Buford Spring Clean Up

[DeepSea]

We were wondering why kind of participation we would get if we wanted to clean up the route Buford Sink. Currently, there are several large trees felled on the path and numerous other trees, branches, etc. making the hike less than desirable.

If you are interested please let me know. Most importantly, we need chain saws. This isn't 100% yet as I need to clear with the manager of the Chaz WMA.

Buford Spring Info - http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems/system.asp?ID=10

We are diving it this weekend so look for a conditions report late Saturday. I have heard the visibility (and the hike through the swamp) is excellent as we have had little rain down here.

[Tegg]

Let me know the plans and I will try to be there...

Gotta get in the hole close to Buford... :-D

[microtruk]

Let me know when and I'd be happy to help out. I could probably come up with a couple of chainsaws.

[DeepSea]

Let me know when and I'd be happy to help out. I could probably come up with a couple of chainsaws.

Thanks...Tegg pretty much got the big tree out of the way the day after I posted this. The system is indeed diveable.

You can check out current conditions here (http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems/system.asp?ID=10)

[microtruk]

No problem, if another clean up is needed let me know. I am fairly new to the site this is actually my first time posting.

[DeepSea]

No problem, if another clean up is needed let me know. I am fairly new to the site this is actually my first time posting.

Then a mighty warm welcome! So you are in the Tampa area?

[microtruk]

Sorry about the delay, I had a meeting. Yes I am, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach Cave is about 300 yards from the end of my road.

[Tegg]

Sorry about the delay, I had a meeting. Yes I am, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach Cave is about 300 yards from the end of my road.

Nice area... Been there many times... used one home that is right in front of the spring as a "landing pad" a few times to dive there.

[microtruk]

I've heared that it is a nice cave. Just a bit beyond my level at this time, I have done quite a bit of fishing in the flats out there though. Dove down to the entrance once to check it out. I would like to see the video I've heared Brett Hemphill shot, I'm just starting my intro classes and I am just looking forward to pushing a little farther in Peacock.

[Limestone Cowboy]

Welcome to the neighborhood! I live in NPR, but work just down the road in Ozona. I sometimes eat lunch at Wall Springs or Crystal Beach boat ramp.

I hear there is a sink in the lake in the neighborhood on the east side of Alt 19 at the S curve there just south of Crystal Beach. Might have to check that out sometime...

Drew

[phreaticus]

...thanks for the cleanup work, all involved..that was a good sized tree!

On the same note...there have been issues with people driving around the cable-gate at the Buford Sink tramway entrance.


PLEASE, don't do this...it will cause the CWMA rangers to reevaluate access to the site..possibly closing it down!

There is a legal research project going on in the CWMA, their vehicles will have the company logo on the side of the vehicle. They have the only legal access beyond the cable and metal gates in the entire area..including Eagles' Nest!
This area is as accesible to divers as it has ever been in 35 years...please don't screw it up by driving where you should not go!
Buford has been one of the only (almost) pristine sites in the State for over 30years...be gentle there..remembe the old mantra, which I rarely see repeated these days...take only pictures, leave only bubbles (I know, irrelevant to the "breather" crowd), and kill only time!

[phreaticus]

...did not mean to imply that access to the Nest was limited to the research group, only that they are the only organization allowed to access areas beyond exiting cable and metal gates, beyond SWFMD (who owns the property, and granted the legal access), and the CWMA rangers.

[microtruk]

Thanks Cowboy, The neighborhood your thinking of is the Hidden Lakes subdivision. The property that has the sink is privately owned and he does not let any one dive in the sink. Too bad, I hear that it's a great dive. Wall springs looks as though it could be an intresting dive as well. It is a shame that two dives like that in our local area cannot be accessed.

[Limestone Cowboy]

Nope, thats Blue Sink. This one is _in_ the lake, but I did screw the location up some. http://www.mejeme.com/dive/hidden.htm is the one I was thinking of...for some reason I was thinking it was in that other neighborhood. My bad!

Makes you wonder how many of the other lakes around have sinks in them....

Drew

[DeepSea]

Sorry about the delay, I had a meeting. Yes I am, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach Cave is about 300 yards from the end of my road.
A guy I work with used to live in Seaside Point - 2nd house on the left as you drive in.

Have you dove the Beach?

[DeepSea]

Hidden Lake Sink - http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems/system.asp?ID=108

Please make a conditions report if you dive it.

[microtruk]

No, I have not dove the beach but I would like to find out what is in the Hidden Lake sink. I did not know that there was a sink in there. Are any of you guys going to be at the DUI Demo Days this weekend @ Manatee Springs?

[Gibby]

Wow, this sort of got off topic didn’t it?

Hey microtruk!! You have been to Hidden Lake Sink but you didn’t want to try it out because you took a walk toward Howard Park Sink with no shoes on that day and found the best place to remove flesh from your foot. Remember? We drove around later and found the house Hidden was next to but ditched diving anyplace that day due to the series of demoralizing events that started near the "stink hole".

Back on the subject . . .

Wouldn't it be great if there were a light boardwalk over the murkiest parts leading to Buford? Just think. We could leave our backplate mounted truck winches at home.

[microtruk]

Ah, yes the barnical slice on the bottom of my foot. That was fun. Was that Hidden Lake that we found?