0 Engaging Eastern Shore Communities in Protection of the Salt Marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Interviews with stakeholders from academic, non‐profit, business and faith groups conducted for Pickering Creek Audubon Center
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EngagingEasternShoreCommunitiesinProtectionoftheSaltMarshesofBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugeInterviews with stakeholders from academic, non‐profit,
business and faith groups conducted for Pickering Creek
Audubon Center
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June2015
Reportauthor:KarenAkerlof,PhDCenterforClimateChangeCommunication,GeorgeMasonUniversityThisreportwasfundedthroughagrantfromtheTownCreekFoundationofEaston,MarylandtoAudubonforthesupportofPickeringCreekAudubonCenter’ssaltmarshcommunityengagementproject,“SaltMarshStories.”
PhotoofBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugecourtesyofK.Akerlof
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Executive Summary PickeringCreekAudubonCentermaintainsalonghistoryofprovidingsuccessfulenvironmentaleducationprogrammingonMaryland’sEasternShore.Thegoalofthe“SaltMarshStories”programistobuildonthatfoundationalexpertise,expandingtonewadultaudiencesinTalbotandDorchestercountieswithcontentthatservestonotonlyinformparticipantsabouttheecologicalroleofthesaltmarshes,butspurheightenedcommunitydiscourseandadvocacyonbehalfoftheirpreservation.InSpring2015,GeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterforClimateChangeCommunicationconductedasetofstakeholderinterviewswithindividualsrepresentingfourareasofinterestfortheprogram:businessandfaithcommunities,highereducation,andregionalAudubonchapters.Thefindingsandrecommendationsfromthestudyaredetailedbelow.Characterization of the social and ecological communities
Waterwasfrequentlyidentifiedbyrespondentsasthemostcharacteristicaspectsofnatureinthesecommunities,aswellasmarsh,treesandopenfields.Peoplealsopointedoutthatthesenaturalaspectshadchangedovertime.
Respondentspointedtotensionsinthecommunities,andontheEasternShoregenerally,thatfurthercomplicatedthesechangesintherelationshipbetweencommunitiesandnaturalresources:tensionsbetweengenerations;betweenfarmersandwatermen;betweenenvironmentalgroupsandindustry,especiallypoultry;betweennewresidentsandlongtimeinhabitants;andbetweenracialgroups.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s role in the community
PickeringCreekissupportedbythestakeholdersinterviewedforthisstudyinexploringabroaderroleinthelocalcommunity,butthereisalsorecognitionofcomplexnatureofthechallenge.Possiblebarriersincluded:thereluctanceoflocalpolicymakerstoaddresstheissues;thepossibilityforcommunityresistancetochangesinlandusebroughtuponbythemigrationofthesaltmarshes;andAudubon’sframingoftheissueasoneofclimatechangeandhabitatconservationversuscommunityresilienceandadaptation.
Opportunities for community engagement—and challenges
OtherorganizationshavealreadyexploredmodelsforconductingwetlandsadaptationwithincommunitiesthatcouldbeinstructiveinpreservingBlackwater’ssaltmarshes:acommunityofadaptationpractice;andconversationswithSmithandDealislandresidents.
Citedchallengesincommunityengagementincludedthewidepoliticizationofenvironmentalissuesandthescaleoftheproblemwhichrendersanyoneindividual’sactionsseeminglyinsignificant.
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Communication and attitudes about the salt marshes, sea‐level rise and climate change
Respondentssaidtheybelievedthateffectsofchangesonthewater—floodingandsea‐levelrise—weremorelikelytobediscussedthanclimatechangeorthemarshes.
Wetlandsstillhaveapublicrelationsproblemnotedinterviewees—as“mucky,mosquito‐infected”areas.
Recommendations
Developamulti‐yearcommunicationplanthatdetailstherolethatPickeringCreekchoosestotakeinthecommunityanditsimplementation—whetheritistocontinuelargelyprovidingenvironmentaleducation,orwhetheritistopresentinformationtoinformlocaldecision‐makingaboutpolicies.
Considerthefullarrayofpossiblyinfluentialaudiencesinlocalcommunities,especiallycivicleaders,andwhatcontributionstheymightmaketothewiderdiscourse.
Evaluatewhethertherearedifferencesintheneedsandperspectivesofthenewtargetaudiencestothesaltmarshes,andhowthosemightbeaddressedinrecruitment,presentationcontent,andexperientialevents.
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Background Forthelastfouryears,PickeringCreekAudubonCenterhaspartneredwithAudubonMaryland‐DC,BlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,andTheConservationFundtoconductcommunityoutreachandeducationinconjunctionwiththeirresearchandimplementationofadaptationstrategiesforsaltmarshecosystemsincombattingtheeffectsofsea‐levelrise.PickeringCreekhasalongsuccessfulhistoryofprovidingenvironmentaleducationprogramming,especiallyforelementaryschoolstudents.“SaltMarshStories”seekstobuildonthatexpertise,expandingtonewadultaudiencesinTalbotandDorchestercountieswithcontentthatservestonotonlyinformparticipantsabouttheecologicalroleofthesaltmarshes,butspurheightenedcommunitydiscourseandadvocacyonbehalfoftheirpreservation.TheculminationoftheseactivitieswillbeasaltmarshforuminDorchesterCountyin2016thatengagescivicleadersfromallwalksoflife,includingthebusinesscommunityandfaithorganizations.Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Dorchester CountyDorchesterCountysitsalong1,500scenicmilesofChesapeakeBayshorelineboundedbytheChoptankRivertothenorthandtheNanticokeRivertothesouth.Wetlandsriddletheinterior,comprisingnearlyhalfofthecountyandincludingthesaltmarshesofBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge.1ThetidalmarsheswithinthisregionaresomeofthemostextensiveintheUnitedStatesandrepresentcriticalwildlifehabitat,particularlyforbirds.Inthepastcentury,thousandsofacresofmarshhaveconvertedtoopenwaterduetodestructionfrominvasivespeciesandrelativesea‐levelrise.Thecountyfaceseconomicchallengesaswellasthreatstoitsnaturalecosystems.Theprimaryindustriesinthecountyaremanufacturing,services,tourism,andagriculture/aquaculture.2Asof2013,morethan700businessescalledDorchesterhome,butonly16ofthemwith100workersormore.3Atjustover$46,000,medianhouseholdincomesforthecountyarelessthantwo‐thirdsofthatofthestateasawhole.4ThecountyhasoneofthehighestunemploymentratesinMaryland(8.5%),comparabletotheCityofBaltimore(8.7%)3;lessthan20%ofresidentshaveabachelor’sdegree;and16.5%liveunderthepovertylevel.4Bywayofcomparison,TalbotCounty,whilejustnorthofDorchesterCounty,hasmedianincomesthataremorethanathirdhigher,andunemploymentratesthatare2.9percentagepointslower.Establishedinthe1600s,DorchesterandTalbotCountieswereoneoftheearliestsettledareasbycolonistsinMaryland.Theymaintainrichhistories,famouslychronicledinJames
1 Lerner, J.A., Curson, D.R., Whitbeck, M. and Meyers, E.J. 2013. Blackwater 2100: A strategy for salt marsh persistence in an era of climate change. The Conservation Fund (Arlington, VA) and Audubon MD‐DC (Baltimore, MD). 2 Maryland Dept. of Business and Economic Development. ND. Brief economic facts: Dorchester County, Maryland. Available at http://business.maryland.gov/Documents/ResearchDocument/DorchesterBef.pdf 3 Maryland Dept. of Business and Economic Development. 2015. Maryland Data Explorer. Available at http://business.maryland.gov/about/rankings‐and‐statistics/data‐explorer 4 U.S. Census Bureau. 2015, Apr. 22. QuickFacts, Dorchester County, Maryland. Available at http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24019.html
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Michener’snovel“Chesapeake.”ThesehistoriesincludepivotalfiguresandeventsinU.S.anti‐slaveryandCivilRightsmovements,includingasthebirthplaceofHarrietTubman,siteoftheUndergroundRailroad,andCivilRightsdemonstrationsinthe1960s.AboutathirdofresidentsinDorchesterarefromcommunitiesofcolor,oneofthehighestratesalongtheEasternShore,onparwithWicomicoCounty(33%)andsomewhatlowerthanSomerset(48%).5Public opinion on sea‐level rise and climate change in the Eastern ShoreRoughlyathirdofMarylandersinthecountiesalongtheEasternShore—fromKenttoWicomicoandWorcester—saythattheyareveryorextremelysureclimatechangeishappening(32%),asimilarpercentageareveryorextremelysuresea‐levelriseishappeningalongMaryland’scoastlines(37%).6EasternShoreresidentsarelesscertainthatclimatechangeishappeningthantherestofthestate(45%very/extremelysure),buttheyaremorecertainthatsea‐levelriseishappeningthanotherMarylanders(18%very/extremelysure).Outreach programPickeringCreekAudubonCenter’sSaltMarshStoriesprogramconsistsofthreecomponents:1)aneducationalpresentationdeliveredtoaudiencesattheirlocation;2)toursofthenationalwildliferefugetolearnaboutitsimportanceaspartoftheAtlanticFlywayforcriticalbirdhabitat;and3)restorationofsaltmarshbyvolunteerreplantingofgrassplugsinareasthathaveexperiencedecologicaldeterioration.Organizationsmaychoosetoparticipateinoneormoreoftheactivities.TheexcursionstoBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugeoftenbringtogethergroupsofdifferentagesandinterests,suchasAudubonchaptermembersandundergraduatestudentsfromlocaluniversities.Research roleGeorgeMasonUniversity’sCenterforClimateChangeCommunicationwasaskedtoassistinsupportingandassessingPickeringCreek’seffortsin2014‐2015withaudienceresearch.Thestudyincludesasetofstakeholderinterviewscapturedinthisreport,abaselinesurvey,andfollow‐upsurveyswithparticipantsoftheBlackwaterexcursion.Thestakeholderinterviewspresentedinthisreportrepresentfouraudiencesofinterest:businessandfaithcommunities,highereducation,andregionalAudubonchapters.InterviewsTheobjectiveoftheinterviewsistofurtherprogramdevelopmentofSaltMarshStoriesbyprovidinginformationabouttheenvironmentalperceptions,mentalmodels,interests,and
5Maryland State Data Center. 2011. Census: Census 2010 Redistricting (Public Law 94‐171) Data. Minority population share for Maryland’s jurisdictions, 2010. Available at http://planning.maryland.gov/msdc/census/cen2010/PL94‐171/map/MinShare10.pdf 6 Akerlof, K., Maibach, E. W., & Boules, C. 2014. Public perceptions of climate change: A Maryland statewide survey, fall 2014. Fairfax, VA: Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University.; Akerlof, K., & Maibach, E. W. 2014. Adapting to climate change & sea level rise: A Maryland statewide survey, fall 2014. Fairfax, VA: Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University. Available at climatemaryland.org.
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socialnetworksofindividualsrepresentativeofthefourfocalaudiences.PickeringCreekhassubstantialconnectionswithinstitutionsofhighereducationthatdeliverenvironmentalsciencecurriculaandthenetworkofregionalAudubonchapters.TheseaudiencesarethetraditionalaudiencesforPickeringCreek’sSaltMarshStoriesprograms.In2015,PickeringCreekalsoincreasedoutreachtothebusinessandfaithcommunitiesofTalbotandDorchestercounties.
Methodology InSpring2015,theauthorinterviewedeightindividualsrecruitedfromalistof15presentedascurrent,orpotential,stakeholdersbyPickeringCreekAudubonCenter.Thedistributionoftheintervieweesacrossthefouraudiencesofinterest,andBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,isasfollows:
1‐businesscommunity 1‐faithcommunity 2‐highereducation 3‐regionalAudubonchapters 1‐BlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge
Halfoftheintervieweeswerefemale;onewasfromacommunityofcolor.ThedistributionofinterviewsubjectsisheavilyweightedtowardPickeringCreekAudubonCenter’straditionalaudiencesfortheirenvironmentaleducationprograms;thisisalimitationofthisstudy.However,itwasdeemedmoreeffectiveforPickeringCreektoconductfurtheroutreachwiththeseaudiencesasacomponentoftheirheightenedrecruitmentcampaignwiththesegroupsinsteadofwideningthestudy.
Theinterviewswereconductedbothbytelephoneandin‐personatconvenientsitesfortherespondents.Allinterviewswereaudiorecordedandtranscribed.Theinterviewsrangedfrom34to60minutes,averaging51minutes;theyweresemi‐structured,basedonascript,butvarieddependingontheareasofexpertiseoftherespondents(seeinstrumentinappendix).Theinterviewscoveredfiveprimarytopicsand14subtopics(Table1).Thetextwasexcerptedbythe14subtopicsandthenevaluatedforthemesandrelevantinformation.Duetothesmallsamplesize,extrapolationbeyondtheseinterviewees’statementstowideraudiencesisnotadvised.However,theperspectivesoftheseindividualsareofsignificance,eveniftheyarenotbroadlyrepresentative,becauseofthesestakeholders’relationshipswithPickeringCreekandthusimportancetotheSaltMarshStoriesprogram.
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Table1—Interviewtopicsandcodingofsubtopicswithintranscriptexcerpts
Topic SubtopicsDescriptionofcommunityandnaturalresources
Communitydescription Respondentinformation Salientnature
PickeringCreekAudubonCenter’scommunityrole
CharacterizationofPickeringCreek RelationshipwithPickeringCreek Blackwatertripexperiences
Barriersandopportunitiesforcommunityengagement
Respondentcommunityinvolvement
Fundingandpolitics Modelsforcommunityengagement
Influentialpeopleandorganizations Connectedcommunitymembers Communityleaders
Communicationandattitudesaboutsaltmarshes,sea‐levelrise,andclimatechange
Saltmarshes Sea‐levelrise Climatechange
ThestudywasdeterminedtobeexemptbytheInstitutionalReviewBoardforGeorgeMasonUniversity(Protocol#707694‐1).Theintervieweeswereassuredthattheircommentswouldremainanonymous.Forthatreason,noidentifyinginformationisprovided.
Findings Notablethemesandrespondentstatementsfromacrosseachoftheprimarytopicareasaredetailedinthefivesubsectionsbelow.Thesearefollowedbyasetofcommunicationrecommendationsbasedonthestudyfindings.
Description of “community” and natural resource interests
ParticipantsintheSaltMarshStoriesprogramarefromgeographicallydisparateareas—theyliveinareasreachingfromthenorthernsuburbsofBaltimoretoSalisburyinthesouthernreachesofMaryland’sEasternShore.HalfoftheintervieweesreferredtoTalbotandDorchestercountiesastheircommunitiesofreference;halfidentifiedwitheitherlargercommunities(theEasternShore)ornon‐geographiccommunitiesofsharedinterest(Audubon).RespondentsassociatedwithAudubonchapterssaidthattheydidnotknowthelocalcommunitiesaroundBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugewell,andbelievedthatimprovingconnectionswithlocalresidentsandcivicleadersshouldbeapriorityforPickeringCreek.
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ThosewhoreportedknowingthecommunitiesofDorchesterandTalbotdescribedthemasruralwithanemphasisontheirheritageoffarmingandfishing,butwithsizeabledifferencesintheirresidentsandeconomics:
Bothcommunitiesaregreatsmalltowns.They’rebothrural.They’rebothveryorientedonthewaterandhaveverymuchanagriculturalwatermenwayoflife.TalbotCountyisgainingaverylargepercentageofretireesthatareeducatedwhoarecomingoutheretotheirsecondhomesthattheyhadbefore—nowthey’reretiringhere.DorchesterCountyhassomeofthatbutnotpredominantly.DorchesterCountyismuchlowereconomically.Ithasalotmoreunemployment,alotmoreSection8housing.
Waterwasfrequentlyidentifiedbyrespondentsasthemostcharacteristicaspectsofnatureinthesecommunities,aswellasmarsh,treesandopenfields.Peoplealsopointedoutthatthesenaturalaspectshadchangedovertime.AsonerespondentsaidofBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,“WhenIwasgrowingup…therewasn’taBlackWaterLake,itwasallmarsh.”Anotherrespondentdiscussedthewaysinwhichthemovementofthemarshandwatersincreasinglythreatenedtheircommunity.Declinesinwaterqualitywerealsomentionedbyinterviewees(“witheachnewhousingdevelopment,Iseeourwaterqualitygodown”).Moreover,respondentsdiscussedchangesintherelationshipbetweencommunitiesandnaturalresourcesbroughtuponbyenvironmentalchanges,economicforces,andculturalshifts.
Decreasedpublicaccesstowaterfrontwasbroughtupbytworespondents;onewhosaidthatshehadfondmemoriesofswimmingintheBay,butthattheshorelineaccesspointwasnowonprivateland.
[Ourchildren,theoffspring]theyknownowtheycan'tgetbyjustbeingawaterman.Theycan'tgetbywithjustfarming,theyhavetohaveanotherincomesourceorbackupiftheywanttohaveaproductivelifeandhave,youknow,thethingstheywantintheirfamily.
Rightnow,atleastintheeasternarea,Iseealotofplaces,they'recuttingdowntheirtreesbecausetheycanget$8,000andthey'retoldit'llcomeback.Iwasn’tseeingthatwhenIfirstcame.Ithinktimesareharder.Peoplearelookingtobemorecreativewithwaystogainincome.
Ithinknationallytherehasbeenadeclineinhuntingregistrations.InacommunitylikeTalbotandDorchesterCountythatdeclinehasprobablybeenless,butIwouldn’tbesurprisedifthetrendisalsopresent.
WhenIwasgrowingup,therewerealotofpeopleinmyhighschoolandcollegewho,youknow,backpackedalot,bicycledtouredalot.Butnow,it'slike,Idon’tknowanykidwhobicycletours.…it'sjustnotmuchapartoftheculture.Iblamecomputers.
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Anumberofrespondentspointedtotensionsinthecommunities,andontheEasternShoregenerally,thatfurthercomplicatedthesechangesintherelationshipbetweencommunitiesandnaturalresources:tensionsbetweengenerations;betweenfarmersandwatermen;betweenenvironmentalgroupsandindustry,especiallypoultry;betweennewresidentsandlongtimeinhabitants;andbetweenracialgroups.
Andfarmersandwatermen,Ilookatthemallasfarmers,butfarmersandwatermenhavehistoricallynot[gotten]alongthatgreat.AndthisnutrientmanagementoftheChesapeakeBayWatershed…therewasalotofpushback.It’syourfaultthatourChesapeakeBayishalfdead.No,it’syourfault.No,you'retakingtoomuchfoodoutofthewater.No,you'rehavingtoomuchrunoffonyourfarmland.
Ithinkthat,youknow,it'sstillverymuchseenasenvironmentalversusagricultureandindustry.Andtome,thatseemssoarchaic,youknow,thatidea.Ifeelinalotofways,theEasternShore,it'sabout10or20yearsbehindthetimesintermsofculturalperceptions….
We'rehavingamajorinfluence,influxofhumans,thatarelivinghereintheDelmarvaPeninsulaandworkinginDC,Baltimore,andsometimesfartherawaythanthat.So,we’reseeinganinfluxofhumanpopulation.Letmetellyou,thepeoplefromheredonotlikeit.
TheAfricanAmericanguysthatIgottoknow,theywouldalltalkabouthowovertlyandsortofnotsosubtlyracistitstillwas…
Thecommentsofintervieweesportraycommunities,especiallythatofDorchesterCounty,thatarestrugglingtoovercomeenormouschangesintheirculture,economy,andrelationshipwiththeirnaturalresources.OneintervieweesaidthatshebelievedthatDorchesterCountywasonaneconomicupswing,yethighlevelsofunemploymentandpovertyintheareasclosesttoBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugewilllikelylimittheadaptivecapacityofitsresidentsandtheirabilitytomarshalresourcesandpoliticalwillforprotectionoftheircommunitiesandthesaltmarshesfromtheeffectsofsea‐levelriseandclimatechange.Pre‐existingcommunitytensionsmayfurthercomplicatetheseprocesses.
Pickering Creek Audubon Center’s community role
IntervieweeswereaskedabouttheroleofPickeringCreekAudubonCenterinthecommunity:whattheirrelationshipwaswithPickeringCreek;whattheythoughtthatthenaturecenterdidparticularlywellinthecommunity;andwhatitcouldcontributebeyonditscurrentoutreachandeducationprograms.WhileallintervieweesappreciatedtheprogramsthatPickeringCreekprovides,theyandtheiraffiliatedorganizationseachperceivedthemthroughslightlydifferentlensesbasedontheneedsoftheiraffiliatedorganization.Forexample,representativesofenvironmentalscienceandstudiesprograms
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inhighereducationinstitutionssaidthattheyvaluedthefieldtripsasexperientiallearningopportunitiesthataugmenttheirundergraduatecurricula.
PickeringCreekhasgivenmeaplatformtoexpounduponwithlearning,especiallyenvironmentalsciencelearning.Youcanteachitinaclassroomorinalabinsideabuildingtillthecowscomehomebutifyoudon’ttakeinterestandyoudon’tgetthemoutintheecologyofnature,they'renotgoingtomakethisconnection.
RespondentsnotedthatPickeringCreek’sstrengthswereinenvironmentaleducation,particularlywithstudentsatlocalschools,butthatitsfocusinrecentyearshadbeenexpandingtoincludeabroaderroleinthecommunityinaddressingclimatechangeandhabitatconservation.
Idoknowasfarastheirofferingsthattheyhaveatonofschoolgroupscomingthrough.Theyhaveincrediblephysicalsetup,youknow.Andwhatthey’redoingwithwhattheyhave:creatingmarshlandsandhavingcurrentretiredprofessorsdoingresearchthereandhavingkidsattachedtothat.Ithinkjusttryingtoeducateeverybody,thewholepublicnotjustpublicschools,aboutenvironmentalissuesandthevalueofnaturalsystems...Andmysenseisthey’redoingagreatjobwithit.
AndIthinkthattheroleofPickeringCreekisstillinmanywaysbasedineducationbutitiseducationthatbringsanunderstandingoftheissuesaffectingbirdsandleadstoactiononpartoftheparticipants.Itleadsthemtotakeaction,whetherthatisparticipatinginahabitatrestorationeffortinBlackwater,orbuildingabackyardschoolhabitat,orplantingnativeplantsintheirownbackyard.So,Ithinkitsroleisbringingthecommunityuptospeedontheissuesthatarefacingusandarefacingbirds.
InterestsineducationaboutBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugeanditsendemicandmigratorybirdspeciesextendedtoadultaudiencesbeyondtheEasternShore.Indeed,achaptermembernotedthatsomeofthestrongestinterestintheseprogramscomesfrompeopleonthewesternshoreoftheBay;afewnotedthattheyenjoyedthemultigenerationalaspectsofthegrassplantingsalongsideundergraduatestudentsandrepresentativesofU.S.Fish&WildlifeServiceandPickeringCreek.
OtherrespondentswithconnectionstohabitatconservationeffortsatBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugesuggestedthatPickeringCreekneededtopushfurthertowardactivitiesthatsupportedpublicandlocalgovernmentalengagementonsea‐levelriseadaptation,butalsorecognizedthedifficultiesindoingso.Thesechallengesincluded:
thereluctanceoflocalpolicymakerstoaddresstheissues;
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ElectedofficialsinplaceslikeDorchesterCountyarereallyscaredofthisissueandit'snotjustforkindofpartisanpoliticalreasons,butit'sbecause,IthinkwhentheysignuptobeontheCountyCouncilforsomeonelikeDorchester,they’rethinkingaboutfirestationsandschools...They'renotthinkingaboutbeinggroundzeroforoneofthebiggestenvironmentalproblemsofthecentury.Andwhentheyseethatit'slike,Imean,Ican’tblamethem,theyjustputtheirhandsovertheireyesandsay,Idon'tthinkI’mreadyforthis.…they'vebeenveryreluctanttoreallyembraceit.Ithinkforthisreason,ofbeingoverwhelmedbythescaleofitandnotreallyknowingwhattodo.
thepotentiallyfraughtnatureofsomeofthesepublicconversationsduetosomeofthetensionsbetweendifferentgroupsinthecommunities;OnerespondentcommentedthatwhilePickeringCreekservedasalinktothelocalcommunityforU.S.Fish&WildlifeService,theywerealsosensitivetothediversityoflocalaudiencesandcarefulnottodisruptthoserelationships.
thepossibilityforcommunityresistancetochangesinlandusebroughtuponbythemigrationofthesaltmarshes;
…wehaven’tyetdevelopedthekindofrelationshipwithlocalpeopleintermsofsealevelrisestrategy.…Soyouknow,foralotofpeopleitmightlooklikesomekindoflandgrabgoingon.And,becausethesekindofconservationprojectsgoonanywayandit'sjustacaseoftryingtokindofredirectthemintotheseareas,ithasn’tbeenasuperhighprioritytoinformthepublicofthisparticulardamageofwhatwe’redoing.…Youknow,wedefinitelykindoffearalittlebitofabacklash,thatwithouttherightkindofprimingandeducationandoutreach,reactioncouldbenegative.
Audubon’sframingoftheissueasoneofclimatechangeandhabitatconservationversuscommunityresilienceandadaptation;
Auduboncan’tbetwo‐faced.Youknow,wecan’tcomeinandsayyeah,wereallycareaboutroadsfloodingandwearenotinterestedinclimatechange.
theneedtorecognizewhenotherorganizationsmightserveasmoreeffectivemessengers.
ItmaybethatAudubonisn’ttherightpeopletobeinterfacingdirectlywiththosecommunities….Anditmightbethatit'sactuallyalocallandtrustoryouknow,somegroupthat'smorefirmlyembeddedinthelocalscenethatthatpromotesthekindofactionsthatareneeded,youknow.
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Inthelastfewyears,PickeringCreekhasbeguntotransitionfromprovidingtraditionalenvironmentaleducationprogramstoexploringabroaderroleinthelocalcommunitywithaudiencesthathaveuntilnowplayedalimitedroleinhabitatconservation.PickeringCreekissupportedbythestakeholdersinterviewedforthisstudyindoingso,butthereisalsorecognitionofcomplexnatureofthechallenge.ThetraditionalaudiencesfortheSaltMarshStoriesprogram—universitiesandAudubongroups—seeclearbenefitstotheirparticipation,butinmanycaseshavelittletonoconnectionwiththeimmediatecommunityaroundBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefugethatisnowoneoftheprogram’smostimportanttargetaudiences.Newprogramaudiences—localbusinessandfaithgroups—arenotwellrepresentedinthisstudy,butthoseindividualswhowereintervieweddemonstratedinterestandsupportforPickeringCreek’sprograms,buthadlessfamiliaritywiththemandwerelessabletodrawconnectionsbetweentheprogramandtheorganizationswithwhichtheywereaffiliated.OneintervieweenotedthatencouragementofemployeevolunteerismwaslimitedamongDorchesterbusinesses,andfollowedtheeconomy.
Wedohaveacoupleoforganizations,thelargeronesthataregoodaboutlettingtheiremployeesvolunteerandtryingtogettheiremployeestovolunteer.Someofthemusedtobebetter.Andthenwhenemployees,theyhadtodosomecutbacks,andemployeeshadmorethings,theemployeesstoppedbeingquiteasinvolved.
Opportunities for community engagement—and challenges
IntervieweespointedtoanumberofprospectsforbroadeningengagementinDorchesterandTalbotcommunities,andsomechallenges.OtherorganizationshavealreadyexploredmodelsforconductingwetlandsadaptationwithincommunitiesthatcouldbeinstructiveinpreservingBlackwater’ssaltmarshes.SkipStyles’WetlandsWatchinVirginiahasusedacommunityofadaptationpracticemodeltobringgroupstogetherandincreasetheircombinedeffectiveness;U.S.Fish&WildlifeServicehasworkedwithSmithIslandtostabilizetheshorelineofMartinNationalWildlifeRefuge;andtheDealIslandMarsh&CommunityProjecthasbeenunderwaysince2013withleadershipfromtheUniversityofMarylandandtheChesapeakeBayNationalEstuarineResearchReserve.Generallyrespondentssuggestedincreasingprogramsthatappealto,andareeasilyattendedby,adults,suchasschedulingmoresessionsonweekendsandinpopulatedareasofthecounties.Othersuggestionsincludedwideningthetopicstoincludeavarietyofenvironmentalissues,suchasrenewableenergy.
CommunicationreachwasbroughtupbyafewintervieweeswhosuggestedusingavailablemediawithsufficientfrequencytoincreasetheawarenessofpeoplewithPickeringCreek’sprogramssuchasinTheWashingtonPost,TheStarDemocrat,andnumberofmonthlypublicationsinadditiontotheemaillistservsofpartnerorganizations.IfPickeringCreek
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hasn’talreadyfoundasubstantialbaseofvolunteersandfinancialsupportfromamongtheretireecommunityinTalbotCounty,oneorganizationalleadersuggestedaconcertedefforttorecruitthoseindividualsduetotheirtime,talent,andresources.Whilerespondentsrecognizedthedifficultyingettingpeopletogivetheirtimetociviccausesandassumelocalleadershiproles,atleastonepersonsaidtheythoughtthatthosewhowantedtoparticipatecould:“Whetherit’sbecausetheywanttobecomeCommissionerortheywanttobemoreactiveontheschoolboardortheywanttovolunteer,Idon’tknowanybodywhohasnotbeenabletoifthey'vereallysetthemselvesto….Now,asfaraspeoplerecognizingthatopportunitiesexist,thatmightbeadifficultyfactor.”
Theotherfactorsmentionedwerethewidepoliticizationofenvironmentalissuesandthescaleoftheproblemwhichrendersanyoneindividual’sactionsseeminglyinsignificant.
Ithinkit'stheissue.Ithinkit'sthefactthat,um,unfortunately,especiallyclimatechange,butenvironmentalissuesingeneralhavebecomepoliticized.Theykindofwentoffthetracksdecadesagoandwenevergotbacktotalkingaboutthemscientifically.Ithinkthatalotoftheenvironmentalproblemsaresobiganddiffusedthatyouendupfeelinghelpless.Youcan’tdoanythingaboutit.Likeasateacher,it’salwaysachallengetofindsomethingyoucandoaboutglobalwarming,youknow.
AnumberofcollaborationsinMarylandandacrossotherstates,includingsomeinwhichAudubonisapartner,arealreadyconductingcommunityoutreachtoprotectmarshesfromtheeffectsofsea‐levelrise.SomeaspectsofthesemodelsmaybesuitableforusebyPickeringCreek—suchasacommunityofadaptationpractice—whileothersmayofferlessonsthatareinstructive.Allsuccessfulcommunicationeffortsdependonsufficientmessagereachandfrequency.IfPickeringCreekhasnotfullyutilizedavailablemediaandvolunteeropportunitiesintheregion,itmaybehooveittoexplorethosemorethoroughlyastheprogramdevelops.
Influential people and organizations
Duringthecourseoftheinterviews,alistof36individualsandorganizationswasgeneratedbasedonrespondentsperceptionsofthosepeoplewhowerehighlyconnectedand/orwereinleadershippositionsthatwouldmakethempotentiallyhelpfulpartnersinaffectingchangesinthecommunityonbehalfofsaltmarshconservation(seeAppendixAforthecompletelist).Thelistrangesfromlocalgovernmentleaderstofarmersandfaithleaders.Whenintervieweeswereaskedwhowouldhavetobeinvolvedtocreatechange,localpolicymakers,suchasthemayorofCambridge,wereoftenatthetopofthelist,evenifspecificnameswerenotalwaysmentioned.
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Communication and attitudes about the salt marshes, sea‐level rise and climate change
IntervieweesperceptionswerethatclimatechangedenialismishigherinthecommunitiesaroundBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,andtheEasternShoregenerally,butthatthoseresidentswithconnectionstothenaturalresources—people’swhoselivelihoodsdependedonthelandandwater—wereveryawareofchangestothesaltmarshesandsealevels.
Ithinkmostpeoplearoundhereareskeptical.Youhavethosethataresure,thosethatare,youknow,onewayortheother.Ithinkpeoplearestartingtobelieveit'sprobablytrue.…Ithinkpeoplearemoreapttobelievethatsealevelriseinthisareathanclimatechange.Andthat'sabigthing.Waterqualityissuesarebig,hugeconversationhere.
Thesameintervieweesaidthatthewaterisaconstantcommunitydiscussiontopic,butnotthesaltmarshes.Othersalludedtothepublicrelationsproblemthatwetlands—akaswamps—stillhavewiththegeneralpublic:theirperceptionas“mucky,mosquito‐infected”areas.Respondentssaidtheybelievedthateffectsofchangesonthewater—floodingandsea‐levelrise—weremorelikelytobediscussedthanclimatechangeorthemarshes.
Thewaterquality,thewatersareeverydayconversation.Thehealthofthewater,thevibrancyofthewater,theboatsbeingabletoworkthewater.Butyeahthat'saneverydayconversation.Butnotmarshinparticular.Marshescomeupwhenwe’retalkingaboutBlackwaterorPickeringCreekbut,youknow,butmarshesarenotapartoftheeverydayconversation.
Ithinkthatinthosereallysmallcommunitiesit'saprettybigtopicofdiscussionintermsofflooding.Idon'tthinktheytalkaboutclimatechange.Idon'tthinktheyevencallitsealevelrise.Ithinktheycallitfloodingand…Ithinkthereallynoticethatwithsuccessivestormsthefloodwaterscomehigher.Andthatlawnsareconvertingtomarshgrasses,eventhoughtheystillmowthem.
Theyweretalkingabouttheerosionandthisotheroldwatermansaid,yeah,“It'sallbecauseofthesealevelrise,youknow,aslowasthetidesarenow,they'rehigherthanthey'veeverbeen…”Andtheseguysaresomeofthemostpoliticallyconservativeguysaround.
Itshouldbenotedthatnoneoftherespondentswerewatermen,orfarmers,whoareeconomicallytiedtothehealthoftheresources;oneoftheintervieweeslivedinanareaadjacenttothemarshes,hadexperiencedthedirecteffectsoftheirmigration,andwasinvolvedincommunitydecision‐makingtoaddresstheproblemsitwascausingfortheir
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homesandwayoflife.Herfocuswasonhercommunity’sprotection—whatwouldpeopleneedtodotokeepthemarshesandwateratbay?Thismaysuggestfuturedifferencesbetweenaudiencesintheframingofsaltmarshmigrationbythosewithinterestsinhabitatprotectionandthosewithinterestsincommunityprotectionfromflooding.
Communicationabouttheeffectsofsea‐levelriseonsaltmarsheswiththelocalcommunityisinitsearlystages,notedacouplerespondents,butthatthewindowofopportunitywasrelativelysmallandcomplicatedbypoliticalpolarizationoverclimatechange.
Soitseemsthatinthenext15years,upuntilabout2030,we'renotgoingtoseeanymajorchanges,butpeopleseemtoagreethataroundthe2040siswhenwe'regoingtostarttoseecatastrophicmarshloss.Thisisverylikelyalonglinearprocesswheremajorstormsjustwipeoutincreasinglylargeareasofmarshandadjacentforests.AndIthinkthatwe'regoingtoseebig,biglossesbythen.I'msurewe'llgetsomeprettymajorstormsinthosefirst15years,andeachtimewegetoneofthosewe'llfindpeoplemorewillingtolistenthatthere'saneedtoact.
Furthermore,theserespondentsvoicedconcernthatlocalcommunities,especiallyindividuallandowners,would“maladapt”bytryingtoprotectpropertyfromrisingwatersinsteadofallowingatransitiontooccurfromdrylandtowetlands.
Andwhataretheprivateownersgoingtodo?Maybethatfirstthingtheygoingtowanttodoistoripraptheedgesofthatproperty.Ifthey'rerichenough,theymighttryanddothiswithevenafairlyundevelopedpropertytoprotecttheirtreesandthingslikethisandthat'sbad.That'smaladaptation.Wedon'twantthemtodothat.
Yettheurgeforpeopletoprotecttheirhomesandpropertyisanaturalone.OneoftherespondentsnotedthisandcitedtheexampleofSmithIsland.
WithSmithIsland,theywereofferedabuyoutbythefederalgovernmentacoupleofyearsagoandallthisstuff,anpeoplegotallbentoutofshape.Becausetheysaid,“LookthepeopleinAnnapolisandDCaretheoneswhoareupsetaboutthisclimatechangestuff.”Theysaid,“We'vebeenfloodedforcenturies,”andtheysaid,“Wecanhandleit.Thestormwashesovertheislandandwefixwhateverisruinedandthenwe’rereadyforthenextstorm,whereaswithyouguysitwashesupintoyourcitiesanditruinsthingsandeverybodygetsbentoutofshape.”Theyjustsaiditwasinstancesofflooding.Itwasn’tsealevelrise.Itwaskindofaverycarefullyconstructedviewoftheworld,butitkindofmakessensebecausewe'reaskingthemtoleave.We'reaskingthemtoleavetheirhundredsofyearsofculture.
Climatechange,andevensea‐levelrise,likelyremaindifficulttopicsofconversationinmanyofthecommunitiesaroundBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,particularlybecause
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theconsequences—whethertheenvironmentalchangesorthethreatofgovernmentintervention—appeardire.Climatechangeandthelossofthesaltmarshesaresaidtobeuncommonsubjectsforpublicdiscussion,eventhoughintervieweesreportthatlocalgovernmentsandprivatepropertyownerswillhavetobeginmakingdecisionssoonabouttheirresponsestothesethreats.Theideathatthesaltmarshessupportawiderecosystemwitheconomicandculturalvalue—particularlyfishstocks—isonethatmaybeunfamiliartomanyinthecommunity.
ConclusionWhileadmittedlyaverysmallsample,thecommentsofthetworespondentsfromPickeringCreek’sbusinessandfaithcommunityaudienceswerequalitativelydifferentfromtheotherintervieweesinthattheirfocuswasnotprimarilyenvironmental.Theydiscussedtheenvironmentalcontextinrelationtoissuesofimportancetothecommunity,asopposedtothecommunitycontextinrelationtohabitatprotection.ThissuggestssomeofthecommunicationchallengesforcommunityengagementonthisissuemayhavenotbeenrealizedtodatewithintheSaltMarshStoriesprogram.PickeringCreek’straditionalaudiences—AudubonchaptermembersanduniversitystudentswhomayliveanhourormoreawayfromBlackwater—haveless“skininthegame”inregardstotheeffectsofthemigrationofthesaltmarshesonthecommunitiessurroundingBlackwaterthantheirneweraudiencesinTalbotandDorchestercountiesthataretheirincreasingfocus.
Intervieweesrecognizedtheimportanceofdevelopingacommunicationapproachthatinformslocaldecision‐making,butalsopossibilityforconflictwiththelocalcommunity.TherewasbroadsupportforPickeringCreektakinganactiveroleinfacilitatingcommunityconversationswithleadersofconservationeffortsunderwayatBlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,buttherewasalevelofuncertaintyaboutthedegreetowhichPickeringCreekwouldwanttoenterthepoliticalfray,atthecostofalienatingsomeaudiences,orbeabletoserveasacompletelyneutralpartyonthesubjectof(human)communityadaptation.
ThestakeholdersinterviewedforthisstudyrecognizedtheenormousvalueofPickeringCreek’senvironmentaleducationprogramstothelocalandextendedcommunitiesoftheEasternShoreandAudubon.Furthermore,theysupportedincreasedadultprogrammingthatheightenstheawarenessoftheimmediatecommunityofthevalueofitswealthofnaturalresourcesandthechangesthattheyareexperiencing.Betweenenvironmentaleducation,communityfacilitation,andpolicyadvocacy,therearealargearrayofoutreachandengagementstrategiesandoptionsfromwhichPickeringCreekcanchooseinadvancingitsgoalsforwiderlocalengagementandasaltmarshforum.Makingthosedecisionsstrategically,inrecognitionofsomeofthepossiblechallengesmentionedinthisreport,willlikelybeimportantforthesuccessofitsefforts.
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Recommendations
Developamulti‐yearcommunicationplanthatdetailstherolethatPickeringCreekchoosestotakeinthecommunityanditsimplementation—whetheritistocontinuelargelyprovidingenvironmentaleducation,orwhetheritistopresentinformationtoinformlocaldecision‐makingaboutpolicies.
Considerthefullarrayofpossiblyinfluentialaudiencesinlocalcommunities,especiallycivicleaders,andwhatcontributionstheymightmaketothewiderdiscourse.
Evaluatewhethertherearedifferencesintheneedsandperspectivesofthenewtargetaudiencestothesaltmarshes,andhowthosemightbeaddressedinrecruitment,presentationcontent,andexperientialevents.Thisstudy,whileverypreliminary,wouldsuggestthatenvironmentally‐focusedapproachesonthesaltmarshmaybelesseffectivethanthosethatleadwithacommunityfocus,especiallyonethatrecognizeshistory,relationsbetweensocialgroups,culturalvalues,andeconomicconditions.
ThehistoryofAfricanAmericansintheregionisrichandwell‐supportedbyareaorganizations.Nevertheless,intervieweesindicatedracialdividesremaininthecommunity.Considerpartneringwithorganizations,suchastheHarrietTubmanMuseumandEducationalCenterortheHarrietTubmanOrganization,thatrecognizethatheritageanditsconnectionwiththemarshes.AlsoconsiderwhethertheinterestsoftheAfricanAmericanchurcheswithinthe“faithcommunityaudience”haveuniqueinterests,socialnetworks,andneedsthatmightrequireasimilarlydistinctapproachfromotherfaithorganizations.
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Appendix A Connected community members; important partner organizations and individuals
VictoriaStanleyJackson,Mayor,Cambridge WayneBell,MarylandOrnithologicalSociety Rev.KeithCornish JoanHarrisBrooks,NewRevivedUnitedMethodistChurch Rev.JeromeTilghman NAACP DonaldPindr,President,HarrietTubmanOrganization KatePatton,ExecutiveDirector,LowerShoreLandTrust MarylandDept.ofNaturalResources U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,BaltimoreOffice BlackwaterNationalWildlifeRefuge,ManagerSuzanneBaird,SupervisoryBiologist
MattWhitbeck EastonCouncilPresidentJohnFord EastonCouncilmanPeteLesher TalbotCountyManagerAndyHollis JohnValliant,President,GrayceB.KerrFund BryanRoche,BayCountryCommunications SarahAbel,EasternShoreLandConservancy JeffHubbert,LaneEngineering(formerpresidentofRotary) AlanNelson,retired,formerlywithDorchesterChamberofCommerce JenniferLayton,boardmember,DorchesterChamberofCommerce JohnSwainIII,4thgenerationfarmer BalvinBrinsfield,farmernorthofVienna TimothyJones,VicePresident,AdministrativeServices,ChesapeakeCollege StuartBounds,formerpresident,ChesapeakeCollege NanticokeWatershedAlliance AssateagueCoastalTrust CambridgeDowntownMerchantsAssociation NatureConservancy ChesapeakeBayConservancy UniversityofMarylandCenterforEnvironmentalSciences,HornePoint GregFarley,EnvironmentalScience,ChesapeakeCommunityCollege MikeLewis,Chair,Dept.ofEnvironmentalStudies,SalisburyUniversity TomHorton,author DaveHarp,photographer
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KerrySamos,educationcoordinatorforMarylandCoastalBays JimRapp,managerfortheHazelOutdoorDiscoveryCenter(wasontheboardofthe
AssateagueCoastalTrust)
Appendix B
PickeringCreekInterviewswithCommunityMembers|InterviewScript
Introduction:Hi,I’mKarenAkerlof.Thankyouforagreeingtothisinterview.Asyouknow,IworkatGeorgeMasonUniversityandamassistingPickeringCreekAudubonCenterwiththisresearchstudy.Iamtalkingtopeopleintheregion,andconductingsurveyswithlocalorganizations,tobetterunderstandthelocalcommunityanditsrelationshiptothearea’snaturalresources,andtofindouthowPickeringCreekAudubonCenter’sworkaffectsthiscommunity.
Thisisinformationaboutthestudy[showconsentform].Pleasetakeaminutetoreadit.Thereisalsoinformationontheformabouttheaudio‐tapingofthisinterview.Ifyouagreetobeaudio‐taped,pleasecheckthatboxaswell.Iexpectthattheinterviewwilltakebetween45minutesandanhour.Pleasenote,too,thatthisinterviewisconfidential.Wewillnotuseyournameinreportingonthisstudy,thoughwemayidentifywhichsector–faith,highereducation,businessorAudubon–thatyouarefrom.
(Followupquestion:Canyoutellmemoreaboutthat?)
Let’sgetstarted…
1. Canyoutellmeabitaboutyourself?a. Howlonghaveyoulivedinthisarea?b. Wheredoyouwork?
2. Howwouldyoudescribethecommunityof[communityname]?a. Howwouldyoudescribetheplace?b. Howwouldyoudescribethepeople?c. Ifyouhadtosummarize[communityname]inonesentence,whatwouldbemostimportant
formetoknow?3. Sometimescertainpeopleinacommunityhavealotofconnections,andknoweveryoneand
everythingthatisgoingon.Whoin[communityname]wouldyousayfitsthatrole?a. Wheredotheywork?b. Whatistheirtitle?
4. Ifyouwantedtogetsomethingdonein[communityname],likewinvotestobecomeelectedasalocalleader,aretherecertainorganizationsandpeoplethatyouwoulddefinitelyneedtohaveonyourside?
a. Whoarethosepeople?b. Ororganizations?
5. Howinvolvedareyouinthecommunityintermsofyourparticipationwithlocalorganizationsandgovernment?
a. Canyoutellmeaboutthoseactivities?b. Doyouthinkyouaremorecivicallyengaged–orless–thanmostpeopleinthiscommunity?c. Whatmakesithardtobecivicallyengaged?
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d. Isthereanythingthatcouldbedonetomakeiteasier?6. WhatcanyoutellmeaboutPickeringCreekAudubonCenter?
a. HaveyouparticipatedinCenteractivities?i. Ifnot,whynot
b. Whichactivitieshaveyouparticipatedin?c. Whichactivitieshavebeenyourmostfavorite?Canyoutellmewhy?
7. WhatroledoesPickeringCreekserveinthecommunity?a. Whatdoesitdoreallywell?b. Arethereotherwaysthatitcouldcontributetothecommunitythatitdoesn’tcurrently?
8. Whataspectsofnaturedoyounoticethemostinthisregion?a. Which–ifany–aremostmeaningfulforyou?b. Inwhatwayaretheymeaningfultoyou?c. Wouldyousaythattheseaspectshavestayedthesameovertime,orchanged?
9. Whatcanyoutellmeaboutthesaltmarshesinthisregion?a. Howoftenhaveyouvisitedthem?b. Canyoutellmeaboutyourmostrecentvisit?c. Howdothesaltmarshesrelatetothepeopleinthisarea,ifatall?d. Dopeoplein[communityname]evertalkaboutthesaltmarshes?
i. Whatdotheytalkabout?10. Dopeoplein[communityname]talkaboutsea‐levelrise?
a. Whatdoyouhearpeoplesaymostfrequently?b. Doyouagree,ordisagree?c. Dopeoplecallitsea‐levelrise?Ordotheycallitsomethingelse?d. IsSLRarelevantissuefor[communityname]?e. IfSLRisarelevantissuefor[communityname],whatcouldpeopledoaboutit?
i. Ofthosethings,whichwouldbemostimportant?ii. Whatwouldthecommunityneedtodotomakethathappen?
f. AreyoucurrentlytakinganyactionspersonallybecauseofSLR?11. Dopeoplein[communityname]evertalkaboutclimatechange?
a. Whatdoyouhearpeoplesaymostfrequently?b. Doyouagree,ordisagree?c. Dopeoplecallitclimatechange?Ordotheycallitsomethingelse?d. Isclimatechangearelevantissuefor[communityname]?e. Ifclimatechangeisarelevantissuefor[communityname],whatcouldpeopledoaboutit?
i. Ofthosethings,whichwouldbemostimportant?ii. Whatwouldthecommunityneedtodotomakethathappen?
f. Areyoucurrentlytakinganyactionspersonallybecauseofclimatechange?12. Thatwasmylastquestion‐‐thankyouforyourtimetoday.Doyouhaveanyquestionsforme?
Iwillbetranscribingtheseinterviews[ifconsentwasprovided]andwritingasummaryofthefindingsforPickeringCreekAudubonCenter.Iamhappytosharethosefindingswithyouifyouareinterested.[Fillincardwithcontactinformationifwouldlikeacopyofthereport.]Thankyouforspeakingwithmetoday.
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