along the beach and back dune areas and is subject to the limitations 

 discussed previously. A study of various proposed access routes by 

 Zeigler and Marcellus (1972) concluded that all proposed hard-surfaced 

 automobile routes would ultimately cause permanent damage to the area 

 and that the only acceptable access to False Cape State Park would be: 

 (a) A monorail or rapid transit system, or (b) a ferry crossing from 

 Knotts Island, North Carolina, across Back Bay to the bay side of 

 Currituck Spit at False Cape Landing. State-sponsored studies of this 

 problem are continuing (Division of Parks, 1975) and decisions are 

 expected in the next 2 years. 



During each survey, a bird census was taken of both numbers of spe- 

 cies and numbers of individuals. It was observed that where human 

 population was densest and beach usage was most intensified, the bird 

 population was lower, and conversely, bird populations were highest in 

 natural, restricted areas of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False 

 Cape State Park where human activity was minimal (Fig. 6 and App . E) . 



The same was true for ghost crabs (Smith, 1972). None was observed 

 in areas experiencing a great deal of vehicular traffic, but they have 

 been observed in Back Bay and False Cape, with a notable increase in 

 numbers after vehicular access was severely curtailed in 1973 (F. Smith, 

 Wildlife Biologist, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, personal com- 

 munication, 1974). Few ghost crabs were observed north of Sandbridge. 



III. METHODS 



1 . Beach Surveys . 



The 18 profile lines were surveyed once each month for 27 

 months and after eight storms or periods of high waves (some storms 

 did not bring high waves to Virginia Beach, as discussed in Sec. V, 

 2) . Vertical distances were measured with a Dietzgen automatic 

 level and a telescoping fiberglass leveling rod graduated to 0.01 

 foot (0.003 meter). Horizontal distances were measured with a 

 fiberglass-polyester woven tape graduated to 0.05 foot (0.015 

 meter) . 



Each profile line was measured from the top of the most seaward 

 of three pipes (pipe 1) taking vertical and horizontal readings at 

 all significant breaks in slope, to as far seaward of mean sea level 

 as possible under the existing wave climate. Scarps, berms, last 

 high tide lines, and the waterline (or swash zones) were points also 

 measured and specifically noted on the specially designed VIMS Beach 

 Survey form (App. F) along with other pertinent data gathered at the 

 survey locations. The advantage of this form is that it can be 



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