People of the Apalachicola System: Exploring Cultural Heritage to Support Ecosystem Planning, Management, and Adaptation - NERRS/NSC(NERRS Science Collaborative)

By integrating predictive modeling, heritage sites recording, and community engagement, this project advanced a more representative perspective of local cultural resources within a coastal landscape.

The Apalachicola River and Bay system is a landscape rich in natural and cultural heritage. Over 12,000 years of human history are embedded in the Apalachicola system's archaeological record, demonstrating the profound connections that many communities of people have had to the landscape. To better understand the interconnected human and natural histories of the area, this project sought to identify the ecosystem services that people, past and present, use and value in the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR).

Community conversations, hosted as "Community Conversations on Heritage at Risk" revealed that many residents feel a deep connection to the region's fisheries, historic structures, and waterfront traditions, but see them as threatened by changing economic realities and climate impacts. Archaeological site monitoring in the ANERR likewise established that coastal cultural heritage sites, in particular, face active risks from storm surges and sea level rise. Further, predictive modeling using a Sea Levels Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) suggested that a majority of these culturally significant places may transition into regularly flooded marshes by 2050 under moderate sea level rise scenarios, underscoring the urgent need for proactive documentation of local heritage.

Considered together, these findings illuminate how cultural practices like oystering, beekeeping, or gathering in historic neighborhoods are integral to local identity and economic well-being. Much of this heritage remains under-documented in the face of ongoing environmental and demographic shifts in the Apalachicola area. Leveraging project data, land managers can prioritize at-risk heritage sites based on specific climate projections, implement monitoring strategies that address both tangible and intangible heritage, and ensure that residents voices guide the next steps in preserving their cultural landscape. This integrated approach will strengthen decision-making for both environmental stewardship and the safeguarding of cultural traditions that define the Apalachicola system.

By integrating predictive modeling, heritage sites recording, and community engagement, this project advanced a more representative perspective of local cultural resources within a coastal landscape.

The Apalachicola River and Bay system is a landscape rich in natural and cultural heritage. Over 12,000 years of human history are embedded in the Apalachicola system's archaeological record, demonstrating the profound connections that many communities of people have had to the landscape. To better understand the interconnected human and natural histories of the area, this project sought to identify the ecosystem services that people, past and present, use and value in the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR).

Community conversations, hosted as "Community Conversations on Heritage at Risk" revealed that many residents feel a deep connection to the region's fisheries, historic structures, and waterfront traditions, but see them as threatened by changing economic realities and climate impacts. Archaeological site monitoring in the ANERR likewise established that coastal cultural heritage sites, in particular, face active risks from storm surges and sea level rise. Further, predictive modeling using a Sea Levels Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM) suggested that a majority of these culturally significant places may transition into regularly flooded marshes by 2050 under moderate sea level rise scenarios, underscoring the urgent need for proactive documentation of local heritage.

Considered together, these findings illuminate how cultural practices like oystering, beekeeping, or gathering in historic neighborhoods are integral to local identity and economic well-being. Much of this heritage remains under-documented in the face of ongoing environmental and demographic shifts in the Apalachicola area. Leveraging project data, land managers can prioritize at-risk heritage sites based on specific climate projections, implement monitoring strategies that address both tangible and intangible heritage, and ensure that residents voices guide the next steps in preserving their cultural landscape. This integrated approach will strengthen decision-making for both environmental stewardship and the safeguarding of cultural traditions that define the Apalachicola system.

Project Lead:

Nicole Grinnan, University of West Florida, ngrinnan@uwf.edu

Collaborative Lead:

Mike Thomin, Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation, info@northwestfloridamlap.org

Technical Lead:

Tom Dawson, University of St Andrews School of History, tcd@st-andrews.ac.uk

Partners:

Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation; North Florida African American Corridor Project; City of Apalachicola; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Florida State Parks; US Forest Service; US Forest Service; US Fish and Wildlife Service; North American Heritage at Risk

The distributor does not assume liability.

None

Cite this dataset when used as a source: NOAA retains the right to analyze, synthesize and publish summaries of the NERRS/NSC data. The NERRS/NSC retains the right to be fully credited for having collected and process the data. Following academic courtesy standards, the NERR site where the data were collected should be contacted and fully acknowledged in any subsequent publications in which any part of the data are used. The data enclosed within this package/transmission are only as accurate as the quality assurance and quality control procedures that are described in the associated metadata reporting statement allow. The user bears all responsibility for its subsequent use/misuse in any further analyses or comparisons. The Federal government does not assume liability to the Recipient or third persons, nor will the Federal government reimburse or indemnify the Recipient for its liability due to any losses resulting in any way from the use of this data. Requested citation format: NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Science Collaborative(NSC).

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This information is detailed within the project links.

This information is detailed within the project links.