Dewey Beach Officials Considering Year-Round Vehicle Ban on Beach

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Up to one foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas, near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...In Maryland, Dorchester, Wicomico and Somerset Counties. In Virginia, Northumberland, Lancaster and Accomack Counties. * WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 6 AM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Shallow flooding is expected in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline resulting in a low threat of property damage. Expect up to one foot of water above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. Some roads and low lying property including parking lots, parks and lawns near the waterfront will experience shallow flooding. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. CAMBRIDGE MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/04 PM 2.7 0.7 0.9 1 NONE 08/05 AM 3.6 1.6 1.2 1 MINOR 08/05 PM 2.9 0.9 1.2 1 NONE 09/06 AM 3.6 1.6 1.2 1 MINOR 09/06 PM 2.9 0.9 1.2 1 NONE 10/06 AM 3.5 1.5 1.2 1 NONE BISHOPS HEAD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.2 FT, MODERATE 3.7 FT, MAJOR 4.2 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.1 FT, MODERATE 1.6 FT, MAJOR 2.1 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/02 PM 2.8 0.7 0.7 1 NONE 08/02 AM 3.5 1.4 0.9 1 MINOR 08/02 PM 2.9 0.8 0.9 1 NONE 09/03 AM 3.7 1.6 1.1 1 MINOR 09/03 PM 3.0 0.9 1.0 1 NONE 10/03 AM 3.5 1.4 1.0 1 MINOR CRISFIELD MD MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.5 FT, MODERATE 4.0 FT, MAJOR 5.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.3 FT, MODERATE 1.8 FT, MAJOR 2.8 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 08/01 AM 3.6 1.4 1.2 1 MINOR 08/01 PM 3.0 0.8 1.3 1 NONE 09/02 AM 3.7 1.5 1.2 1 MINOR 09/02 PM 3.1 0.9 1.4 1 NONE 10/02 AM 3.8 1.6 1.4 1 MINOR LEWISETTA VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.5 FT, MODERATE 2.0 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/02 PM 2.3 0.8 0.8 1 NONE 08/02 AM 3.1 1.6 1.3 1 MINOR 08/02 PM 2.5 1.0 1.1 1 NONE 09/03 AM 2.9 1.4 1.1 1 NONE 09/03 PM 2.5 1.0 1.1 1-2 NONE 10/03 AM 2.8 1.3 1.1 1 NONE WINDMILL POINT VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.6 FT, MODERATE 2.1 FT, MAJOR 2.6 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/11 PM 2.7 1.3 1.1 1 NONE 08/12 PM 2.4 1.0 1.2 1 NONE 09/12 AM 2.8 1.4 1.2 1 NONE 09/11 AM 2.2 0.8 1.2 1 NONE 10/01 AM 2.8 1.4 1.2 1 NONE SAXIS VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 4.5 FT, MODERATE 5.5 FT, MAJOR 6.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 2.0 FT, MODERATE 3.0 FT, MAJOR 4.0 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 08/12 AM 4.0 1.5 0.9 1 NONE 08/01 PM 3.5 1.0 1.1 1 NONE 09/01 AM 4.1 1.6 1.0 1 NONE 09/01 PM 3.5 1.0 1.3 1 NONE 10/02 AM 4.2 1.7 1.2 1 NONE NASSAWADOX CREEK AT BAYFORD VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 3.0 FT, MODERATE 3.5 FT, MAJOR 4.5 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.0 FT, MODERATE 1.5 FT, MAJOR 2.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/10 PM 2.9 0.9 0.8 1 NONE 08/11 AM 2.5 0.5 0.9 1 NONE 09/12 AM 3.2 1.2 1.1 1 MINOR 09/11 AM 2.6 0.6 1.1 1-2 NONE 10/01 AM 3.2 1.2 1.2 2 MINOR 10/12 PM 2.4 0.4 0.9 2 NONE CHINCOTEAGUE INLET VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 4.5 FT, MODERATE 5.0 FT, MAJOR 6.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 1.7 FT, MODERATE 2.2 FT, MAJOR 3.2 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/08 PM 3.8 1.0 0.4 2 NONE 08/09 AM 3.0 0.2 0.5 2 NONE 08/09 PM 3.8 1.0 0.4 2 NONE 09/10 AM 2.9 0.1 0.5 2 NONE 09/10 PM 3.9 1.1 0.5 1-2 NONE 10/10 AM 2.9 0.1 0.6 1 NONE WACHAPREAGUE VA MLLW CATEGORIES - MINOR 6.5 FT, MODERATE 7.5 FT, MAJOR 8.0 FT MHHW CATEGORIES - MINOR 2.0 FT, MODERATE 3.0 FT, MAJOR 3.5 FT TOTAL TOTAL DEPARTURE DAY/TIME TIDE TIDE FROM NORM WAVES FLOOD FT MLLW FT MHHW FT FT IMPACT -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 07/09 PM 6.2 1.7 0.8 1 NONE 08/09 AM 5.0 0.5 0.9 1 NONE 08/10 PM 6.3 1.8 0.9 1 NONE 09/10 AM 4.7 0.2 0.8 1 NONE 09/11 PM 6.1 1.6 0.8 1 NONE 10/11 AM 4.7 0.2 0.9 1 NONE &&

Kirstyn Clark
Kirstyn Clark
Broadcast/Video Journalist

Author email
Jun 16, 2023
Jun 16, 2023

DEWEY BEACH, Del. -- On Friday, commissioners in Dewey Beach discussed a proposed ordinance to ban unauthorized vehicles year-round on the beach.

Currently, Chapter 65-8 of the Dewey Beach Code of Ordinances states that np vehicles are allowed to drive on the beach from May 15 - Sept. 15 unless they are operated by police, fire, emergency, Town, beach concessionaires under contract, or other authorized municipal or state vehicle on official business.

Cars that have official Delaware Surf Fishing licenses and are used for surf fishing purposes are allowed on the beach during the offseason. However, if the ordinance is passed, it will ban all vehicles year-round.

Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer says it just makes sense to discuss a ban as accessibility to driving on the beach is already an issue in the area.

"If we think about it, I mean we're really not built to drive vehicles as you an tell by the width of our dunes here," says Bauer. "Plus, we've got these nice dune mats you go up and over. You don't want to get those ruined. If you are lucky enough to get your car up, we have no place to inflate or deflate tires. There's a high probability that your car gets stuck and we can't get you out of there so, it's kind of a common sense thing."

The beach can be accessed by car on Chicago Street. Neighbor Cheryl New lives there and says she has witnessed a car stuck on the beach.

"I think that it's probably a good idea to not have just your average person attempt to have a fun day on the beach and not be able to navigate it properly, says New. "I think there's also animals here year-round, there's little kids, so I think there's plenty of places you can get the same effect year-round and not on Chicago Street."

Not all beachgoers agree. Vacationer Ethan Deregis often drives his car on Delaware State Parks. He feels a year-round ban in Dewey Beach would be unfair to people who can safely drive in the sand.

"When you're with your family on vacation or you live here, it's a good time," says Deregis. "You can campout there and go down there and fish. It's a good time with your car there as well."

Commissioners will discuss and vote on the ordinance at a future meeting.

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Coastal Flood Advisory from TUE 11:00 PM EDT until WED 6:00 AM EDT

Dewey Beach Officials Considering Year-Round Vehicle Ban on Beach

Kirstyn Clark

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