For what it's worth-!

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Originally Posted by Marchand

It could be argued that the cave is in fact a navigable waterway because it is, in a round about way, used for interstate commerce. Someone from another state comes to Florida, pays to get tanks filled and then pays for land access to the cave. Grating off the cave may have prevented people from out of state from coming to Florida and spending money to dive that cave. Therefore grating off the cave affects interstate commerce, and the cave can be defined as a navigable waterway.

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The grate certainly impedes the natural flow of water through the aquifer and into the river which is a natural resource.

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Originally Posted by Daedalus

Read Daniel Ball.

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I much prefer Lucille Ball. Or even Ed Ball. Or Red Rubber Ball by the Cyrkle.

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Originally Posted by mmcauliffe

What about all the laws about defacing caves that were quoted chapter and verse during the whole DIC incident. Drilling into cave walls to put a grate up, I would suspect, would be considered by state law as defacing or vandalism no?

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In my opinion, putting a grate on a cave is the worst kind of vandalism.

But,

Cave vandalism is only a first degree misdemeanor.

If it is a first degree misdemeanor you have to prosecute within 2 years.

The Grate is more than two years old.

So we should remove the grate, wait for them to put in a new one, and then prosecute them...

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Originally Posted by Marchand

So we should remove the grate, wait for them to put in a new one, and then prosecute them...

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ooh I like it

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Originally Posted by Daedalus

In my opinion, putting a grate on a cave is the worst kind of vandalism.

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QFT.

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Originally Posted by Daedalus

In my opinion, putting a grate on a cave is the worst kind of vandalism.

But,

Cave vandalism is only a first degree misdemeanor.

If it is a first degree misdemeanor you have to prosecute within 2 years.

The Grate is more than two years old.

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I suspect many of you know that MANY caves in Florida (and GA, TN, AL, etc) are grated/gated. This is done for many reasons (bat habitats/nurseries, vandalism, etc.).

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Originally Posted by DeepSea

I suspect many of you know that MANY caves in Florida (and GA, TN, AL, etc) are grated/gated. This is done for many reasons (bat habitats/nurseries, vandalism, etc.).

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Gates are one thing, (semi)permanently sealing off a cave is another.

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Originally Posted by Daedalus

Gates are one thing, (semi)permanently sealing off a cave is another.

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I guess we should be glad they didn't use dynamite, e.g...Morrison

On a less intellectual note:
IF you remove the grate at Ginnie ...
Then that cavern might/maybe/should be (etc) become null and void to open-water divers. Or at least no lights allowed.

I know everyone has their opinion but having done MANY dives in the cavern and having seen people do some really "NASSY" stuff in there , if you remove the grate , who knows what could happen???!!!!

Of course , it would be nice if we could dive in the system , but from a "practical" standpoint ...
It probably won't happen.

OK , now back to your regularily scheduled intellectual discussion ALREADY in progress :D

Da Beano

P.S. I am GLAD I just dive em , and not make the rules FOR em ... :D Makes it easier that way (for me at least). Like I said , I tend to be practical. AND I am out in California at the moment so no one can throw stuff at me out here... (EEK)