Flooding in Patapsco Valley State Park: Recommendations for Signage and Communication Materials
Flooding in Patapsco Valley State Park: Recommendations for Signage and Communication Materials
Files
Publication or External Link
Date
2020
Authors
Acuña, Kierstin
Colbert, Jack
Garvey, Christina
Hebner, Briley
Joy, Katie
Plotkin, Jordan
Wilhelm-Glab, Christiana
Advisor
Boules, Caroline
Miralles-Barboza, Andrea
Miralles-Barboza, Andrea
Citation
DRUM DOI
Abstract
Patapsco Valley State Park (PVSP) and its surrounding areas have been subject to
increased flooding in recent years. In 2016 and 2018, the area experienced two 1,000-year floods
(Halverson, 2018) that significantly damaged the park. Flooding events of this severity and
magnitude are expected to be exacerbated in the future due to rapidly increasing impacts from
climate change (Denchak, 2019).
The park has found it challenging to communicate flood risks to visitors. The Maryland
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which manages PVSP, is concerned that visitors don’t
plan ahead when they attend the park, and don’t know the risks involved in hiking through the
park, which puts them at a greater risk of harm in the event of a flood. Additionally, many PVSP
visitors don’t speak or read English, which creates a significant communication gap between
visitors and the park to convey safety messages about flooding.
This project aims to determine the most effective language for signage and
communication materials to communicate flood risks and what to do if a flood occurs. The group
reviewed academic and non-academic literature on the best ways to communicate risk, the best
ways to educate youth, strategies used by other parks to communicate risk, as well as
information about the Ellicott City area. The research and final deliverables aim to determine the
most effective language for signs within PVSP, and the best education and communication
materials to distribute to park visitors.
The project began with a client meeting to define expectations for the project. We
determined three major aspects: creating safety signage, creating educational materials, and
creating a video to be shown at the PVSP mobile ranger station. We also discussed the
importance of improving communication with Spanish-speaking visitors.
Following this meeting, the group researched flood-risk education, risk communication in
parks, risk communication with Spanish speakers, and best practices for park signage. A site visit
gave the team a better understanding of the client’s expectations. After this visit, the group
divided into three teams; the first team was tasked with editing existing park signs, the second
team was tasked with developing educational materials, and the third team was tasked with
writing a detailed video script for use throughout the park and at the mobile ranger station. Each
team conducted additional relevant research.
The result was three deliverables: recommendations and mock-ups of effective safety
signage, educational pamphlets that inform park visitors about flooding risks, and a script for an
educational video on flooding.
We hope this work can contribute to DNR’s goal of providing accessible and appropriate
flood communication materials for all park visitors.
Notes
Final project for ENSP400: Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy (Spring 2020). University of Maryland, College Park.