The National Parks Service is trying to keep at least a few lifeguards on the Cape Hatteras Seashore this summer.
Federal officials cut the $200,000 program that staffed three beaches seven days a week during the summer.
Now, Outer Banks Group Superintendent Barclay Trimble said he wants lifeguard service contractors to offer bids that can accommodate a tighter budget.
“What we're looking at on the contracting proposal is shorter shifts that will not exceed eight hours a day, so we can help limit the amount of people that we would have to have on a daily basis, and get away with two people instead of four,” Trimble explained.
Trimble said he hopes Dare and Hyde Counties would consider sharing the cost of keeping the other beaches open longer.
He added that he hopes they'll be able to offer guarded beaches from Memorial to Labor Day weekend.
