gull colonies. 27. Highbush blueberry swamp, azalea swamp being obliterated by advancing dunes. Only occurrence of bunch-berry (northern relic.) 28. Geological area. End of outwash. 29. Bearberry heaths, rolling kettles topography, best scrub barrens in the seashore. 30. Glacial topography (kettles), relatively clear of dense vegetative cover. 31. PARADISE HOLLOW — almost pure red maple, exten­ sive ground cover of ferns.

18 SAND AND DUNES NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PROVINCELANDS NORTH TRURO PLAI CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

miles kilometers WELL FLEET PLAIN 2 9

EASTHAM PLAIN

KÄME

BELT OF EASTHAM

ENTIRE OUTER BEACH OF CAPE COD — one of the finest and least disturbed seashores remaining on the Atlantic coast. Shore and off-shore birds of great variety and sometimes in great numbers may be found here. SANDS OF Seaweed flats and tidal refuse; exposed glacial deposits; NAUSET BEACH evidence of ocean currents in changing the coastline. SANDW ICH MORRAINE - > 9 A SANDWICH OUTWASH 4MÉ& \

2 3 CHATHAM OUTWASH

609 20,013 B

JUIM 74 DSC Each of these landscape types has its 400,000 white-winged scoter, 40,000 own distinctive atmosphere, and its own American scoter, like number of old squaws, particular blending of plant and animal life. and more than 4,000 Canada geese. Black First New England water All share a common history, and all have the duck and geese nest on the Cape. Brant occur, species of plants and animals common to the but are not common, though eel grass, which Cape, though distribution of these species furnishes a suitable habitat, is recovering. varies among them. Many other species are present to delight the Both the number of distinctly different birdwatcher, particularly since the Cape is an plant associations found within the Seashore important resting area on spring and fall and the controlling effect of environmental migration routes. Nesting colonies of least, factors upon them are notable. There are 20 common, and perhaps Arctic terns occur, but typical plant associations or types of which may be decreasing under predation from gulls. six are tree, six are shrub and eight are Herring, ring-billed and great black-backed herbaceous. Vegetative types are primarily a gulls are common; the latter species is result of differences in soil, moisture, slope increasing markedly due to the increased food and drainage, wind, exposure to light spray, supply in neighboring town dumps. Breeding and man-caused alterations. Areas having populations of marsh, red-tailed and sparrow unusual value for interpretation or hawks exist, and song birds of many kinds, preservation, or both, are shown on the woodpeckers, and other smaller species occur Natural History Base Map. as migrants, nesting birds or winter visitors. As for animal life, fishes and birds are Some 36 species of mammals are to be abundant, animals less so. Saltwater fish, found, though few species are present in any including striped bass, bluefish, flounder, numbers. Cottontail rabbits (common) and haddock, tuna and, of course, cod, are white-tail deer (less common) are the abundant; and support both extensive sport principal game species. Skunks, red foxes, fishing and commercial fishing. Rainbow, muskrats, a few otter and perhaps a very few brook and brown trout, pickerel, yellow mink are present. Offshore, grey seals appear perch, bluegi I Is, black bass, carp and eels are occasionally, and harbor seals very rarely. found in the freshwater ponds; alewives Porpoise, black — fish, right whale and spawn in them. finback appear occasionally. Shellfish, while adversely affected by Not the least of Seashore resources is the pollution, environmental changes and history of the Cape and the abundant overharvesting, are still important both evidences of that history. The early commercially and recreationally. Species discoverers and explorers for whom the Cape taken include quahog (cherrystone, little neck was a landmark — Verrazano and Gosnold, and chowder sizes), steamer or soft shell Champlain and John Smith — left no lasting clams, sea or hen clams and some mussels. impression on the land. Pilgrims, who wrote Oysters are harvested in Wellfleet, and bay their Mayflower Compact in Provincetown scallops are important commercially. Harbor and gained their initial experience While pheasants are stocked on the Cape with the strange new world during their and occur in favorable habitat, bobwhites are exploration of the Cape, left no physical I common, and, ruffed grouse occur, waterfowl remains but did leave an association with such FIRST DISCOVERY - NOV. 15-17, 1620 are by far the most important game birds. The identifiable features as Pilgrim Springs, Corn coast of Cape Cod, especially off Monomoy, Hill, and First Encounter Beach. The settlers SECOND DISCOVERY - NOV. 27-29, 1620 I is a wintering area for vast flocks of who followed, however, evolved an THIRD DISCOVERY - DEC. 6-12, 1620 waterfowl. Half a million American eider have environmentally conditioned way of life been counted here recently, as well as everywhere in evidence. The solid, NOTE: Truro-Wellfleet shoreline I retreated an estimated three to four hundred yards in past three hundred years. I 19 I HISTORY'.THE PILGRIMS groundhugging Cape Cod houses, the old Thus, while Cape Cod National Seashore CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE fields, the abandoned but still visible Kings is relatively small, variables in its geologic Highway, the fishing shacks, the light houses makeup, its varied plant communities, and the and Coast Guard stations, the ship wrecks constant changes engineered by the tides, miles occasionally exposed by shifting sands, the wind, water and man have endowed it with an kilometers old cemeteries with their memorials to the extraordinary variety of scenic, historical and many men lost at sea, the abandoned recreational features. These features in cranberry bogs, all bespeak and interplay combination make the Cape strikingly between man and his environment so marked different from any other seacoast region, and on Cape Cod. Even such latter day events as impart a distinctive "Cape Cod" atmosphere. Marconi's early wireless messages and the It was to preserve these resources and insure development of tourism are represented by their availability for public enjoyment in substantial physical remains. perpetuity that the National Seashore was created.

Blackfish

Camp,

y Indian with black thing' V (Blackfish, \q ra m p u s )

First encounter, camp Barricade erected, 2nd night

Shallop anchored

22

MAY 74 I DSC GRAVEYARD OF SHIPS HISTORY CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE 0 1 2 3 miles kilometers

LEGEND

THOREAU BEACH HIKE — 1849

KING'S HIGHWAY

■ 609 | 20,011 B JUNE 74 I DSC 1. Portland Wreck — 1898 51. "Battle of Rock Harbor" (militia prevented British 2. Site, Somerset Wreck (British warship) — 1778 landing — Dec. 1814) 3. Remains, Peaked Hill Coast Guard Station 52. Capt. Linnell house — 1833 4. Site, Massachusetts Humane Society Hut — 1800 53. Office of French Cable Co. — 1899 5. Site, Grist Mill Direct line between Orleans and France 6. Highland Lighthouse - 1857 54. Site — Higgins Tavern Thoreau stop — 3rd night °(Oct. 12) Thoreau stop — 1st night (Oct. 10) Great Beach hike (1849) Great Beach hike (1849) 7. Site, Rev Wm. Avery (1st minister — 1 712-1756) 55. Capt. Kendrick house (pioneer mariner — Pacific 8. Shebnah Rich house northwest 1790) 9. Oysterman house 56. Site — salt works Thoreau stop — 2nd night (Oct. 11) 57. Burial site — Squanto (friend of the Pilgrims) Great Beach hike (1849) 58. Site — Grist Mill — 1797 10. Wreck of Whioah (pirate ship) — 1717 59. Putative site. Champlain's camp and Indian attack — 11. Marconi Station — site of first station built for Oct. 1606 transatlantic wireless communication — 1902 60. Remains — Chatham Coast Guard Station First wireless message from U.S.A. to England — 1903 61. Remains — Stage Harbor Lighthouse (Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward V II) 62. Site — Cable and hut for French Atlantic Cable — 12. Fresh Brook Village Site 1879 (Extension from St. Pierre) 13. Nause Beach Lighthouse (site of "Three Light") 14. Site — Deacon Doane house — 1644 15. Site, Massachusetts Humane Society Hut — 1800 16. Henry Beston's "Outermost House" — 1927 17. Site — Salt Works 18. Site — Governor Prence house ("White House" of Plymouth Colony 1657 — 1665) 19. Capt. Penniman house (whaling captain) 20. Putative Site — Champlain’s landing and Indian encounter — 1605 21. Original site of windmill 22. Site, Massachusetts Humane Society Hut - 1800 23. German submarine fired on beach — 1917 24. Site, Massachusetts Humane Society Hut — 1800 25. Hog Island (possible site of Captain Kidd's treasure) 26. Putative site — Anchorage of Bartholomew Gosnold — 1602 27. Site — Sparrowhawk wreck — 1626 28. Old Harbor Coast Guard Station site 29. Joseph C. Lincoln house 30. Chatham Lighthouse — 1856 31. Site — E. Dyer's Salt Work 32. Submarine S-4 disaster — Dec. 1927 33. Civil War forts 34. "Hill of Storms", graveyard Site of first meeting house — 1 708-09 35. Pamet Harbor — center of fishing activity — 1830-60 36. Hill of churches 37. Site — first Methodist Church (2nd oldest Methodist Church in New England) 38. Old fishing wharf 39. Unidentified wreck 40. Site — old oyster shell burning building 41. Site — trading post 42. Site — Humane Society Hut 43. Site — old Billingsgate Lighthouse 44. I.D. Baker house (merchant mariner; founder of United Fruit Co.) 45. Remains — Oystermen's Shack 46. Site — old Methodist Church campgrounds — 1828-63 47. Capt. Freeman Hatch house 48. Prince Hurd house (British prisoner of war — 1812) 49. Old m ill- 1 7 9 3 50. Site — Jeremiah's gutter (first Cape Cod canal)

23 I I 24 I Factors Affecting Resources And Use

LEGAL FACTORS Owners of non-commercial residential property may retain use of such Legal Factors The Act of August 7, 1961, property for terms of 25 years or life authorizing the establishment of Cape Cod should the property be subject to National Seashore (75Stat. 284) is distinctive condemnation. in several respects. It provides for expenditure of public funds for initial acquisition of land. The Secretary may adopt regulations It provides for the establishment of an concerning hunting and fishing, subject Advisory Commission and sets forth certain t o consultation with the functions to be served by it. An extremely Commonwealth and towns and the signigicant section (the “ improved property" stipulation that all aspects of the clause) provides a procedure for preparation propagation and taking of shellfish shall of zoning standards by the Secretary of the be left to the towns. Interior and the adoption of zoning regulations by the towns, compliance with Section 7 of the Act is quoted in the which serves to suspend the government's Objectives, its requirement that the Seashore power to condemn dwellings built prior to shall be permanently preserved in its present September 1, 1959. state is reinforced in two other places: Other especially significant features in the Act of August 7, 1961 are listed as follows: Section 5 (b) which in part provides that the standards specified in such regulations and Property owned by the Commonwealth amended regulations for approval o f any or towns may be acquired only with zoning bylaw or zoning bylaw amendment the consent of the owner. shall contribute to the effect of * * * promoting the preservation and development, Authority for the Secretary to in accordance with the purposes o f this Act, exchange Federally owned lands for * * * other lands within the boundary is given.

25 Section 8 (g): No permit for the commercial Government is limited to enforcement of or industrial use of property located within rules and regulations established by the the seashore shall be issued by the Secretary, Secretary on lands administered by the nor shall any public use area for recreational National Park Service and owned by the activity be established by the Secretary within Federal Government. The police power is the seashore, without the advice o f the exercised by the Commonwealth of Commission * * * Massachusetts and its political subdivisions. Massachusetts has donated 5,402 The Act authorized the appropriation of acres: the former Provincelands Reservation such sums as may be necessary to carry out its and Pilgrim Springs State Parks. It has provisions, except that no more than donated off-shore lands and jurisdiction over $16,000,000 shall be appropriated for the great ponds only in the town of Provincetown acquisition of lands and waters. This ceiling and Truro. has been reached; legislation to increase it has Certain properties were acquired subject been introduced. to deed restriction. These restrictions are on Cape Cod National Seashore was formally file in individual tract folders but have not yet established by publication of notice of its been summarized in list form. Water rights establishment in the Federal Register on June acquired by the Government will require 1, 1966. inventorying, documenting, and perfection in Jurisdiction is proprietary and the Federal the name of the United States.

26 ì

CLIMATE primarily man-caused, occur annually at Cape Cod National Seashore. Efficient fire control LAND STATUS Federal Cape Cod's maritime climate is less by town departments under cooperative National Park Service 21,391.30 acres severe during the extreme seasons of winter agreement with the National Park Service has Department of Defense 129 acres and summer than that of nearby inland kept the area burned to an average of 15 acres U.S. Coast Guard 40 acres regions. Seasons tend to be slower in arriving a year since 1964. The normal fire season is and linger longer. April through November. High winds, dry Total Federal 21,560.30 acres Prevailing winds are southwesterly in soil, scrub forests, brush thickets and summer and northwesterly in winter. deciduous vegetation create extremely Severe storms occur and are of two types: dangerous fire conditions from mid-April State through mid-June and during October and Submerged lands 11,970 acres Northeasters, with very strong winds and November. heavy rain and snow, can produce adnormally One or two woodland fires of more than high winds-driven tides which erode the 500 acres occur each year on Cape Cod. These Town 2,100 acres beaches. fires threaten not only the vegetation but also property and lives in this thickly settled area. Storms of tropical origin, with winds of Roads 140 acres hurricane force, may be expected in summer and fall. One occurs about every two years. Private 8,827.70 acres Two such storms in the same year may be expected once in 8 to 10 years. Like northeasters, they may be accompanied by Total Acreage 44,600 acres heavy rains and high tides. Cape Cod lies in the transition fog zone, ^Includes 4,980 acres of submerged lands. where heavy fog is frequent and sometimes persistent south of Cape Cod and less frequent and of shorter duration along the coast north of Cape Cod. Summer fogs over the Seashore normally burn off by 11:00 a.m. The sand spits are vulnerable to overflow and erosion and their occupancy by humans, structures, or equipment at such times can be disastrous. Blowing sand during storms can be devastating to man and equipment. Frosting of glass by blowing sand is a problem where sand movement is frequent. Cool wet summers occur once every four or five years. Such a season in 1967 resulted in a 40 percent decrease in beach use as compared with the previous season when near ideal conditions prevailed. Construction season is year-round.

FIRE HISTORY

An average of 20 woodland fires,

27 28 LAND OWNERSHIP & BOUNDARY MAP | | CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

6000 FEET METERS

r f v - V '- * • Uiy&

609 20,012 B JUNE 74 DSC Visitor Use Of Resources

With such exceptions as the three private campgrounds, two motels and some room or cottage rentals, no overnight accommodations are provided within the Seashore. In effect, all use is day use, much of it by permanent or temporary residents. As a result, the use pattern is complex. Many visitors are repeat visitors who know what facility or facilities they wish to use, go to them, use them, and depart. All visitors arrive at the Seashore over State or town roads. Those arriving for the first time get an introduction to the geology, history and natural history of the Seashore, and information about what to see and do at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. Others stop for information at Park headquarters. Once oriented, the visitor proceeds in one of two ways. If he is a day user from up-Cape or off-Cape, he proceeds to the facility he has chosen and spends most of his time there. Since Coast Guard Beach is the first beach such users encounter, it fills to capacity on most warm, sunny days, and turns away potential users on every good summer weekend. If the visitor is staying near the park, he may well use the full range of facilities and services open to him. Depending upon the

31 length of his stay, his family circumstances Still other possibilities are open. If he and interests, age, the weather and so forth, owns a four-wheel drive vehicle, the visitor he may rent a bicycle and use the park bicycle may use over-the-sand routes to explore the trails, or explore a nature trail or take a dunes or get to a favorite surf-casting spot. If guided nature walk. He may visit the the visitor is young, he may surf. He may Provincelands Visitor Center to gain a deeper stroll the outer beach collecting shells, or acquaintance with the history and climate of hunt, or dig for clams. Usually he will engage the Cape, or attend an evening program. He in several of these activities, in the meantime may explore the Cape and enjoy its scenery using the other services and facilities available by car over the network of town and State on the Cape. roads. Almost certainly, he will use a town or All of these uses are compatible, though Federal beach, though he will probably not some, such as hunting and use of over-sand drive more than five miles from his lodgings vehicles, are not compatible in all areas, and to do so. Partially because of this fact, others, such as surfing, cannot be missed with Herring Cove and Race Point beaches, other types of use. Public use figures for drawing from the concentrated summer many of these activities are not available. population of Provincetown, fill up on However, in 1969, 1,490,167 people used pleasant weekends, while Head of the Federal beaches, 22,873 went on conducted Meadow Beach, less than a dozen miles away, trips, 31,849 attended evening interpretive has not yet reached three-quarters of its talks at the visitor centers, and 612,692 used capacity. Salt Pond and Provincelands Visitor Centers.

CAPE COD VISITS 1964-1977

LEGEND ■ ACTUAL ■ PROJECTED

A "V is it" Is Defined As One Person Participating In One Activity.

If A Visitor Participates In Two Activities, Such As Swimming And Attending An Interpretive Talk, He Is Counted As Two Visits.

32

I The Plan I I I I

I INTRODUCTION

Two factors are fundamental to this t , The resources of Cape Cod National Seashore are the product of the interplay of concept. The first is an understanding of natural processes and man's activity. These "use." Viewing a marsh or a patch of mosses resources will inevitably be altered by the and lichens from an interpretive road or a continuing interplay of natural forces; and, bicycle path is as much a use of that resource therefore, cannot literally be preserved in as swimming or sunbathing is a use of the their present state. However, these resources beach and ocean. Being viewed is the only use and the forces which continue to shape them some of the more fragile resources of the can be protected from abuse and alteration by Cape can accommodate. Second, while proper man through proper management. planning, development and operation can > This plan is based in the concept that the permit fuller utilization of the capacity for resources of Cape Cod National Seashore can use of a given resource, it cannot increase the be protected from man's abuse and, at the innate capacity for use. For example, a same time, that the Seashore can provide well-designed, carefully located boardwalk opportunities for certain types of outdoor can permit far more people to go out into and recreation for its visitors. This can be done by enjoy viewing a marsh than could do so if the distributing developments and use so as to boardwalk were not provided. However, a avoid overloading any given resource or given marsh can accommodate only so much segment of the Seashore, by providing for use boardwalk, and can be used for only nature of all resources in balance with their study and scenic appreciation. Too much capability to be used without damage, and by boardwalk or an attempt to use the marsh for providing for only those uses for which a purpose other than nature study or scenic Seashore resources are well-suited, relying on appreciation will, in the long run, destroy it. other areas of the National Park System and The same principle applies to each Seashore on State, local and private agencies to provide resource individually, and to Seashore for those uses which the resources of the resources collectively. Hence, the Seashore Seashore cannot well accommodate. has an optimum capacity, which cannot be exceeded.

35 USE CAPACITY percentage of visitors using the Seashore in July and August remains as it was in 1966, Any natural resource — a marsh, an acre and the projections of future use are accurate, of woodland, a beach — has an optimum use by 1975 the number of people seeking to visit capacity; an ability to be used by a given the Seashore in July and August will exceed number of people for a given purpose or the capacity of existing and planned facilities. purposes without being destroyed by the use This possibility is not so immediate as it and without being overcrowded. The same is appears at first glance. In the first place, the true for any given assemblage of resources, estimates of capacity presented above were and hence for Cape Cod National Seashore. kept low; daily facility capacity is probably Objective standards by which to somewhat higher than 48,000. Second, there determine an optimum, or ideal, use capacity is some reason to doubt that the projections of a given resource or assemblage of resources of visitor use are altogether accurate. Most have not yet been developed. Until they are, visitors to Cape Cod National Seashore are an optimum resource use capacity cannot be staying in permanent or seasonal homes, or in determined. As a result, the ideal use capacity motels, campgrounds or rental cottages, and it of area facilities is used as a measure of the is unlikely that the dwelling, motel, desired Seashore visitation limit. This figure is campground and rental cottage capacity will the design load of the facilities and represents expand rapidly enough to support the the number of people the facility can serve projected increase in visitor use. Nor will the before it would be overloaded or damaged. existing access roads handle an increase of this The Seashore's facility use capacity is magnitude. Nevertheless, the time may come determined by first deciding what facilities when more visitors will wish to come in July for visitor use can be provided which in and August than the Seashore's facilities can themselves would not damage the natural accommodate. In several of the sections resources and then determining the design which follow, actions to meet this situation load of these facilities. are recommended. The capacity of the facilities recommended in this plan, or the design load, is 24,000. That is, assuming that town ACCESS AND CIRCULATION beaches and private campgrounds within the Seashore boundary stay at or near their Existing access and circulation were present capacity, and assuming further that described earlier in the report. Both access every parking lot and private campground and circulation are inadequate and require were full, and that the proposed trails were improvement. carrying heavy traffic, 24,000 people could use the existing and proposed facilities at one Access to the Cape Access from the time. Using a daily turnover factor of two northeastern seaboard megalopolis to the (assuming that every five hours a completely Cape Cod Canal will be excellent when the new set of people replaces the old set on the various Interstate, United States, and State bike trails and the beaches) the daily facility highways now being planned are completed. use capacity of the Seashore is 48,000. Access across the canal is inadequate. The two This capacity is less than the resources of bridges back up traffic for several miles on the Seashore can absorb without damage, but busy weekends. Route 6 provides adequate it is probably not much less as long as visitor access between the canal and Provincetown parking is provided within walking distance of where it is four-lane divided, limited access, the beach or visitor center it serves. If the but the two-lane and four-lane undivided

36 another, or from one of the unclustered beach available for use and eliminate 1. RACE POINT B E A C H « 18. CAMP W ELLFLEET • LAND CLASSIFICATION ■ Parking — 300 ■ Information developments to another (from Head of the the need for space consuming and ■ Bath House ■ Residence Area Meadow Beach to Pilgrim Heights, for intrusive parking areas. ■ Beach Duggy access ■ Administrative Headquarter 0 12 3 ■ Maintenance Center example), the visitor must return to Route 6 2. PROVINCELANDS • ■ Nauset Regional School District and drive along it to the access road leading to A shorter system to serve Head of the ■ Parking — 250 ♦ Seasonal Quarters 15 to 20 units the place he wishes to visit next. There is no Meadow Beach. Parking would be ■ Bike Trail access 19. FRESH BROOK VILLA G E • provided near Route 6. ■ Visitor Center way to move from development to ♦ Interpretive Complex development without leaving the Seashore; ■Amphitheater — 750 ♦ Parking - 24 there is no internal circulation system. A short system to serve the Camp ■Outside Exhibits 20. NAUSET LIGHT BEACH« A road or road system designed to enable Wellfleet area. Again, parking would be 3. HEAD OF THE MEADOW BEACH« ■ Parking — 157 visitors to move from development to provided near Route 6. ■ Bath House ■ Comfort Station 21. NAUSET COAST GUARD STATION • development without leaving the Seashore is ■ Parking — 367 4. HEAD OF THE MEADOW - TOWN BEACH O ■ Parking — 44 not now necessary. However, the use of A transportation system providing ■Parking — 40 ♦ Lifesaving Museum in existing Coast Guard Station Routes 6 and 28 as the take off for spur road access to the Duck Harbor-Griffin 5. H IG H LA N D - TOWN BEACHO 22. COAST GUARD BEACH • Island-Great Island Area. ■ Bath House access to the Seashore as the connection ■ Parking — 100 ■ Parking — 355 between segments of the Seashore is not 6. HIGHLAND LIGHT COMPLEX« 23. SKIFF HILL - PENNIMAN HOUSE COMPLEX« satisfactory at present. First, Route 6 Providing adequate access to this part of ■ Golf Course — Concession ■ Captain Penniman House between Orleans and North Truro is the Seashore and the facilities proposed ■ Highland House ■ Parking — 33 dangerous, particularly during heavy traffic within it is complicated by several factors. ■* I nterpretive Overlook ♦ Fort Hill scene restoration (1850-1890) periods and to drivers who are not familiar First, while the area is now accessible over 7. LONGNOOK - TOWN BEACHO ♦ Parking — 15 with it. Second, the spur road intersections town roads, these roads are narrow, winding, ■ Parking — 45 ■ Skiff Hill Shelter and Exhibits are often poorly signed and lack adequate low-capacity roads which pass improved 8. CRANBERRY B O G « ■ Nature Trail sight distance and deceleration lanes, adding properties. Second, the terrain — rolling ♦ Restoration ■ Environmental Study Area to the traffic danger. Finally, there are so "islands” rising amid marshland — makes ♦ I nterpretive Trail 24. NAUSET TOWN BEACH O ♦ Parking — 50 ■ Parking — 670 many roads off Route 6 that the Seashore additional road construction difficult and 25. PROVINCETOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT 9. PAMET V A L L E Y « visitor is apt to get off on one that leads to a undesirable. Third, no additional motor 26. BEECH FOREST • ♦ Interpretive Exhibit town beach he can't use, or that takes him on traffic through the village of Wellfleet should ■ Parking — 50 ♦ Parking — 25 be encouraged. Finally, the town of Wellfleet ■ Picnic Area a round-about route on low-speed town roads 10. BALLSTON - T O W N BEACHO bounded by private property. is not enthusiastic at the prospect of increased ■ Bicycle Trail Access ■Parking — 125 ■ Interpretive Trail traffic on the town roads it patrols and The National Park Service should work 11. NEWCOMBS HOLLOW - TOWN BEACHO 27. HERRING COVE BEACH« with local and regional planning agencies and maintains. ■ Parking — 200 ■ Bath House with the Massachusetts Department of Public A public transportation system providing 12. CAHOON HOLLOW - TOWN BEACHO ■ Parking — 750 Works to get better directional signs and safer access to developments in this segment of the ■ Parking — 75 ■ Snack Bar Concession exits from Route 6 on an interim basis, and to Seashore and giving the visitor views of the 13. TOWN SURFING BEACHO ♦ Complete redesign of bath House and parking facilities get well designed and properly located access wetlands and wooded "islands" might resolve ■ Parking — 50 — parking expansion to 1500 (contingent on points, with feeder roads if needed, when these problems. Perhaps the existing sand 14. LE COUNT HOLLOW O future N.P.S. and Provincetown planning) ■ Parking — 50 Route 6 is improved. road which skirts the south side of Duck 28. Boat, Hiking and Beach Buggy Access only 15. MARCONI S T A T IO N « ♦ Interpretive Exhibits Finally, the National Park Service should Harbor from Old County Road to Cape Cod ■ Exhibit Shelter 29. HIGH HEAD« start planning to supplement access to Bay could serve as a route. ■Com fort Station ■ Parking — 50 Seashore developments by private car with ■ Parking — 30 ■ Beach Buggy Access public transportation systems. Studies to 16. MARCONI BEA CH« ■ Bicycle Trail Access ■Parking - 528 determine feasibility should be made of: PUBLIC CONTACT, INFORMATION AND 30. PILGRIM HEIGHTS« FEES ♦ Bath House ♦ Parking expansion — 1000 ■ Interpretive Shelter An eight-mile system from a parking 17. WHITE CEDAR SWAMP« ■ Interpretive Trail area near Provincetown and close to Contact and Information The visitor is first ■ Parking at Marconi Station ■ Comfort Station Route 6. Such a system would serve the contacted at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, ■ Environmental Study Area ■ Picnicking developments in this area, make more Park Headquarters, or the first manned ■ Interpretive Trail ■ Parking — 132

39 37 I I portions cannot handle peak traffic loads and the three-lane portions are very dangerous, CIRCULATION SYSTEMS PLAN particularly when traffic is heavy. Access by I I 'CONCEPTUAL' LOCATIONS NOT FINAL public transportation, while perhaps adequate to meet existing demand, doesn't begin to provide the service or carry the people that it should to provide the Cape with a balanced LONG NOTE NOOK BALLSTON There are rvo N PS roads or trails access and an alternative to the private car. BEACH BEACH in the remainder of the seashore, The National Park Service has no east of line A-A. There is a town authority to finance any of these NEWCOMB HOLLOW road into the Orlearrs Town Beach improvements, even though they directly - . ^ B E A C H and beach buggies use the length a ffe c t the Seashore. Indeed, public CAHOON HOLLOW of Nauset Beach. transportation improvements, if they involved EACH rights-of-way within the Seashore or s X l E C O U N T h o l l o w BEACH expansion of Provincetown Airport, might PARK conflict with the purpose of the Seashore. HEADQUARTERS However, the Service should work with the agencies concerned — the Cape Cod Planning MARCONI and Economic Development Commission, the •n ^ e a c h Massachusetts Department of Public Works, the Bureau of Public Roads, the Corps of NAUSET Engineers and the towns — to expedite v b e a c h needed improvements. In doing so, the Service should encourage COAST GAURD the various planning agencies to consider the . BEACH optimum capacity of the Seashore and of Cape Cod as a whole, and keep access in balance with that capacity. The Cape is an island separated from the mainland by the Cape Cod Canal. If and when more visitors come than the Cape can absorb, the canal and its crossings will become the point at which access can be controlled and limited.

Access to the Circulation within the Seashore As the sketch shows, Route 6 is the key to Seashore access and circulation. Spur roads lead from Route 6 to the various Seashore developments and to town beaches. Some Seashore developments and town beaches form clusters — one in the Coast Guard Beach area, one in the former Camp Wellfleet area, one in the Highland Light area, and one at Race Point. Within these clusters, the visitor can circulate from one development to another over secondary roads. However, to circulate from one cluster to I I I I

38 I I 6 0 9 2 0 ,0 0 6 B JU N 74 DSC facility he uses. Information on what to see single most popular and most important the Seashore beaches are available to the pleasure driving on roads not designed for the and do is presented through signs, exhibits active recreational use within the Seashore. It day-user and offer some variety in size and purpose is not a fully rewarding experience. and literature at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, is a use for which demand is increasing intensity of use. However, very little can be done to solve through personal contacts by the Seashore rapidly. Hence, the distribution, location, The recommended major beaches and less these problems at present. staff, and through local news media. design and capacity of facilities to support intensively developed town beaches provide a Information of this type will also be provided this use are critical to maintaining a correct good balance in intensity of use. Further, the Picnicking Picnicking at Cape Cod has at the Provincelands Visitor Center and the balance between preservation and use within recommendations provide beaches at all sites proved popular in conjunction with other proposed Bayside developments. the Seashore. which are well-suited to this use. The Service, activities — beach use, hiking, bicycling, Cape Cod has long been attracting Several factors influence the distribution, if it is requested to do so, should advise and nature study — rather than as a separate and summer visitors. Information on tourist location and capacity of beaches. First, assist the towns in planning beach facilities distinct activity. The two existing picnic areas facilities and services is readily available almost all the pamets and other natural access and in developing maintenance and operating should meet the demand for picnicking per se. through a network of Chamber of Commerce points across the dunes or down the bluffs to standards. It is recommended that picnic sites be and town information booths, promotional the beach were long ago acquired by the The capacities shown on the General provided as part of a day-use package at lite ra tu re , newspapers, hotels, motels, towns and put to use as town beaches. Almost Development Plan for the Seven Seashore beaches and at trail origin points. Provision restaurants, and so forth. all remains in town ownership. Second, the beaches are determined by the capability of for informal, passive picnicking should be beaches of the Cape should provide for a wide A ll aspects o f this program are the resource to absorb parking. These made at several points, including Marconi s a tis fa c to ry . However, an information range of recreational use, ranging from capacities represent full use of adjacent Beach. A number of movable tables should be program designed to inform potential visitors developed beaches for extensive use, through terrain suitable for parking. The beaches placed on the upper sides of other beaches. when such recreational facilities as beaches small, relatively undeveloped beaches for themselves could absorb considerably more and campgrounds are filled and to direct them those who prefer a less crowded experience, use without damage to the resource, without Beach Related Activities Such activities as to alternate facilities either elsewhere on the to long stretches of beach for beachcombing, lessening the enjoyment of the user, and informal volleyball games, kite flying, and Cape or off the Cape is needed. This need is strolling, and the experience of getting away without infringing upon other types and tossing beach balls occur at beaches as an further discussed under Resource and, as Thoreau stated, putting all America intensities of use. This can be achieved by adjunct of beach use. Space for them is Management below. behind. Third, such other uses of the beach as p ro vid in g central parking with public provided by informally designating a section surf-casting and beach buggy driving should transportation between parking and beach; of beach for such use as need arises. This Fees Parking fees are collected upon be provided for. Fourth, the amount of the study of such systems is recommended program is adequate and should continue. entrance to major beaches — the only user parking required to support intensive beach under Access and Circulation. The study fees now charged. Eastham residents are use can be provided only in certain locations, should include a determination of the Camping State parks and private exempt from these fees at Coast Guard and and at these only to a certain extent, because optimum capacity of each beach, and that campgrounds on or near the Cape contain Nauset Light Beaches by terms of the deed of of the terrain, natural features and improved capacity should not be exceeded. A t present, over 3,000 campsites. Despite the fact that properties behind the beaches. Fifth, most of gift. Seashore beaches provide about 12 percent of several towns have zoned out private the access roads from Route 6 are intimate, Entrance fees are not now practicable. the total public beach capacity on the Cape. campgrounds, additional sites are being charming, low-capacity roads bordered by They may become so if and when major The total Cape beach capacity will be provided each year. Still, seasonal demand for improved properties. These roads cannot developments are accessible by roads over increased, so that when Seashore beaches are campsites exceeds the supply. w hich the National Park Service has handle the traffic generated by a major beach developed to their optimum capacity, The glacial outwash and marine deposited unless they are widened and straightened. jurisdiction. A t that time, entrance fees additional public demand for beach use will soils of the Seashore are not well suited for This plan recommends that the Seashore should be considered. be met by other agencies elsewhere on the campground development. Moreover, in view provide seven developed beaches for more or Cape and elsewhere in the Region. of the recommended transportation study, less intensive use. Of these, six exist. In land adjoining Route 6 and appropriate for RECREATION addition, Orleans provides a developed beach Pleasure Driving Pleasure driving is a very development in terms of the authorizing act at Nauset which is not restricted to popular recreational activity, particularly should be reserved for possible future parking Swimming and Beach Use The 39-mile townspeople. scenic and heavily used roads, pleasure drivers to serve beaches and other developments. sweep of Atlantic Beach and the 6 1/2 miles Existing town beaches provide the use Routes 6A, 28 and town roads. In so For these reasons, this plan does not of Bayside Beach is the single most important necessary smaller, less developed beaches. doing, they add to traffic congestion and road recommend that the Seashore provide resource for active outdoor recreation within Several towns restrict use of their beaches to maintenance costs and, on certain particularly campgrounds. It is recommended that the the Seashore. It is a resource without equal in town residents or guests. This excludes the scenic and heavily used roads, disturb owners Service work with the Commonwealth of the Northeast. Swimming and beach use is the day-user from up-Cape or off-Cape. However, of improved properties. Equally important, Massachusetts and with private operators to

41 42 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE „ 1 2 miles T R U R C f'l\ kilometers

J see LEGEND: ° / V . ■ EXISTING rnote 2 3 3 f . * ^ « • PROPOSED WELLFLEET0^ • N.P.S. DEVELOPMENTS 14 PROVINCETOWN O TOWN DEVELOPMENTS

— EXISTING PARK ROAD

• • ROAD TO BE OBLITERATED

EASTHAM

GREAT HOLLOW BEACHO CORN HILL BEACH O PARADISE HOLLOW* ♦ interpretive Trail ♦ Parking — 25 ATWOOD HIGGINS HOUSE* ♦ Future parking — 25 ♦ Residences — 2 DUCK HARBOR TOWN BEACH ■ Parking — 75 BAY SIDE BEACH* ♦ Parking — 200 ORLEANS ♦ Bath House GRIFFIN ISLAND* ♦ Parking — 100 cars and 6 buses ♦ I nterpretive Center ♦ Trail to Great Island and Herring River Estuary GREAT ISLAND NATURAL AREA ♦ Hiking Trails ♦ Interpretive Overlook ♦ Primitive Comfort Station Bicycle and hiking trail are proposed for the SALT POND VISITOR CENTER* length of the National Seashore ■ Parking — 200 Location, design, and type of transportation ■ Nature Trail ■ Information system to the Duck Harbor-Griffin Island area requires further study ■ Orientation ■ Interpretation ■ Bicycle Trail Access ■ Amphitheater — 750 NPS SUB-MAINTENANCE & RESIDENCE AREA ♦ Seasonal Residences 15-20 Units DOANE ROCK* ■ Picnic Sites — 25 ■ Parking — 25

609 jI 20,007 B JUNE 74 I DSC provide more campsites on the stable soils of evaluated before any plan to provide such use the upper Cape and adjacent mainland, and is made. Such facilities may seem desirable. th a t it encourage the three private However, visitor demand, the possibilities of campgrounds within the Seashore to improve adverse uses, and the difficulty of control of their facilities. such uses may warrant their exclusion.

Prim itive Campsites The concept of Golf A nine-hole golf course at Highland primitive campsites in conjunction with the Light, one of the oldest in the United States, Seashore trail systems should be carefully is operated by the town of Truro under a

43 concession contract. Considering its historical value and the development already present, continued operation is desirable.

Bike Trails Eleven miles of bicycle trails have been built within the Seashore. Their popularity is reflected in a rapid increase in bike rentals outside the Seashore. Additional trails, including one running from Eastham to Provincetown should be provided. Existing trails can be reached from bike rental agencies only by riding over heavily traveled roads and highways; a dangerous situation. Highest priority should be given to providing trail connections into adjacent town centers so that cyclists can reach the trails in safety. The National Park Service has authority to construct those parts of the connections within the boundary. Construction of those parts which lie outside the boundary will require additional legislative authority or will have to be done by others.

Youth Hostels Four American Youth Hostels are located on the Cape — one on Nantucket, one in Hyannis, one in Orleans, and the fourth within the Seashore boundary overlooking Pamet Valley. These hostels are extensively used during the summer season, providing inexpensive supervised accommodations for youth. The hostel system is a use compatible with the purposes of the Seashore. It is a fine complementary facility to the proposed bike trails. Continued cooperation between the Seashore and American Youth Hostels is desirable. Future consideration might be given to expansion of the hostel system in the surrounding region.

Winter Sports Terrain and climate severely lim it winter sports. There are few hills within the Seashore long and steep enough for good skiing, and snows come infrequently and melt rapidly. Prolonged cold weather seldom occurs, so the inland ponds seldom freeze solidly enough for skating or ice fishing. A popular winter activity is storm

44 watching. Only a person who has seen, heard programs. More recently, the staff has and felt the storm surf tearing at the outer originated new "in depth" activities — talks Cape can appreciate the fascination of this by Seashore neighbors versed in special phenomenon. Existing beach parking is the subjects related to the Cape; sketching trips, only facility required. including some designed especially for children; nature walks along the intertidal Other Activities Surfing is rapidly increasing zone of the Bayside; evening walks over Great in popularity. The best surf occurs in the Island to Jeremy Point with a campfire and Coast Guard Beach and Marconi Beach areas, return along the beach by moonlight — to where beaches already exist. Surfers use more intimately acquaint the visitor with the existing parking facilities, and areas of beach forms and processes of nature and man's are designated for their use. interaction with them. Horses are available from stables near the Additional facilities and services are park and miles of sand road both within and recommended to present the Seashore story outside the Seashore are available. more effectively, and to accommodate Scuba diving occurs, but is not extensive. increasing visitor use. The proposed Bayside Areas with enough interest to support developments will concentrate on the natural underwater trails do not occur except in history of the Cape. It will contain facilities Nauset Marsh, which is not suitable for scuba for natural history research and serve as a diving. focal point for increased use of Great Island Hiking is a popular use. Hiking trails, for interpretive and research purposes. The including one the length of the Seashore, proposed Life Saving Museum to be should be developed. established in the Nauset Coast Guard Station will present the dramatic story of the work of the Coast Guard and its antecedents. INTERPRETATION An historical vignette, to include a saltworks, is being developed on Fort Hill. A The ecology of Cape Cod has been working historic cranberry bog is planned. A profoundly influenced by man's activities, fresh and exciting concept — a series of and man's activities have, in turn, been trails-connected vignettes illustrating various influenced by the geography, geology, soils phases of Cape Cod life, from undisturbed and vegetation of the Cape. Consequently, original natural scene through several phases nature and man are both integral to the of man's activities is under development at interpretive theme. the Fresh Brook Village site. This interpretive theme is presented W hile these existing and planned through various media. The visitor is in te rp re tive facilities and services are introduced to the Seashore through exhibits well-balanced both geographically and in and a brief film presentation at the Salt Pond subject matter, there should be a continuing Visitor Center. During the summer, various e ffo rt to improve and extend them. facets of the theme are presented at evening Additional nature trails and interpretive programs in the adjacent amphitheater. The literature will be needed. More interpretive Provincelands Visitor Center concentrates on activities illustrative of Cape Cod's past, such human history. as town band concerts and programs built In addition, interpretive trails and upon the Cape's attractiveness to writers and publications have been developed. The staff artists are planned. conducts a full and varied program of guided All interpretation should consider two w alks, interpretive talks, and evening salient aspects of Cape Cod National

45 Seashore. First is that visitors come history. Often these people are teachers, predominantly from urban areas in the writers, or entertainers; they have unusual Northeast, are relatively well-educated and abilities for expression. They should be possess an urban outlook and sophistication; sought out whenever possible and induced to they also constitute a sampling of a large contribute their special knowledge and fraction (one-fourth to one-third) of the abilities to enrich the Seashore's interpretive Nation's total population. Second is that Cape program. This is already being done in having Cod National Seashore is relatively Seashore neighbors speak on their Cape Cod small — laced with roads whose presence must studies at evening programs. It should be be accepted and speckled with improved enlarged to enlist people's assistance in basic properties whose owners' rights must be research, w ritin g , editing, audiovisual respected — but with a surprisingly varied and narration and so on. attractive natural and historic landscape. Great sensitivity will need to be exercised at all proposed interpretive developments to ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION assure that the resource, the surrounding environment, and private parties are not A substantial and increasing proportion of adversely affected. This will be especially true Seashore visitors are city dwellers who have in such areas as the Bayside and the Pamet had little contact with nature and who have Valley, where private properties, low-grade little understanding of nature and man's roads, and fragile resources are all inherent relationship with it. If such visitors are to parts of the scene. respect the resources of the Seashore, refrain The very nature of the public which the from activities which damage those resources, park staff serves at Cape Cod demands that and support continued preservation, they the Service attain the highest possible quality must understand the environment and man's in interpretation. People who have been dependence upon it. The Seashore, where exposed to the great range of excellent evidences of both natural and man-induced cultural resources and entertainment in environmental changes is so evident, is an eastern urban areas will not listen and be ideal place in which to instill such an stirred by an interpretive message at the Cape understanding. if it is inept or amateurish even in small The interrelationship between man and degree. Moreover, any failing in interpretation his environment is stressed in all phases of the to these people is especially serious, for city interpretive program. It is also the subject of a people are an increasing majority of the special program for schools. Nation's population, and they above all Most American children now grow up should have some understanding of the without any contact with or appreciation of workings and limitations of the natural world. nature and man's dependence upon it. Their actions, individually and collectively, Therefore, programs to introduce these will profoundly affect the complexion of this children to natural forces and the effects of country's landscape and the balance of its man's tinkering with them are extremely resources. important. One further interpretive resource needs to Such a program is being developed. Three be further developed, and that is the environm ental study areas have been knowledge and talent of people living on the designated, and educational aids have been Cape and in adjacent areas. Cape Cod is the prepared for school use. Schools in the region year-round or summer home of many people have been contacted and encouraged to use who have studied the local land and its both the study areas and the study materials.

46 Overnight accommodations for school groups high tides during severe storms. A t Herring using the National Park Service NEED Cove, the beach occasionally recedes during Program are temporarily provided in the winter storms to the extent that an asphalt Nauset Coast Guard Station, and classrooms revetment has been installed to protect the are provided in the basement of the Salt Pond existing bathhouse and parking area. Visitor Center. This problem has been studied by such This program has operated for over a year agencies as the Geological Survey and the with one school district participating. It has Corps of Engineers. Control of erosion on the proven to be quite successful. The one school scale at which it is taking place along the district should be encouraged to participate. entire outer scarp is not practicable. The Nauset Coast Guard Station is being used Moreover, materials eroded from the scarp are under special use permit for dormitory and transported by the sea to nourish the beaches classroom space. As the program expands this and spits to the north and south. space will become inadequate. Consideration Feasible control measures for the three should be given to providing additional space, areas mentioned above should be investigated. both for accommodations and classrooms. However, when considering implementation Structures already acquired by the seashore of such methods, it should be remembered could be utilized for dormitory space, while that shore erosion on the outer cape is a part classroom space may be considered in the of the natural order. It may well be that such proposed Bayside developments. implementation would damage the natural The interpretive program is designed in resource more than no protection at all. part to acquaint visitors with natural forces Herring Cove Beach was included in a and their vital role in our lives. To further beach erosion control study carried out by disseminate these concepts, environmental the Corps of Engineers in cooperation with study materials should be made available the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This through sale or rental to visitors wishing to study developed an authorized project at use them as program material for service club Herring Cove, consisting of widening about meetings and the like. 1,600 feet of beach to a 125-foot width by direct placement of sandfill, construction of four groins and construction of a seawall. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR Sandfill was deferred until it was ascertained PROTECTION if the groins fill naturally at a reasonable rate. This area should be reexamined to determine Erosion Control The bluffs extending from whether, when new facilities are provided Coast Guard Beach north to beyond Highland during the recommended expansion, natural Light are being cut back at an average rate of processes would create a sufficiently wide three feet a year, though the rate varies from summer beach if the asphalt revetment were place to place and season to season. In the removed, and, if not, what beach nourishment recent past, severe storms have broken measures are required. These studies will through the barrier dune of Nauset Beach at require cooperation with the Corps of the Coast Guard Beach parking lot, and an Engineers, the Geological Survey, the inlet may eventually form in this vicinity. At Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Ballston Beach, in Truro, the old glacial affected towns, particularly Truro. meltwater channel in which the Pamet River now flows is separated from the sea by a Dunes Stabilization Natural forces, such relatively low dune which is sometimes almost human activities as driving over dunes and over-topped by storm waves at exceptionally heath, and military construction in the Camp

47 Wei If leet area had denuded substantial areas Hunting Hunting is primarily for deer and within the Seashore and exposed the sand and migratory waterfowl with a nominal amount sandy soils to wind action. Much has been of small game hunting. Shotguns only may be done toward restoring these areas. Beach grass used. Intensive use occurs during opening has been planted and fertilized, stablizing days and during the one week deer season in many sandy areas. Natural reseeding of native December. An estimated 75 to 90 percent of plants, such as pitch pine, has taken place this use is by local residents. In the interest of with excellent results over much of Camp visitor protection and the protection of Wellfleet. private dwellings, a systematic study of this This program should continue where activity is desirable. Developed visitor use stabilization is required. Particular attention areas are closed to hunting. should be given to areas of intensive public use where damage to vegetation may lead to Fire Suppression Serious forest fire wind erosion, to construction sites, to areas potential is evident over much of the Cape, damaged by storms where this type of erosion including Seashore lands. A catastrophic fire control will be effective, and to unneeded could occur under extremely adverse roads, paths and trails. A careful survey of fire conditions resulting in considerable loss of control access requirements should be forest and vegetative cover, private dwellings coordinated with revegetation of old roads, and other developments and facilities now and control points established where needed serving the communities and visitors to the to prevent unauthorized use. lower Cape. Fire protection is primarily a cooperative Removal of Intrusions Numerous man-made measure. The Seashore depends to a great intrusions occur throughout the Seashore. extent on the towns and the Commonwealth Overhead u tility lines are particularly notable. for detection and suppression and they have As opportunity occurs, such intrusions should provided this service in a highly competent be removed, screened or relocated. Public use manner. Close and amicable cooperation is areas should be given priority. essential to the success of the program. Cooperative agreements are in effect with Insect and Plant Disease Control The Cape the four towns in which the bulk of Seashore Cod Mosquito Control Board exercises a lands are located. These receive annual review control program for mosquito and the green and adjustment when necessary. This head fly within Seashore iands and in cooperative arrangement is far more practical accordance with the provision of the deed than a duplication of efforts by the respective transferring State lands. A cooperative agencies. agreement with the Board is desirable to help One of the most effective contributions outline responsibilities, action and the which the Seashore can make to the overall resources of the Seashore and the Board, and program is fire prevention education and to improve communications and information. Many urban people visit the understanding. The Seashore will work as Seashore each season and environmental closely as possible with the Board in fulfilling education programs will touch base with large the objectives of both organizations. groups of young, impressionable people. Here Insect, tree and plant disease control is an opportunity which should be pursued. through the use of chemicals will be The towns furnish much of the fire thoroughly investigated and planned, and protection for buildings within the Seashore. cleared through Department and Service First aid equipment and hydrant systems are channels as required by various regulations. located throughout the major Seashore

48 developments, but most of the fire fighting beach they had planned to use is filled and equipment is furnished by the towns. parkin g is unavailable. Under these In the future the Seashore may require circumstances they may wander aimlessly fire detection and suppression systems in its about and often, in exasperation, will park historic houses. This is often costly, and along roads or in driveways, violating town requires a careful evaluation of the actual and Seashore regulations and the rights of value of the structure, contents and public use private residents. This adverse use affects the and enjoyment of the facility. A security town, the Seashore and private residents in alarm system should be considered for the many ways. Traffic hazards, erosion of road Atwood-Higgins complex. shoulders, dunes and cliffs, and intrusion are but a few. A system of improved Law Enforcement The unique land use and communications is desirable in the interest of jurisdictional patterns of the Seashore require all concerned, including the confused visitor. coordinated efforts by law enforcement All public beaches should be in a position agencies. Here again, cooperation, to advise visitors of the nearest beach where understanding and excellent communications parking is available. A network of radio are required. communication with up-to-date information The U.S. Commissioner holds court each dispatched through a central office should be week during the summer at Park utilized. Commercial radio stations within the Headquarters. This system and schedule area should also be used. Signs along Highway works well and reduces the time personnel 6 are another possibility. must be away from other duties while Still another means of improving attending court sessions. communications would be to establish a large A bail-bond system has been considered information, orientation center near and it is recommended. Sagamore at Cape Cod Canal, perhaps as a Law enforcement activities are increasing part of the service now provided by the Cape as use increases. It is essential that all Cod Chamber of Commerce. Here a visitor personnel assigned to law enforcement be could be oriented, make reservations and well-trained and familiar with all aspects of learn what beaches may be available before the program. Permanent employees must take proceeding down Cape. Regional planning and advantage of training opportunities to coordination is required to pursue any increase their skills and training abilities. improvements in furnishing information. Selective recruitment of seasonal employees for law enforcement assignments and a Beach Buggies The control and use of beach continuity of experienced seasonal employees buggies has been greatly improved by is highly desirable. establishing designated routes through the Specialized equipment must be provided dune areas, restricting overnight stays to as the need occurs to round out a highly designated areas, and publishing general organized, well-trained unit. Any information on beach buggy use in the form considerations of a new organizational of handout folders. Beach buggy users are structure for the Seashore should include a gradually becoming accustomed to the various law enforcement specialist position. regulations, familiar with the reasons for them, and in most cases support these control Beach Use Beach use is one of the most measures. intensive activities within the Seashore and is However, the effect of beach buggy travel one that will increase in the future. Many on the dunes' ecology should be carefully visitors are confused when they find that the studied. The loss of values within the areas of

49 travel should be considered. involved in these programs, to understand Presently, more than a thousand permits their objectives and to relate to them the to operate beach buggies are issued each year. objectives of the Seashore. Progress has been Optimum use should be determined and made — it must be continued. actual use held within the optimum figure. It is quite evident that all aspects of Resource Management and Visitor Protection OFF-SEASON USE programs require the fullest cooperative efforts. The items mentioned are but a few In 1967, 57.8 percent of Cape Cod that require detailed coordination of one or National Seashore's visitors came in July and more agencies or organizations. Maintenance August. Only 1.3 percent came in January. of good working relationship with all This pattern means that the Seashore is cooperators cannot be stressed enough. Lines crowded to near capacity for two months, of communication which afford an and only moderately or lightly used the rest understanding of objectives and principles of of the year. The Cape's climate rules out all parties are essential to the success of many winter sports development. Still, there is programs, and, in fact, to the productive much potential for off-season use. The water existence of the Seashore. Every effort should stays com paratively warm well into be made to meet and know the people September, and on sunny days beach use is

MONTHLY PERCENTAGES OF 1966 VISITS

29.9

50 enjoyable into early October. Autumn color is permit, provide off-season programs and excellent, and the winter scene, while austere, winterized facilities including comfort has its own beauty. Spring is also a pleasant stations. It will also require an intensive season. Hiking, bicycling, beachcombing, campaign by the Cape tourist industry to nature study and similar activities can be promote off-season use. pleasant even during January and February. Most tourist facilities close after Labor Day, since there is little demand for them. LAND ACQUISITION The fact that so many facilities are closed from early September through May or early Of the 44,600 acres of land and June presents an obstacle to greater off-season submerged land within the authorized use of the Seashore, because there is less for boundary of the Seashore, 21,391.30 acres visitors to do and fewer places to eat or stay have been acquired, 169 acres are in Federal overnight. ownership under other agencies, 14,210 acres This cycle can be broken, and it is in the are owned by the State or by towns, and interest of the Seashore to help break it. This about 1,311 acres have or are entitled to will require a joint effort on the part of local improved property status. There remains business and the Seashore. It will require that about 7,519 acres of private land to be the Seashore, when operating funds and staff acquired.

51 Remaining land subject to acquisition agencies active on the Cape include the Corps should be acquired. The Land Acquisition of Engineers, the United States Air Force, the priority program is: Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife, the Bureau o f Commercial Fisheries, the Land for an access road or some other Geological Survey, and the Coast Guard. State mode of transportation to proposed agencies particularly important in regional Bayside Visitor Facilities to avoid planning include the Department of Public aggravating traffic congestion on the Works and the Department of Natural narrow, winding, low capacity town Resources. Through its review of statewide roads now in use. comprehensive outdoor recreation plans and its continuing analysis of all phases of the Land for the preservation of natural Federal outdoor recreation effort, the Bureau values and ecological communities, o f O u td o o r Recreation helps achieve including ocean frontage, Eastham Bog coordination in this field. area, Nauset Marsh in Eastham, heath Towns are also very much involved in area in Truro and the Great Ponds in planning, since in Massachusetts basic Wellfleet over which the State now has responsibility for land use planning and jurisdiction. zoning is vested in the town. The six towns within the Seashore lines are particularly Land for bicycle and hiking trails interrelated with the Seashore, since they are between Eastham (Coast Guard Beach) responsible for such public functions as police and Provincetown (Herring Cove and fire p ro te ctio n and local road Beach) to tie in with existing portions construction and maintenance, and since all in Eastham, Head of the Meadow-High but Provincetown own considerable land Head, and the Province Lands. w ith in Seashore boundaries. Barnstable County is also an important factor in this A tract by tract land acquisition priority field. Its Cape Cod Planning and Economic map will be prepared. Development Commission, professionally staffed, gathers data, prepares studies and regional plans for consideration by the towns, COORDINATED PLANNING and provides planning assistance. The National Park Service should work closely As the regional analysis points out, few with all of these agencies, relying upon the units of the National Park System are so Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory integral a part of their region as is Cape Cod. Commission for advice and assistance in Nearly every facet of Seashore development liaison with the towns. and operations affect or are affected by other The Seashore, with guidance and governmental or private bodies. Many of the assistance as needed from other National Park major problems faced by the Seashore as use Service offices, should develop and maintain a increases will be faced by the entire Cape, and close working relationship with various what the Cape as a whole does about them agencies of the State to provide coordination will profoundly influence the Seashore. Thus, on specific items. it is imperative that the National Park Service The present Massachusetts State Outdoor establish and maintain a close working Recreation Plan makes no meaningful relationship with all other agencies involved in comment on the Seashore; neither the planning on Cape Cod. Regional Description nor the Regional Needs Beside the National Park Service, Federal section even mention it. This plan is being

52 revised, and the State is now in a position to boundary change. Second, the town of Truro include Federal agency planning within the has begun a town master plan. The Seashore framework of its Statewide Plan. The should work closely with the town to assure Seashore should initiate and follow up on orderly development consonant with the contacts with the State to encourage needs of both and in harmony with their expansion o f State campgrounds at environment. Shawme-Crowell State Park, Nickerson State Third, the Geological Survey has licensed Park, Myles Standish State Forest, and a proposed offshore oil and gas exploration in Scusset State Beach, to keep appraised of any the area. As the Santa Barbara Channel plans to expand Nickerson State Park, and in episode has proved, safe practices and a lively general to promote the exchange of concern for ecological considerations is information and ideas on a continuing basis. essential in such explorations. As an example, The Corps of Engineers are considering the largest wintering population of eider updating the Recreation Master Plan for Cape ducks in the United States occurs along the Cod Canal. The Seashore should initiate south tip of the Seashore on the east side of contacts with the Corps to keep informed of Monomoy, and oil reaching this area could that agency's plans as they may affect the result in irreparable harm to this species. The Seashore and to explore possible use of Corps National Park Service in conjunction with lands for a Cape Cod Visitor Information other interested agencies must do everything Center. The Seashore should also initiate and it can to assure that any off-shore exploration maintain contact with the State Department is so conducted as to assure against accident. of Public Works and the Bureau of Public Finally, the National Park Service should Roads to keep informed of long-range work as closely as possible with any private highway planning both for the Cape and its organizations involved in planning activities approaches which may affect future for all or sections of the Cape. development of the Cape Cod Region and influence day use of the Seashore. Finally, the Seashore and the Service as a whole should MAINTENANCE m aintain the closest possible working relationship with the Cape Cod Planning and Cape Cod National Seashore has the Economic Development Commission. special maintenance problems common to all Some planning considerations merit seashores — extensive u tility systems, beach further mention. First, the town of cleanup, intensive turf maintenance in Provincetown has had a Master Plan Study developed areas, periodic storm damage, Report prepared for presentation at Town erosion, and so forth. In addition, it has some Meeting. This plan proposed a central parking unique requirements — utilities and roads facility outside the town center so that auto owned in common with owners of improved access to the extremely congested area can be property, demands for cleanup on and near replaced by public transportation. The improved properties, requests for concept is interesting and may be adaptable no-trespassing signs for improved properties, to future Park Service planning in this area. need for close cooperation with the Coast The Service should work with the Town if the Guard, Navy, Air Force, Corps of Engineers, plan is approved to ensure implementation of U.S. Geological Survey, and State, County, the concept in a manner which is most and Town Governments, extensive beneficial to both the Town and the Seashore. rehabilitation of structures used for employee The Service has no legal authority in financing housing, and so forth. the proposal, and the plan might require a

53 As a result of these demands, which increase with each new facility and will be further increased by the recommended program to encourage greater off-season use, maintenance and operating funds and staff are not adequate. Consequently, such facilities as water and sewer systems, visitor centers, bathhouses, interpretive trail signs, markers and wayside exhibits, and amphitheaters can be given only Class C maintenance rather than the Class A maintenance that the capital investment and visitor use require. The Seashore has established maintenance priorities and schedules, and adheres to them.

Waste Disposal Each adjacent town operates a town dump. Solid waste disposal is being studied by the Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development Commission, and the Service will cooperate with the Commission in this matter.

Water Supply A special use permit has been entered into with the town of Provincetown for use of ground water within the Seashore for mutual benefit of town and Seashore. Similar arrangements should be developed with other towns in accordance with established criteria.

HISTORIC STRUCTURES

Of the 85 historic structures shown on the Historic Architecture Map, nine are in Federal ownership. Two, the Penniman House and barn, have been developed as exhibits in encouraging continued private ownership. If place. Three, the Atwood-Higgins complex, additional such structures are acquired, they are subject to life estate and will eventually should be used for park purposes. become an historic house museum. Those This program requires continuing structures remaining in private ownership inventory and study to assure timely have improved property status. identification of structures of merit and to The purpose of the historic structures permit decisions as to how best to assure their management program is to assure the preservation. preservation of structures of merit as Lighthouses and Coast Guard Stations architectural specimens and as part of the should be acquired, when and if they become Cape Cod scene. This can best be done by available, for use in the interpretive program.

54 HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE

miles 0 1 2 3 4 kilometers Note: House names were assigned for convenience, and do not follow a consistent pattern. Names of first owner or early occupant will be assigned. THOMAS K. SMALL HOUSE ISSAC SMALL HOUSE HIGHLAND LIGHT BENJAMIN S.KELLEY HOUSE JEDEDIAH HIGGINS HOUSE DANIEL P. HIGGINS HOUSE EBENEZER DYER HOUSE DANIEL P. HIGGINS HOUSE SAMUEL PAINE HOUSE RICHARD PAINE HOUSE JOSHUA RICH HOUSE SHEBNAH RICH HOUSE JEREMIAH HIGGINS HOUSE SALLY MAYO HOUSE THOMAS DYER HOUSE DAVID STOCKER HOUSE PAINE—ATKINS HOUSE JOHN C. RICH HOUSE

CAPT. ZOETH RICH HOUSE NELIEMIAH MAYO HOUSE 10 . EDMUND FREEMAN HOUSE BOG HOUSE JOHN MAYO HOUSE AND WOODHOUSE LOT HARDING HOUSE WILLIAM T. NEWCOMB UNIDENTIFIED JOSHUA DYER HOUSE HOUSE 11. JOHN NEWCOMB HOUSE AMBROSE SNOW PRIVY EPHRAIM RICH HOUSE JOSIAH HIGGINS HOUSE

AMBROSE SNOW HOUSE THOMAS RICH, JR. HOUSE 12 . CLARENCE H.ROWELL AND COBBLER SHOP JOSEPHS. COLE HOUSE HOUSE NATHANIEL DYER HOUSE RICH-COBB HOUSE CLARA ROWELL HOUSE EPHRAIM SNOW HOUSE ELISHA COBB HOUSE UNIDENTIFIED BENJAMIN DYER HOUSE ELISHA COBB SUMMER KITCHEN THREE STRUCTURES OF JOSHUA SNOW UNIDENTIFIED SIGNIFICANCE WOODHOUSE 8 SAMUEL RICH HOUSE 13. MARCONI WIRELESS ZENAS ADAMS HOUSE DAVID BAKER HOUSE FOUNDATIONS AND JOSHUA SNOW HOUSE HENRY ATWOOD HOUSE TOWER BASES PAUL KNOWLES HOUSE EBENEZER L. ATWOOD HOUSE 14. SYLVANUS DOANE HOUSE JONAH ATKINS HOUSE GEORGE K. HIGGINS STORE UNIDENTIFIED EPHRAIM HARDING HOUSE AND BARN 15. NOAH DOANE HOUSE RICHARD RICH HOUSE ATWOOD-HIGGINS DOANE BREWER HOUSE STEPHEN SNOW HOUSE HOUSE ISIAH DOANE HOUSE WILLIAM P. SNOW HOUSE ELNATHAN HIGGINS SIMEON DOANE HOUSE JOSEPH RICH HOUSE DAVID CURRAN HOUSE 16. SETH KNOWLES JONATHAN COLLINS HOUSE RYDER—PAINE HOUSE SYVANUSKNOWLES HOUSE ISSAC RICH HOUSE JUSTIN WILLIAMS HOUSE CAPT. EDWARD PENNIMAN BENJAMIN COLLINS HOUSE HENRY GREY HOUSE HOUSE AND BARN THOMAS HOPKINS HOUSE UNIDENTIFIED h ig h l a n d l ig h t c o m p l e x I The Highland Light complex presents should be made available for public visitation both an opportunity for imaginative planning and enjoyment. However, the planning I and a set of complex planning considerations. complexities are many. Present parking and Composed of a variety of uses and activities access are inadequate. There are no surfaced w ith in a small but geologically and trails nor barriers at the top of the bluff. I esthetically significant land form, the Visitor use must be carefully channeled to complex requires a detailed development avoid conflict with the still-active lighthouse concept. and nearby improved properties and I Elements of the complex include a bluff commercial activities. The Highland House, rising 135 feet from the Atlantic, the famous although in poor condition, is being operated and still active Highland or Cape Cod Light, as a museum and headquarters by the Truro I and the so-called Highland House Hotel, built H is to ric a l S o ciety on a cooperative in 1910 and named after a much earlier and agreement. historic structure which was moved from the area several years ago. Other important I features include two gift shops (Jobi and NAUSET LIGHT BEACH Little Shop), the nine-hole Highland Golf Course, Horton's campground, and several Nauset Light Beach merits further I other improved properties. consideration. It was given to the Federal The physical setting is bleak but Government by the town of Eastham with picturesque — reminiscent of a Scottish moor. the stipulation that its use as a beach would I The view over the Atlantic and along the continue. Some investment, including a new sweep of Great Beach is striking. It is an area comfort station, has been made at this of scenic appeal and historic interest which beach. I I

56 I However, the beach lies at the bottom of a steep scarp, and stairs are required to BAY SIDE provide access from the parking area at the top of the scarp to the beach at its foot. Planning for this segment of Cape Cod Erosion of the scarp at this point has National Seashore is influenced by a number progressed at the average rate of about three of factors. Among these factors are those feet per year. In the past six years the bluff relating to access, uncertainty as to the has receded about twenty-five feet and two amount of use the proposed Bayside Beach rows of parking have been lost. Present will receive in view of the experience of Federal landholdings in the vicinity, with the town-operated bay beaches, land ownership exception of the parcel donated by the town, patterns, and a Seashore initiated restudy of are small and are not contiguous. interpretive goals for this segment. A t present, Nauset Light Beach is not well suited to these factors and their interrelationship are development as a major beach. However, in too fluid to permit definitive development view of the stipulation made with the Town planning for the Bay Side. As these factors are of Eastham and the ever-increasing demand b ro u g h t in to b e tte r focus by the for beach facilities, a beach in this immediate recommended transportation system study by vicinity should be continued. a refinement of interpretive thinking, and by Existing Federal lands in the vicinity and the passage of time, adjustment of the suitable for such use in terms of the General Development Plan as it relates to this authorizing legislation could be so developed. segment of the Seashore should be reviewed As opportunity permits, Federal holdings and revised if necessary, and Developed Area should be blocked in to improve the Schematics prepared as a basis for i development potentials. programming and construction.

57

Priority Of Needs

This section of the master plan sets out and expansion may be necessary before the the sequence of actions needed to conserve, transportation study is complete or before the use, and manage the Seashore. A t this stage of systems can be planned or developed. The development, the Seashore is an operating decision as to whether or not to expand the identity. A few problems exist which should parking at these beaches cannot be made in be solved before major development is carried this plan. Similarly final development plans further. The next priorities should be for for the Griffin Island Visitor Center and a study and planning. The transportation study bayside beach development cannot be made should be undertaken immediately. until problems of transportation to them can Concurrently, the Service should work closely be solved. with the State Department of Public Works, Spur trails connecting the Seashore Bureau of Public Roads, and regional and bicycle trails to rental centers should be town planning groups on further study of the provided. Route 6 problem. Acquisition of remaining Developed Area Plans and other Action unimproved lands should be begun. While Plans should be completed as soon as possible. much of the recommended development is on There is no clear-cut priority in which Federally owned land, the length of the recommended facilities should be provided. Seashore hiking trail and several bicycle, short Determination of priority should be made hiking and nature trails cannot be built until through the regular programming process. lands along the rights-of-way have been acquired. The transportation study can begin now. It is definitely related to the proposed Provincetown town plan, planning decisions concerning Route 6, and other regional considerations. If mass transportation systems are found to be feasible, additional parking at Herring Cove and Marconi Beaches may be unnecessary. However, beach use is increasing

59 The study team wishes to express its gratitude to:

The Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission for its review of preliminary draft material and for its valuable advice and Study Participants* consultation. Chairman Joshua Nickerson and former DAVID A. KIMBALL, Team Captain, Office Chairman Charles Foster of the Advisory o f Resource Planning, WSC Commission for a far-ranging, penetrating and stimulating discussion of the many factors JOHN J. REYNOLDS, Team Captain, Office which seashore planning must consider. o f Environmental Planning and Design, ESC Executive Director Fletcher Davis, Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development KENNETH L. SMITH, Engineer, Office o f Commission, and his staff, for assistance in Resource Planning, WSC gathering basic data, advice and counsel. Planning Consultant John Atwood, for JAMES KILLIAN, Landscape Architect, most graciously providing land use data for Office o f Design and Construction, PSC the towns of Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown. JAMES GODBOLT, C hief, Resource The staff of Cape Cod National Seashore, Management and Visitor Protection, and particularly Mrs. Lyn Baldwin, Mrs. Northeast Region Marjorie Burling and Mrs. Doris Doane, for typing assistance, travel arrangements and GRANT PETERSON, Recreation Specialist, reservations, advice and guidance, and, most Fire Island National Seashore of all, an enthusiasm and espirit de corps which made the field trip a most enjoyable MURRAY H. NELLIGAN, Resource Studies one. Advisor, Northeast Region Acknowledgements

STANLEY C. JOSEPH, Former Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore

LESLIE P. ARNBERGER, Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore

NORMAN M. BEAN, Chief Ranger, Cape Cod National Seashore

VERNON D. DAME, Chief Naturalist, Cape Cod National Seashore

JAMES H. BOWMAN, Park Engineer, Cape Cod National Seashore

CLIFFORD PEARCE, Architect, Cape Cod National Seashore

Note: Functions and organizational unit to which planning team members were responsible.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NPS 733

61 ■frU.S. Government Printing Office: 1974-784-482/44 Region 8