The grains of sand in a seemingly endless hourglass finally have run out. After years of controversy, a federal judge has accepted a plan that limits beach driving at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

None of the parties to this agreement are fully pleased. That's the nature of compromise -- and nature itself is the main beneficiary here. Threatened shorebirds and sea turtles now have a fighting chance. And beach driving can continue, with some new restrictions that most surf fisherman should be able to live with.

The agreement accepted by U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle was reached by environmental groups (which had sued the National Park Service), Dare and Hyde counties and the Cape Hatteras Access Preservation Alliance. It restricts night driving from May 1 to Nov. 15 at potential sea turtle nesting areas. It closes certain areas when nesting piping plover and American oystercatchers have chicks, and restricts access during nesting.

But it won't bar motor vehicles, which anglers use to get their gear to favorite spots. Nor does it put numerical limits on vehicles. Judge Boyle signaled that the accord might have been more restrictive, but he signed off on it anyway. Still to come is a permanent plan from the Park Service, due by 2011.

Left fuming are some diehard beach drivers, at least one of whom sports a "Piping plover taste like chicken" button on e-mail. But most surf fishers are nature lovers too, and they're willing to give the birds a well-deserved break.