News Release
NPS
Subscribe
 |
What is RSS
|
Contact: Mike Barber, 252-475-9032
MANTEO, N.C. — Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Fort Raleigh) invites public review and comments on a draft environmental assessment (EA) for a plan to stabilize its shoreline. The draft EA is open for public comment from July 21 through August 20, 2025.
Erosion along a section of Fort Raleigh’s shoreline poses a serious threat to potential archeologically significant sites and park facilities. Without action, the erosion will most likely continue, potentially jeopardizing the Waterside Theatre’s costume shop and parking lot, park roadways, and park housing along Pear Pad Road.
Three action-alternatives (alternatives) and analysis of their potential impacts are presented in the Shoreline Stabilization for Erosion Control EA, located at parkplanning.nps.gov/FORA_shoreline.
Alternative 1 — Rock Revetment: This alternative would mitigate erosion by lining the existing shoreline contours with rock material in a manner that is similar to the existing rock revetment at the Dough Cemetery.
Alternative 2 — Rock Berm: This alterative would mitigate erosion through the placement of fill material (sand) and then of rock material in the form of a raised berm along the widened shoreline in a way that would mesh with the existing rock berm in front of the Waterside Theatre. The berm would have breaks in it for recreational access and movement of aquatic organisms and the beach behind it may be planted with native vegetation to stabilize the soil and create marsh habitat in a manner that is similar to many living shorelines.
Alternative 3 — Rock Revetment/Berm Combination: This is the preferred alternative that would employ a combination of Alternatives 1 and 2 to maximize shoreline protection based on topography, land use, and constructability.
Comments received during a Feb. 12, 2025, public meeting and a subsequent 30-day public comment period helped inform the development of the draft EA.
Public participation is an important element of the planning process, and Fort Raleigh welcomes comments on the EA through August 20, 2025. Comments may be submitted electronically, the preferred method, or mailed to: Superintendent, 1401 National Park Dr., Manteo, N.C. 27954.
Last updated: July 21, 2025