Cape Hatteras National Seashore

In mid-January of 2018, GSS staff Andy Nadeau and Kathy Allen traveled to Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina to kick-off the park's Natural Resource Condition Assessment. 

 

The project team selected nine natural resource components for inclusion in the project, from vegetation communities (wetlands and marshes, maritime forests) and wildlife species to water quality and barrier island geomorphology. Park managers are concerned about coastal erosion and sea level rise, due to its impacts on wildlife habitat, water quality, and infrastructure. Cape Hatteras is home to a wide variety of shorebirds and a nesting population of loggerhead sea turtles. During the trip, Andy and Kathy saw numerous wintering waterfowl, miles of coastal dunes and beaches, and an 85-year old shipwreck. They also climbed the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - all 248 steps - for a spectacular view of the Outer Banks.