Informing plans for managing resources of Cape Lookout National Seashore under projected climate change, sea level rise, and associated impacts: Stakeholder studies synthesis report

Seekamp, Erin; Fatoric, Sandra; McCreary, Allie

Climate change impacts, such as increased storm-related flooding and sea level rise, are challenging traditional approaches to cultural resource management. Managers must consider not only the significance, integrity, and association when considering preservation strategies but also the resilience of materials and constraints of the landscape, as well as the budget limitations that inhibit managers from adapting all resources at once. Current U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS) policy guidelines (2014) recommend that managers prioritize the most vulnerable and most significant cultural resources for adaptation. Yet, adaptation strategies that reduce the vulnerability of cultural resources may alter the socio-cultural values various stakeholder groups place on those resources. This report synthesizes select findings from four separate stakeholder studies aimed at documenting preferences for adapting cultural resources at Cape Lookout National Seashore. The four stakeholder studies included: (1) on-site structured interviews with park visitors, (2) interviews with community members , (3) online survey questionnaires with members of Cape Lookout National Seashore partner organizations, and (4) an online survey with cultural resource management and historic preservation experts. All study participants were asked to consider their responses in relation to the historic buildings located within two villages listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Cape Lookout Village and Portsmouth Village. This report compares findings from each of these groups in three main areas of: (a) place connections and cultural resource values, (b) adaptation strategies, and (c) preservation priorities. Place connections can be tangible (e.g., the best place for shelling or fishing) and/or intangible (e.g., a part of one’s identity) values that connect individuals to a geographic space (Davenport & Anderson, 2005). Our findings highlight that visitors, community members, and members of partner organizations value the Cape Lookout in terms of its uniqueness and importance to national heritage and future generations. Community members had the strongest place connections which were largely intangible values connected to heritage and family and individual identity. Members of CALO partner organizations (e.g., Friends of Portsmouth Island) had moderate place connections, while visitors held the weakest place connections. Each group somewhat differed in their preferences for adaptation strategies . There was a general preference to “interpret the change” and “leave things as they are” using annual maintenance, which was particularly characteristic of community members’ preferences as they typically felt moving or elevating buildings would detract from their place connections. Visitors preferred elevating buildings and members of partner organizations preferred that changes be managed (e.g., planting vegetation to reduce erosion or building boardwalks to access buildings) or that resilience be improved (e.g., alter or modify building to withstand storm surge and flooding, including elevating). Experts most commonly recommended that managers “improve resilience” or “document and release” structures (i.e., study and record the details of the building, and then allow them to deteriorate with storms and flooding) as adaptation strategies. Visitors, members of partner organizations, and experts commonly felt that national importance was a key criterion for prioritizing buildings for adaptation. Visitors most favored preserving the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters, and experts reported that buildings which play a central role in the cultural landscape should be prioritized. Additionally, members of partner organizations and experts are keen to see prioritization based on buildings’ scientific value. Members of partner organizations also felt .........................................

Informing plans for managing resources of Cape Lookout National Seashore under projected climate change, sea level rise, and associated impacts: Stakeholder studies synthesis report

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