Public Knowledge of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Bob Buerger, Jeffery Hill, James Herstine, and Anthony Snider University of North Carolina Wilmington

Purposes/Mission of the North Carolina Coastal Reserve Education Education Research Research Resource protection Resource protection Informed management Informed management Traditional uses Traditional uses

North Carolina Coastal Reserves Coastal Reserve Program comprised of 10 sites Coastal Reserve Program comprised of 10 sites Four have National Estuarine Research Reserve designations Four have National Estuarine Research Reserve designations –Total of 27 NERR sites nationwide Undeveloped coastal and estuarine sites Undeveloped coastal and estuarine sites Access varies: foot, automobile or boat Access varies: foot, automobile or boat

Rationale for Study To more fully understand the character of visitor use on the North Carolina Coastal Reserve To more fully understand the character of visitor use on the North Carolina Coastal Reserve

Methodology Face-to-face on-site interviews conducted by reserve staff Face-to-face on-site interviews conducted by reserve staff May-October, 2007 May-October, 2007 Four coastal reserves: Four coastal reserves: –Rachel Carson NERR –Currituck Banks NERR –Masonboro Island NERR –Bird Island Coastal Reserve

Survey Instrument Site managers participated in survey development Site managers participated in survey development Pre-test April-May, 2007 Pre-test April-May, 2007 Thirty-one questions Thirty-one questions Closed- and open-ended questions Closed- and open-ended questions Quantitative and qualitative data Quantitative and qualitative data 521 usable surveys resulted 521 usable surveys resulted

Results: Visitor Demographics Highly educated Highly educated Wealthy Wealthy Older Older Racially homogenous Racially homogenous

General Results: Site Fidelity Site fidelity appears to be very high: 1) Almost twice as many users are repeat visitors; 2) most users primarily returned to the Reserve at which they were surveyed Site fidelity appears to be very high: 1) Almost twice as many users are repeat visitors; 2) most users primarily returned to the Reserve at which they were surveyed

General Results: Site Conditions Users are satisfied with current reserve conditions: 1) The majority of users believe the environmental conditions at the reserve site at which they were surveyed have remained the same over time; 2) recreational use is not negatively changing the character of the site Users are satisfied with current reserve conditions: 1) The majority of users believe the environmental conditions at the reserve site at which they were surveyed have remained the same over time; 2) recreational use is not negatively changing the character of the site

General Results: Management Satisfaction Users are satisfied with current management: 1) The majority of users believe the site at which they were interviewed is properly managed; 2) the majority of users do not currently believe that there should be increased enforcement of current regulations Users are satisfied with current management: 1) The majority of users believe the site at which they were interviewed is properly managed; 2) the majority of users do not currently believe that there should be increased enforcement of current regulations

General Results: Ownership Users are familiar with ownership: Just over half of all users were aware that the state owns the Reserve site of interview Users are familiar with ownership: Just over half of all users were aware that the state owns the Reserve site of interview

General Results: Management Users are unfamiliar with management: Very few respondents could identify the specific state agency that manages the Reserve site of interview Users are unfamiliar with management: Very few respondents could identify the specific state agency that manages the Reserve site of interview

General Results: Mission Users are unfamiliar with mission: Very few respondents knew the mission of the NCNERR/NCCR program. Users are unfamiliar with mission: Very few respondents knew the mission of the NCNERR/NCCR program.

Conclusion While the public may be satisfied with the present condition of the Reserves, they are not aware of the mission or management of the Reserve system While the public may be satisfied with the present condition of the Reserves, they are not aware of the mission or management of the Reserve system

Management Implications As the number of visitors using the Reserves increases, use impacts may increase as well As the number of visitors using the Reserves increases, use impacts may increase as well A public education and awareness program should be developed that focuses on users becoming knowledgeable stewards of the Coastal Reserve System A public education and awareness program should be developed that focuses on users becoming knowledgeable stewards of the Coastal Reserve System