Attachment-Q_FOFR_Foundation_Document_2016.pdf

Foundation Document Fort Frederica National Monument Georgia September 2016

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Attachment Q

FORT FREDERICA

NATIONAL MONUMENT

FR

ED

ER

IC

A R

IV

ER

Visitor Center

Frederica Road

Mimosa Drive

Stevens Road

To Saint Simons Island 5 mi 8 km

Barrick Ruins

Kings Magazine

0.25 Kilometers

0.25 Miles

North

BLOODY MARSH UNIT

La w re nc e D riv e Fre d e rica R o a d

Se a I sl a n d D ri ve

FORT

FREDERICA

NATIONAL

MONUMENT

BLOODY

MARSH

UNIT

To and Brunswick

SAINT SIMONS

ISLAND

1 Kilometer 1 Mile

North

FR

ED

ERICA RIV

ER

A

TL

A N

TI

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O

CE

A N

Contents Mission of the National Park Service 1

Introduction 2

Part 1: Core Components 3

Brief Description of the Park 3 Park Purpose 5 Park Significance 6 Fundamental Resources and Values 7 Other Important Resources and Values 8 Interpretive Themes 9

Part 2: Dynamic Components 10

Special Mandates and Administrative Commitments 10 Assessment of Planning and Data Needs 10

Analysis of Fundamental Resources and Values 10

Analysis of Other Important Resources and Values 25

Identification of Key Issues and Associated Planning and Data Needs 29

Planning and Data Needs 30

Part 3: Contributors 35

Fort Frederica National Monument 35 Partners 35 NPS Southeast Regional Office 35 Other NPS Staff 35

Appendixes 36

Appendix A: Enabling Legislation for Fort Frederica National Monument 36

Appendix B: Inventory of Administrative Commitments 37 Appendix C: Past and Ongoing Park Planning and

Data Collection Efforts 38

The arrowhead was authorized as the official National Park Service emblem by the Secretary of the Interior on July 20, 1951. The sequoia tree and bison represent vegetation and wildlife, the mountains and water represent scenic and recreational values, and the arrowhead represents historical and archeological values.

Fort Frederica National Monument

Mission of the National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

The NPS core values are a framework in which the National Park Service accomplishes its mission. They express the manner in which, both individually and collectively, the National Park Service pursues its mission. The NPS core values are:

· Shared stewardship: We share a commitment to resource stewardship with the global preservation community.

· Excellence: We strive continually to learn and improve so that we may achieve the highest ideals of public service.

· Integrity: We deal honestly and fairly with the public and one another.

· Tradition: We are proud of it; we learn from it; we are not bound by it.

· Respect: We embrace each other’s differences so that we may enrich the well-being of everyone.

The National Park Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. While numerous national park system units were created prior to 1916, it was not until August 25, 1916, that President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Organic Act formally establishing the National Park Service.

The national park system continues to grow and comprises more than 400 park units covering more than 84 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. These units include, but are not limited to, national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House. The variety and diversity of park units throughout the nation require a strong commitment to resource stewardship and management to ensure both the protection and enjoyment of these resources for future generations.

Introduction Every unit of the national park system will have a foundational document to provide basic guidance for planning and management decisions—a foundation for planning and management. The core components of a foundation document include a brief description of the park as well as the park’s purpose, significance, fundamental resources and values, other important resources and values, and interpretive themes. The foundation document also includes special mandates and administrative commitments, an assessment of planning and data needs that identifies planning issues, planning products to be developed, and the associated studies and data required for park planning. Along with the core components, the assessment provides a focus for park planning activities and establishes a baseline from which planning documents are developed.

A primary benefit of developing a foundation document is the opportunity to integrate and coordinate all kinds and levels of planning from a single, shared understanding of what is most important about the park. The process of developing a foundation document begins with gathering and integrating information about the park. Next, this information is refined and focused to determine what the most important attributes of the park are. The process of preparing a foundation document aids park managers, staff, and the public in identifying and clearly stating in one document the essential information that is necessary for park management to consider when determining future planning efforts, outlining key planning issues, and protecting resources and values that are integral to park purpose and identity.

While not included in this document, a park atlas is also part of a foundation project. The atlas is a series of maps compiled from available geographic information system (GIS) data on natural and cultural resources, visitor use patterns, facilities, and other topics. It serves as a GIS-based support tool for planning and park operations. The atlas is published as a (hard copy) paper product and as geospatial data for use in a web mapping environment.

The park atlas for Fort Frederica National Monument can be accessed online at:

http://insideparkatlas.nps.gov/.

Part 1: Core Components The core components of a foundation document include a brief description of the park, park purpose, significance statements, fundamental resources and values, other important resources and values, and interpretive themes. These components are core because they typically do not change over time. Core components are expected to be used in future planning and management efforts.

Brief Description of the Park Established as a unit of the National Park Service in 1936, Fort Frederica National Monument preserves, protects, and interprets the remains and archeological record of Fort Frederica, a British colonial settlement. Located along the Georgia coast on the island of Saint Simons, Fort Frederica is 12 miles northeast of the city of Brunswick. The national monument consists of two separate sites, the primary site of Fort Frederica on the banks of the Frederica River and the smaller Battle of Bloody Marsh site roughly 6 miles from the main unit. Together, these two sites include approximately 282 acres that comprise the national monument.

Designed by General James Edward Oglethorpe in 1736 and named for Frederick Louis, the Prince of Wales, Fort Frederica was developed as a military outpost consisting of both a fort and a town that supported military operations. Fort Frederica was strategically placed on the island of Saint Simons at a bend in the Frederica River. In choosing this location, Oglethorpe’s intention was to lay claim to this region for the British crown and protect the southern boundary of the new British colony of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida. During the 1740s, Fort Frederica reached its peak as the small town took shape supporting more than 800 residents who brought their various trades, skills, and crafts to the colony.

Oglethorpe’s strategic foresight in establishing Fort Frederica paid off when the War of Jenkins’ Ear began in 1739. As this war between the European powers of Britain and Spain took shape in the colonies of the New World, Spanish forces from Florida advanced north and landed on Saint Simons Island. In response, Oglethorpe’s British forces attacked a Spanish reconnaissance party resulting in the Battle of “Bloody Marsh.” Despite the name, casualties were light and the Spanish continued their campaign on Saint Simons Island, but quick maneuvering by Oglethorpe at Gully Hole Creek convinced the Spanish to retreat from Georgia. This victory not only affirmed Georgia as a British colony, but also signaled the beginning of Fort Frederica’s decline. When peace was declared in 1748, Fort Frederica’s garrison (the original 42nd Regiment of Foot) was disbanded, and the town was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin.

Because the fort and town were abandoned and remained relatively undisturbed since the colonial period, Fort Frederica National Monument protects an archeological record that is mostly intact and retains a high level of integrity. Early work in the field of historical archeology conducted at Fort Frederica illustrated the scholarly use and importance of archeological investigations in exploring historic sites. Archeological research has unearthed numerous artifacts and exposed existing building foundations in an effort to enhance understanding and interpretation of Fort Frederica and the lives of its inhabitants.

The Fort Frederica National Monument Visitor Center provides an orientation film about the history of Fort Frederica as well as exhibits about the lives of the people who called Saint Simons Island home. Following this orientation, visitors are encouraged to take a self-guided tour through what remains of Fort Frederica. Here they can learn more about the site through wayside displays and walk in the footsteps of Georgia’s colonial past.

Fort Frederica NatioNal MoNuMeNt preserves and protects the historical, archeological, and scenic resources of colonial Fort Frederica to commemorate and interpret its role in American history for the education and inspiration of this and future generations.

Park Purpose The purpose statement identifies the specific reason(s) for establishment of a particular park. The purpose statement for Fort Frederica National Monument was drafted through a careful analysis of its enabling legislation and the legislative history that influenced its development. The park was established when the enabling legislation adopted by Congress was signed into law on May 26, 1936 (see appendix A for enabling legislation). The purpose statement lays the foundation for understanding what is most important about the park.

Park Significance Significance statements express why a park’s resources and values are important enough to merit designation as a unit of the national park system. These statements are linked to the purpose of Fort Frederica National Monument, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Statements of significance describe the distinctive nature of the park and why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. They focus on the most important resources and values that will assist in park planning and management.

The following significance statements have been identified for Fort Frederica National Monument. (Please note that the sequence of the statements does not reflect the level of significance.)

· Frederica was the southernmost English settlement in the British colonies of North America, establishing British control over “debatable lands” also claimed by Spain. Fort Frederica National Monument commemorates the town of Frederica and the British victory over the Spanish on Saint Simons Island that effectively ended the Spanish claim to Georgia and the Carolinas, shaping the nation’s history and boundaries as we know it today.

· Fort Frederica was an active, colonial, military town and home to a wide variety of residents who were selected for a number of reasons, including their trade skills and crafts needed to support the establishment of a British presence that solidified control of the region.

· General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder and first leader of the British colony of Georgia, secured its success through both political campaigns in Britain and military strategy in Georgia. Oglethorpe led in the organization, design, and construction of Fort Frederica where he established his only permanent residence in the New World.

· Fort Frederica National Monument contains a remarkable breadth of intact archeological resources that represent a “time capsule” of 18th century colonial life on the Georgia frontier. The site itself is important in the development of historical archeology, both as a science and as an educational medium.

· Located on the banks of the Frederica River, Fort Frederica National Monument protects roughly 250 acres of coastal barrier island including expansive salt marshes and mature maritime forest that serve as both a visual and tangible link to the physical environment that existed during the height of Fort Frederica’s prominence on the colonial frontier.

Fundamental Resources and Values Fundamental resources and values (FRVs) are those features, systems, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or other attributes determined to warrant primary consideration during planning and management processes because they are essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance. Fundamental resources and values are closely related to a park’s legislative purpose and are more specific than significance statements.

Fundamental resources and values help focus planning and management efforts on what is truly significant about the park. One of the most important responsibilities of NPS managers is to ensure the conservation and public enjoyment of those qualities that are essential (fundamental) to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining its significance. If fundamental resources and values are allowed to deteriorate, the park purpose and/or significance could be jeopardized.

The following fundamental resources and values have been identified for Fort Frederica National Monument:

· Archeological Resources. Protected because of its significant archeological resources, Fort Frederica National Monument continues to reveal new information about colonial life on the Georgia frontier. Since the park’s establishment in 1936, more than 40 archeological investigations have been conducted at the park. Using 18th century maps and journals as a guide, archeologists have uncovered many sections of the fort and town site. The unearthed artifacts and research collected from these projects are stored in the park’s museum collections and archives as well as at the NPS Southeast Archeological Center in Tallahassee, Florida. The subsurface archeological resources at the park are mostly intact and are likely to yield new data about the colonialization and settlement of the Southeast.

· Historic Structures. Although little remains of historic Fort Frederica, a few ruins and foundations of historic structures provide important clues to the once thriving colonial town. Built of tabby, a form of coastal concrete, the ruins of the King’s Magazine and Military Barracks Building are the two dominant historic structures on the landscape. The brick and tabby foundations of a number of historic structures have also been unearthed and illustrate the grid pattern and design of the town. Additionally, significant earthworks and defensive fortifications surrounding the historic core of Fort Frederica still can be seen today. The ruins of these historic structures provide a reference point for overall layout of Fort Frederica and are essential to understanding the context and history of the site.

· Museum Collections. The museum collections at Fort Frederica National Monument include material culture, artifacts recovered through archeological excavations and extensive archives, as well as a research library. More than 227,237 objects are accessioned into the park’s museum collections. Many are on display at the visitor center, and numerous reproductions are featured on waysides throughout the park.

The park also maintains a research library at the visitor center. Objects not on display are stored on site in the park’s museum storage facility or at the NPS Southeast Archeological Center.

· Frederica River and Salt Marsh. Flowing through Fort Frederica National Monument, the Frederica River divides the historic core of the park from a large salt marsh to the west. Due to its strategic importance as a transportation and defensive corridor, the Frederica River played a vital role in the early success and development of Fort Frederica. The salt marsh is another key natural landscape feature that existed at the time of Fort Frederica’s settlement. The salt marsh serves as a historic touchstone to the environment that early settlers would have experienced on Saint Simons Island.

Along with the historic context they provide, the Frederica River and salt marsh provide important habitats for a number of plant and wildlife species.

· Views and Vistas. Because of its serene visual setting, the views and vistas are fundamental to the visitor experience at Fort Frederica National Monument. The visual setting of the park creates a unique immersive environment that allows visitors to reflect on the history of the site and experience the ruins of Fort Frederica. Despite the increasing development on Saint Simons Island, there is very little encroachment from modern development and few visual intrusions on the park cultural landscape.

Other Important Resources and Values Fort Frederica National Monument contains other resources and values that are not fundamental to the purpose of the park and may be unrelated to its significance, but are important to consider in planning processes. These are referred to as “other important resources and values” (OIRV). These resources and values have been selected because they are important in the operation and management of the park and warrant special consideration in park planning.

The following other important resources and values have been identified for Fort Frederica National Monument:

· Monuments. Two monuments can be found at Fort Frederica National Monument.

Erected in the 1920s, the Abbott Monument honors the family of Robert S. Abbott, son of a former slave and founder of the weekly gazette, The Chicago Defender. This monument serves as a tangible link to the African American community that has called Saint Simons home for generations “and serves as a reminder of the early struggle against racial prejudice.” At the Bloody Marsh unit, a monument erected by the Georgia Society of Colonial Dames commemorates the British victory at Battle of Bloody Marsh and its impact on the colonial history of Georgia. Both monuments provide important links to commemorating and remembering the struggles of those who came before us.

· Appropriate Recreational Opportunities. Fort Frederica National Monument strives to provide appropriate recreational opportunities that are sensitive to the park’s historic setting. The park is a popular location for picnicking, dog walking, birding, and many other forms of passive recreation. Also, the park’s dinghy dock and access to the Frederica River make it a popular location for fishing activities. Balancing the historic context of the park with demands for appropriate recreational activities is an important strategy for building local advocacy and support for Fort Frederica National Monument.

Interpretive Themes Interpretive themes are often described as the key stories or concepts that visitors should understand after visiting a park—they define the most important ideas or concepts communicated to visitors about a park unit. Themes are derived from, and should reflect, park purpose, significance, resources, and values. The set of interpretive themes is complete when it provides the structure necessary for park staff to develop opportunities for visitors to explore and relate to all park significance statements and fundamental and other important resources and values.

Interpretive themes are an organizational tool that reveal and clarify meaning, concepts, contexts, and values represented by park resources. Sound themes are accurate and reflect current scholarship and science. They encourage exploration of the context in which events or natural processes occurred and the effects of those events and processes. Interpretive themes go beyond a mere description of the event or process to foster multiple opportunities to experience and consider the park and its resources. These themes help explain why a park story is relevant to people who may otherwise be unaware of connections they have to an event, time, or place associated with the park.

The following interpretive themes have been identified for Fort Frederica National Monument:

· Results of the Battles of Gully Hole Creek and Bloody Marsh destroyed the dreams of the Spanish for an empire and cemented British control of the southern colonies.

· The colonial town of Frederica is a classic example of the symbiotic relationship between a military base and a supporting residential community.

· Civilian life in the colonial town of Frederica was a study in adaptability and flexibility in the face of hardships and social variance.

· Archeological investigations and research at Fort Frederica continue to reveal a multitude of personal stories and historic revelations about life on Saint Simons Island.

· The early history of the colony and the town of Frederica reflects Oglethorpe’s effort to bring about a successful implementation of the colony’s charter from King George.

· During the 18th century, General James Oglethorpe encountered a fertile and varied ecosystem on Saint Simons Island, Georgia. Although much has changed during the intervening centuries, there are still places where such beauty and diversity endure.

Efforts are underway to conserve and restore aspects of Saint Simons Island’s ecology, which influenced the history and lives of the people on the island.

Part 2: Dynamic Components The dynamic components of a foundation document include special mandates and administrative commitments and an assessment of planning and data needs. These components are dynamic because they will change over time. New special mandates can be established and new administrative commitments made. As conditions and trends of fundamental and other important resources and values change over time, the analysis of planning and data needs will need to be revisited and revised, along with key issues. Therefore, this part of the foundation document will be updated accordingly.

Special Mandates and Administrative Commitments Many management decisions for a park unit are directed or influenced by special mandates and administrative commitments with other federal agencies, state and local governments, utility companies, partnering organizations, and other entities. Special mandates are requirements specific to a park that must be fulfilled. Mandates can be expressed in enabling legislation, in separate legislation following the establishment of the park, or through a judicial process.

They may expand on park purpose or introduce elements unrelated to the purpose of the park. Administrative commitments are, in general, agreements that have been reached through formal, documented processes, often through memorandums of agreement. Examples include easements, rights-of-way, arrangements for emergency service responses, etc. Special mandates and administrative commitments can support, in many cases, a network of partnerships that help fulfill the objectives of the park and facilitate working relationships with other organizations. They are an essential component of managing and planning for Fort Frederica National Monument.

For more information about the existing administrative commitments for Fort Frederica National Monument, please see appendix B. Fort Frederica National Monument does not have any special mandates.

Assessment of Planning and Data Needs Once the core components of part 1 of the foundation document have been identified, it is important to gather and evaluate existing information about the park’s fundamental and other important resources and values, and develop a full assessment of the park’s planning and data needs. The assessment of planning and data needs section presents planning issues, the planning projects that will address these issues, and the associated information requirements for planning, such as resource inventories and data collection, including GIS data.

There are three sections in the assessment of planning and data needs:

1. analysis of fundamental and other important resources and values

2. identification of key issues and associated planning and data needs

3. identification of planning and data needs (including spatial mapping activities or GIS maps)

The analysis of fundamental and other important resources and values and identification of key issues leads up to and supports the identification of planning and data collection needs.

Analysis of Fundamental Resources and Values The fundamental resource or value analysis table includes current conditions, potential threats and opportunities, planning and data needs, and selected laws and NPS policies related to management of the identified resource or value.

Fundamental Resource or Value

Archeological Resources

Related Significance Statements

• Frederica was the southernmost English settlement in the British colonies of North America, establishing British control over “debatable lands” also claimed by Spain Fort Frederica National Monument commemorates the town of Frederica and the British victory over the Spanish on Saint Simons Island that effectively ended the Spanish claim to Georgia and the Carolinas shaping the nation’s history and boundaries as we know it today

• Fort Frederica was an active, colonial, military town and home to a wide variety of residents who were selected for a number of reasons, including their trade skills and crafts needed to support the establishment of a British presence that solidified control of the region

• General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder and first leader of the British colony of Georgia, secured its success through both political campaigns in Britain and military strategy in Georgia Oglethorpe led in the organization, design, and construction of Fort Federica where he established his only permanent residence in the New World

• Fort Frederica National Monument contains a remarkable breadth of intact archeological resources that represent a “time capsule” of 18th century colonial life on the Georgia frontier The site itself is important in the development of historical archeology, both as a science and as an educational medium

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• Key historic building foundations are stabilized and visible

• Archeological deposits are in comparably stable condition except in areas disturbed by tree roots and possible shoreline erosion

• The Archeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS) rates park archeological resources as good or fair

• The Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducted a magnetometer survey of the Frederica River during a shoreline stabilization project

Trends

• Little to no new archeological investigations, outside of compliance projects, have been done since the 1970s

• Since the park’s establishment, only seven houses have been excavated

• An archeological field school is still being used by private schools; however, the program was too expensive and time consuming to meet public school budgets and curriculum demands

Fundamental Resource or Value

Archeological Resources

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Exposed historic building foundations are threatened by erosion caused by water filtrations and visitor impacts

• Two Archaeological Resources Protection Act violations have occurred in the past two years (e g , using a metal detector; 141 holes were dug during the government shutdown in 2014)

• Because local law enforcement does not have a thorough understanding of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, violations of the act may not be fully enforced

• Tree roots can disturb subsurface archeological deposits, and falling trees may cause even more damage

• As many of the park’s trees die, strategies to replace these trees through a succession plan could potentially disturb archeological deposits

• Shoreline erosion along the Frederica River and climate change-related rising water table and more frequent and intense storm surges could disturb archeological deposits

Opportunities

• Work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to create a no-wake zone on the Frederica River and establish a Living Shoreline volunteer project to reduce shoreline erosion and stabilize the riverbank

• Host a university field school, invite educational institutions to work at the park, and use public archeology as opportunities to continue archeological research at the site

• Reinstitute the 4th grade archeology program and expand the program outside of Glynn County, Georgia, to provide educational opportunities and build the next generation of park advocates and supporters

• Provide training and educational opportunities for local law enforcement on the Archaeological Resources Protection Act

• Erect “No Metal Detector” signs in the park; this could be incorporated into the wayside exhibit planning process

• Improve communication between the NPS Southeast Archeological Center and park staff to increase access to and awareness of archeological data stored outside the park

• Develop data-sharing program with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources related to submerged archeological resources in the Frederica River

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Conduct archeological investigation of the Oglethorpe House site

• Develop data-sharing program with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources related to submerged archeological resources in the Frederica River

• Update National Register of Historic Places nomination for Fort Frederica

Planning Needs

• Wayside sign plan

• Museum storage management plan

• Cultural landscape report

• Long-range interpretive plan (update)

• Climate change adaptation plan

Fundamental Resource or Value

Archeological Resources

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979; 54 USC 312512

• Historic Sites Act of 1935; 54 USC 320101 et seq

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; 54 USC 300101 et seq

• Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009

• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”

• “National Register of Historic Places” (36 CFR 60)

• “National Historic Landmarks Program” (36 CFR 65)

• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)

• “Preservation of American Antiquities” (43 CFR 3)

• “Protection of Archaeological Resources” (43 CFR 7)

• “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections” (36 CFR 79)

• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”

• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management

• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management

• Director’s Order 28A: Archeology

• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III

• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation

Fundamental Resource or Value

Historic Structures

Related Significance Statements

• Frederica was the southernmost English settlement in the British colonies of North America, establishing British control over “debatable lands” also claimed by Spain Fort Frederica National Monument commemorates the town of Frederica and the British victory over the Spanish on Saint Simons Island that effectively ended the Spanish claim to Georgia and the Carolinas shaping the nation’s history and boundaries as we know it today

• Fort Frederica was an active, colonial, military town and home to a wide variety of residents who were selected for a number of reasons, including their trade skills and crafts needed to support the establishment of a British presence that solidified control of the region

• General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder and first leader of the British colony of Georgia, secured its success through both political campaigns in Britain and military strategy in Georgia Oglethorpe led in the organization, design, and construction of Fort Federica where he established his only permanent residence in the New World

• Fort Frederica National Monument contains a remarkable breadth of intact archeological resources that represent a “time capsule” of 18th century colonial life on the Georgia frontier The site itself is important in the development of historical archeology, as a science and as an educational medium

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The Barracks ruins and the King’s Magazine are partially stabilized

• The List of Classified Structures database identifies the King’s Magazine as in good condition and the Barracks ruins in fair condition

Trends

• The tabby walls of the King’s Magazine require ongoing cyclical maintenance

• The Barracks ruins do not have an active cyclic maintenance program, but the park is starting a cyclic monitoring plan

• Although stormwater events have damaged these structures, there has not been a significant event in more than eight years

• A cultural landscape inventory of the park is scheduled for FY 2016

Fundamental Resource or Value

Historic Structures

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Visitors climbing on historic structures, foundations, and earthworks may cause damage;

individuals have removed portions of tabby

• Tree root systems may be disrupting building foundations, especially along Broad and Cross Streets

• Shoreline erosion is an increasing threat, especially to the King’s Magazine due to its proximity to the Frederica River

• Because of the park’s location on the Atlantic coast, the potential for severe storm events and hurricanes poses a significant threat to historic structures in the park

• Climate change is likely to increase severe storm events, flooding, saltwater intrusion, and shoreline erosion that could result in damage and deterioration of historic structures

Opportunities

• Park staff will continue to rope off historic structures during public events to reduce incidences of climbing and tabby removal

• Roving interpreters could be used to observe visitors and educate them on the damage caused by climbing on the historic structures, foundations, and earthworks

• Park staff could erect ghost structures / shadow buildings to give a sense of scale of town structures This would significantly enhance interpretation at the site and connect visitors to Fort Frederica’s history

• There could be opportunities to use new technologies such as mobile device applications and social media to increase interpretation and connect people to historic structures and sites

• The park could also build on the University of Georgia cultural landscape program’s research in using augmented reality computer applications to enhance the direct and indirect views of historic structures’ physical features

• The park could fully document the King’s Magazine and the Barracks ruins using contemporary remote-sensing techniques, such as three-dimensional scanning and LiDAR, to supplement the historic record of these structures

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Three-dimensional scanning of key historic structures (King’s Magazine / Barracks ruins) following NPS Heritage Documentation Programs Standards

• Update National Register of Historic Places nomination for Fort Frederica

• Visitor use study

Planning Needs

• Historic structure report for King’s Magazine and Barracks ruins

• Fort Frederica cultural landscape report

• Climate change adaptation plan

Fundamental Resource or Value

Historic Structures

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974; 54 USC 312502 et seq

• Historic Sites Act of 1935; 54 USC 320101 et seq

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; 54 USC 300101 et seq

• Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended

• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”

• Executive Order 13287, “Preserve America”

• “National Register of Historic Places” (36 CFR 60)

• “National Historic Landmarks Program” (36 CFR 65)

• “Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archeological Collections” (36 CFR 79)

• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)

• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”

• Director’s Order 14: Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management

• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management

• Director’s Order 28A: Archeology

• Director’s Order 80: Real Property Asset Management

• NPS Damage Assessment and Restoration Handbook

• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes

Fundamental Resource or Value

Museum Collections

Related Significance Statements

• Frederica was the southernmost English settlement in the British colonies of North America, establishing British control over “debatable lands” also claimed by Spain Fort Frederica National Monument commemorates the town of Frederica and the British victory over the Spanish on Saint Simons Island that effectively ended the Spanish claim to Georgia and the Carolinas shaping the nation’s history and boundaries as we know it today

• Fort Frederica was an active, colonial, military town and home to a wide variety of residents who were selected for a number of reasons, including their trade skills and crafts needed to support the establishment of a British presence that solidified control of the region

• General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder and first leader of the British colony of Georgia, secured its success through both political campaigns in Britain and military strategy in Georgia Oglethorpe led in the organization, design, and construction of Fort Federica where he established his only permanent residence in the New World

• Fort Frederica National Monument contains a remarkable breadth of intact archeological resources that represent a “time capsule” of 18th century colonial life on the Georgia frontier The site itself is important in the development of historical archeology, as a science and as an educational medium

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The museum collections are housed on-site at the park and at the NPS Southeast Archeology Center in Tallahassee, Florida

• More than 25,000 museum objects are housed at the park, of which more than 25,000 have been accessioned and 24,891 have been cataloged More than 1,000 objects need to be cataloged The museum collections are in good condition

• The museum curator at Cumberland Island National Seashore is responsible for both the Fort Frederica National Monument and the Cumberland Island National Seashore museum collections The curator spends an average of one day per week on-site at Fort Frederica

• A new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for the museum collections storage area was installed in the park’s storage facility in 2010

• The Margaret Davis Cate collection (part of the Fort Frederica museum collection) is stored in Savannah at the Georgia Coastal Historical Society

• The NPS Southeast Archeological Center houses 255,000 objects, 180,000 of which are cataloged into the museum collections The center is upgrading its cabinet storage system Collection organization and climate control are good

Trends

• Progress continues in organizing the museum collections based on NPS collection management best practices

• The park’s research library was recently relocated to the park visitor center to improve access to this resource

• The number of active requests for on-site research is unknown

Fundamental Resource or Value

Museum Collections

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• The existing climate control system is unstable, and it is difficult to maintain appropriate levels of climate control in the existing storage facility

• Some museum objects on display in the visitor center may be deteriorating because of exposure to light (e g , the Scottish shield), and their condition needs to be assessed for conservation needs

• Over the years, on-site museum collections storage has become disorganized, and it can be difficult to locate and monitor objects and archives in the collection

• Disconnects between data in the Interior Collections Management System and the organization of the museum collections storage area makes it difficult and time consuming to locate and inventory objects

• The life cycle of the on-site museum storage argon fire suppression system is nearing its end Due to the park’s location, service for this system is challenging In addition, the system does not notify the local fire department This aging system needs to be replaced

• Wayside displays in the park are deteriorating; plans to replace them are ongoing (project exists but not funded)

Opportunities

• Engaging a Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern who is obtaining a bachelor’s degree in museum management would be a cost effective way to make progress on better organizing the park’s on-site collections and updating it in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS)

• Building relationship(s) between the park and university museum studies programs (e g , George Washington University) for summer interns to assist with organizing the collections and cataloging backlog museum objects would be another cost-effective way of organizing the collections Having new perspectives on museum management from interns could lead to improvements in collections management and more efficiency

• The park could provide opportunities in fields related to historic preservation by exploring various internship opportunities such as the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE)

• Organizing the park on-site museum collection would lead to more efficient storage of objects and greater ease of access

• NPS Southeast Archeological Center’s storage upgrade will lead to a number of surplus storage cabinets that the park could use Obtaining some of the surplus museum storage cabinets would provide increased storage space at the park and assist in overall organizing goals

• While the Scottish shield undergoes a condition assessment and conservation at the Harpers Ferry Center, a replica could be made for display in the visitor center This would allow the park to rotate this artifact on a regular basis

• Relocating the Margaret Davis Cate Collection from Georgia Coastal Historical Society back to the park would improve access to this valuable research collection This archival collection is accessioned and part of the park’s official museum collection

• The park could explore strategies to support and improve access for on-site research and the use of the library as a resource center, making Fort Frederica National Monument a nationally recognized Colonial Georgia and James Oglethorpe regional research hub

• Digitizing the museum collections and using different social media platforms would increase public access and bring awareness to the museum collections and archives as a public resource

Data and/or GIS Needs • Develop finding aid for museum collections/archives

Fundamental Resource or Value

Museum Collections

Planning Needs

• Exhibits plan

• Wayside sign plan

• Museum storage management plan

• Scope of collections statement

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Museum Properties Management Act of 1955, as amended

• Freedom of Information Act of 1950, as amended; 16 USC 668-668d

• Preservation, Arrangement, Duplication, Exhibition of Records; 44 USC 2109

• “Research Specimens” (36 CFR 2 5)

• “Preservation of American Antiquities” (43 CFR 3)

• “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections” (36 CFR 79)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”

• Director’s Order 19: Records Management

• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management

• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management

• Director’s Order 44: Personal Property Management

• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III

Fundamental Resource or Value

Frederica River and Salt Marsh

Related Significance Statements

• Frederica was the southernmost English settlement in the British colonies of North America, establishing British control over “debatable lands” also claimed by Spain Fort Frederica National Monument commemorates the town of Frederica and the British victory over the Spanish on Saint Simons Island that effectively ended the Spanish claim to Georgia and the Carolinas shaping the nation’s history and boundaries as we know it today

• Located on the banks of the Frederica River, Fort Frederica National Monument protects roughly 250 acres of coastal barrier island including expansive salt marshes and mature maritime forest that serve as both a visual and tangible link to the physical environment that existed during the height of Fort Frederica’s prominence on the colonial frontier

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• A recent wetland assessment including surface water detention, coastal storm surge detention, nutrient transformation, sediment and other particulate retention, and shoreline stabilization indicates the salt marsh is in good condition

• There are numerous point sources of pollutants, including hazardous waste sites and an EPA-regulated wastewater discharge site on Saint Simons Island

• Based on a recent natural resource condition assessment, water quality in the park is fair overall, with dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria in good condition, contaminants in fair condition, and nutrients in fair to poor condition

• A dinghy dock in the park provides direct access to the Frederica River

• The salt marshes make up 99 acres at the main site unit and 5 acres at Bloody Marsh

Trends

• There is an increasing public as well as park staff interest in both the salt marshes and the Frederica River

• Due to the park’s coastal location, the Frederica River and salt marsh are witnessing increasing impacts from climate change

Fundamental Resource or Value

Frederica River and Salt Marsh

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Changing land use upstream of park boundaries has the potential to impact water quality due to increased sediment loads from development activities to long-term increased inputs from septic systems There is also a greater proportion of impervious surface and associated urban stormwater runoff

• There are potential threats to biotic diversity in the salt marsh related to habitat change due to pollution and climate-related factors, including salt marsh dieback and invasive species encroachment

• Overabundant populations of salt marsh periwinkle, a spiral-shelled snail, during periods of drought-stress can be detrimental to dominant salt marsh native plant species

• Climate change may also lead to increased/higher tides The Georgia Department of Natural Resources predicts the town site will be impacted by higher tides in the future The water table may also be impacting tree health in the park Additional data is needed to better understand these potential threats

• Salt marshes on the Georgia coast may decline in area by 20% to 40% due to predicted sea level rise in this century

• The current dinghy dock is difficult to access at low tide because of the distance from the river channel to the shoreline If access and use of the dinghy dock increases, the park may need to relocate the black powder storage magazine due to visitor safety concerns

• Coastal erosion along the banks of the Frederica River continues to be an ongoing threat to park resources, specifically around the King’s Magazine

• Fast-moving boats on the Frederica River may produce wakes that could be impacting shoreline erosion

Opportunities

• Commercial use agreements with outfitters for appropriate recreation activities such as paddle boarding and kayaking tours could broaden and enhance visitor use/experience on the river

• Frederica River tours and interpretive programs in the salt marsh could provide educational opportunities about climate change, ecosystem health, and the importance of coastal habitat for species diversity

• The Frederica River and salt marsh may also support other NPS initiatives like the Healthy Parks-Healthy People Initiative and Blue Trails / National Waterways Trails system

• Improvements to the dinghy dock or a new dock could increase and improve access to the park by water as well as enhance fishing and other river-based activities

• Conducting faunal species inventories could be used to determine the abundance of species, particularly population size and residency of bird species and other species that use the salt marsh habitat

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Parkwide boundary…