Fauna Counts begun in Cannonball Springs Missouri

As NACD Conservation Chairman I am pleased to announce that our first Fauna Counts have begun in Cannonball Springs in Lake Wappapello near the town of Poplar Bluff Mo. This is the second system in Missouri we have begun counts in; Roubidloux Springs in Waynesville Mo is now in its 6th month. Today’s Cannonball Survey was completed by Bjorn Loftis and David Frawley. Team leader Hiedi McMullin organized the dive. The purpose that I begun THE NORTH AMERICAN SPRING/CAVE FAUNA COUNT was to setup teams locally in multiple parts of the country. Teams who will adopt their local caves and as a group to begin doing counts and collecting data that is be shared. It is my hope that this project will work “one spring at a time “to grow into a national data base of the fauna in our aquifers. It is my hope that by setting up individual teams that the project will live past me and continue to grow because our drinking water and the life that’s in it is more important the any one individual. Having said that, any individual or group with a local spring or cave in which they dive, that wants to be part of a count please contact me. I truly want the “North American” in the title to mean North American. Knowledge with education creates conservation; Knowledge with education opens systems, knowledge with education makes better divers. Lastly, I cannot say this enough that all the work I and the teams are doing is directly based on the work of Kelly Jessop and Keith Millie. Thank you Kelly for being a mentor and an inspiration. Bjorn Loftis has a nice video on his facebook page from his helmet camera. I encourage you to view his work.
Michael Angelo Gagliardi
Artist and Explorer
NACD Conservation Chairman
773-531-4993
www.artflowslikewater.com

Thanks for spearheading this, MA! It looks as though we are about to add water quality sampling to our Fauna Counts now as well. Very cool.

WJH

You are correct. Bill and the Roubidloux team will be add water monitoring sensors similar to the the sensors currently inadison Blue. I could not be happier with the enthusiastic responses that the Mo volunteer cave divers have had. Nothing would have been accomplished without these guys and gals. I gives me great hope for the future.

Excellent news. Do you have any room for extra members on your Cannonball team? And, what was the water temp. in the cave when you dove it last?