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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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