1. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
María Fernanda López
Master of Arts Thesis in Historic Preservation
Goucher College
Hiram McCullough Prize
Committe Members
Pablo Méndez-Lázaro, PhD
Caroline Chaong, MS
Hugh Miller, FAIA

2. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Hypothesis
“Given the threat of sea level rise a great number of historic properties located close to the receding coastline will be at risk.”
Question
What classification methods should be included to create a prioritization system to best allocate funds so adaptation is possible for the most important and resilient historic resources in the wake of sea level rise?

3. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Thesis Research
Sea level rise scientific articles and reports
Coastal planning literature
Adaptation planning and measures
National Register of Historic Places data and GIS information
National Park Service Archives at San Juan Historic Site
Site visits and Historic documentation
Medical Triage theory
Cultural and social aspects of resources
Interview people in the field
Attend conferences

4. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Future effects of sea level rise are intense flooding, higher storm surge and extensive coastal erosion.

5. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Resources in coastal areas total 136 around the island.
54 historic properties are inside the intertidal zone of 50 feet.

6. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
National Register Map of Puerto Rico’s historic resources created by State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in San Juan
Resources at risk in coastal areas total 136 around the island.
54 historic properties are inside the intertidal zone of 50 feet.

7. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise

8. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
National Register Map of San Juan and Cataño’s historic resources created by State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in San Juan

9. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Puerto Rico Climate Change Council (PRCCC) flooding map of San Juan and Cataño with 1 meter sea level rise and category 1 to 5 hurricane prediction.

10. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
National Register Map of Arecibo’s historic resources created by State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in San Juan

11. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Puerto Rico Climate Change Council (PRCCC) flooding map of Arecibo with 1 meter sea level rise and category 1 to 5 hurricane prediction.

12. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
US Custom Houses in San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Fajardo and Humacao are some of the closest resources to the sea.
San Juan has 31% historic properties most at risk
The Towns of Arecibo each have historic resources most at risk

13. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Triage System
A system to prioritize coastal historic resources is important to classify the historic resources.
Cultural Value
Risk
Triage
high value
high risk
immediate
medium risk
low risk
minimal
medium value
low value
expectant

14. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Result of the Triage system classification applied to the Most Threatened Historic Resource List

15. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
A system to prioritize coastal historic resources is important to mitigate classify historic resources.
Limited to National Register of Historic Places resources

16. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Chapters Defining the Threatened Historical Resources The Triage Method for Coastal Resources Cultural and Social Value of Historic Resources Adaptation Treatments for Resources

17. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Products of the Thesis: Lists of Threatened Historic Resources in Puerto Rico (136 resources) List of Most Threatened Historic Resources in Puerto Rico (54 resources) Matrix of Triage Historic Resources Delayed Historic Resources Adaptation Methods for San Juan, Historic District of Arecibo and US Custom Houses

18. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise

19. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
National Register Map of San Juan and Cataño’s historic resources created by State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in San Juan

20. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise

21. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Fort San Gerónimo and Batería del Escambrón are resources under Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Both are at sea level

22. Preservation Strategies: benefits and adverse impacts
The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Preservation Strategies: benefits and adverse impacts
Documentation of conditions and publication
Off shore barrier construction
Elevating or moving vulnerable forts higher grounds
Strengthening existing walls most susceptible to damage
Adding soft infrastructure
Do nothing scenario

23. Implementation and follow-through Considerations and goals
The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Implementation and follow-through
Considerations and goals
Agencies concerned for management cooperation
Involving stakeholders in mitigation process
Allocating funds for implementation
Plan for disaster reduction
Education and awareness

24. The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Creating liaisons between government agencies, and the private sector is vital for effective management and plan implementation.
It is important to add the input of agencies such as:
Department of Natural (and Environmental) Resources, the Puerto Rico Coastal Zone Management, National Park Service, Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, State Historic Preservation Office, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company and the Department of Economic Development.
All these stakeholders have interest in the fortifications.

25. Time, the importance of acting now
The Coast in Peril: Preserving Puerto Rico’s Historic Resources from Sea Level Rise
Planning early is necessary since adaptation measures take years to implement.
Call for Action
Time, the importance of acting now
Photo: Puerto Rico Historic Building Drawing Society