Report from the Beach

Memorial Day Weekend

Long Beach will be staffed for the summer season beginning on Saturday, May 25. Crossover access will be available from 9:00am to 7:00pm daily, subject to restrictions for nesting shorebirds and tidal conditions. New 2024 beach stickers will be required beginning on Saturday.

Due to the location and timing of the hatching of piping plover nests, we expect there may be access for as many as 120 vehicles on the beachfront, however, there are still plovers active near the Crossover that have not yet nested, so that could change by Saturday. The Day Parking Area and the roadway beyond may close early at 7:00pm when a plover nest hatches around May 27.

Before you head out to the beach, be sure to check the Long Beach Information page for updates on vehicle access.

Crossover Access

In addition to the restrictions described above, Crossover access is expected to decrease to about 90 vehicles on May 28, and then close on June 1 due to a plover nest located close to the Crossover. Plover chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching and are incredibly mobile for such a small chick – they weigh only about 6 grams when they hatch, which is the weight of about 6 paperclips! Piping plovers are protected under the Massachusetts and federal Endangered Species Act, so to protect the chicks, vehicles are restricted from areas where they are present until the chicks are able to fly, which can take up to 35 days.

Ryder Way Access

As in past seasons, there are piping plover nests and a least tern colony along Ryder Way. So far, there are 5 plover nests, with potential for another 3 nests, along the road.

Under normal circumstances, once a nest hatches, vehicle access would be restricted to protect the chicks until they can fly, however, the Town participates in the statewide Habitat Conservation Plan for Piping Plover, which will allow the areas beyond the chicks to remain open to recreational vehicles for limited hours.

The first nest expected to hatch along Ryder Way is located near the Day Parking Area. When this nest hatches around May 27, the Day Parking Area and areas beyond will close to recreational vehicles (including for fishing) at 7:00pm. This night-time restriction will be moved southward to near the first cottage along Ryder Way when a nest in that area hatches around June 4.

The Natural Resources staff will monitor the location of the chicks and manage traffic if they approach or cross the road or parking area. Delays may be caused by the presence of chicks in or near the road. Be alert to the possible presence of chicks and adult plovers in the road and stop to let them pass. If you see chicks in or near the road, please notify staff. If a take occurs (e.g., a chick is killed), the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife may suspend use of the road and vehicle access will be limited to areas south of the area where the chicks are located, so please use caution when driving through these areas.

Beach Sticker Information

New 2024 Long Beach 4x4 stickers will be required on May 25 to access Town beaches. The orange beach stickers that were valid for the 2022 and 2023 seasons expired on December 31, and both regular and 4x4 beach stickers will be valid for one calendar year moving forward, rather than fiscal year.

Stickers are being sold online, by mail, and in person at the Tax Collector’s office. More information about sticker purchases can be found on the Town’s Beach & Pond Information page.

Willet

Seasonal Dog Restrictions

The seasonal dog ban on certain portions of the beach went into effect on April 1. From April 1 through September 30, the partial ban restricts dogs from all Town properties north of the Day Parking Area, which is the small 4x4 parking area located about 2/3 of the way out to the Crossover. Leashed dogs are allowed on Ryder Way and the beachfront from the main parking lot northward to the Day Parking Area, excluding areas closed for shorebird nesting. Violations of the ban and/or the leash law can result in fines up to $100. More information can be found in the Information for Dog Owners pamphlet.

Rules & Regulations

Before you head out to the beach for the first time this season, please take a few minutes to review the information in the Plymouth Long Beach Rules & Regulations pamphlet. Hard copies are available at the beach at the Manter’s Point and Crossover guard shacks, as well as in the Department of Energy and Environment office on the first floor of Town Hall.

For the safety of yourself and those around you, observe the speed limit of 10 mph in all areas, including on the beach, on Ryder Way and in the Plymouth Beach parking lot. If you park along Ryder Way, please remember to park in the areas designated by signs, and do not block the road as other vehicles, including emergency vehicles, must be able to pass by.

Please become familiar with and follow all of the rules and regulations so that we can all have a safe summer while protecting Plymouth’s valuable natural resources.

More Information

More information about the Crossover and Long Beach can be found on the Long Beach Information page.

Information about other Town beaches and ponds can be found on the Beach & Pond Information page.