CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The second of three public meetings over the future of Padre Island National Seashore will take place Wednesday evening. The first one on Tuesday night had the Texas State Aquarium packed within minutes of the doors opening.
These meetings are related to the seashore's beach management plan, which includes everything from beach driving to the way sea turtle nests are protected.
The reason behind the proposed management plan is because the park currently has no plan. However, it's what is on the list of proposed options that has some people concerned.
PINS spokesperson Kelly Taylor told 3NEWS that the creation of the plan was brought on by a lot of unanswered questions.
"For example, how do we manage the sand, how do we manage the island after a hurricane, how do we manage marine debris?" she said.
One of the biggest concerns heard has to do with the topic of "vehicle-free pedestrian areas." Park rangers said it could help enhance visitor safety.
However, there are those who are fired up over even the thought of banning cars from the beaches.
Breakaway Tackle shop owner Nick Meyer said limiting beach access could actually affect tourism.
"That beach access is why a lot of people actually live here, I know, there's a gentlemen who comes in my shop spends $36,000, he's from Alaska," he said.
Proposed changes to turtle program also discussed
He's also concerned about another big topic that was brought up -- changes to the turtle program.
"So every release there are people coming from all over the world to see that. Donna's program was very unique and very successful because it didn't effect my access rights to that beach," he said, referring to the program led by Donna Shaver, chief of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery.
Possible options include limiting egg collection and holding fewer public hatchling releases, or limiting the crowd size. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researcher Philippe Tissot said he doesn't see the need to change it.
"Now they are proposing things that are all different. I'm here to give my opinion and say please support the present sea turtle conservation science program," he said.
Taylor maintains that everything is on the table and no decisions have been made.
"If people have a particular direction they would like us to look at as far as beach driving, whether to leave it alone or do a, b, c, d to make my life easier, we want to hear about that," she said.
Taylor said that public input will help when finetuning their final plan. Those who were on hand said it's important for everyone to speak up.
"If you don't show up now when the hatchling releases are canceled for lack of turtles, and you can't drive down the beach from April to July, it's because you didn't have your voice heard when it counted," one participant said.
Tuesday's meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. at the Texas State Aquarium. The third meeting will take place Thursday in San Antonio.
Comments will be due by March 14.