Cheryl/Emerald Update
A very successful meeting was concluded this morning at Wakulla Springs State Park resulting in an agreement for the opening of Emerald Sink for cave diving.
First, I would like to extend my thanks to Vince Ferris and Linda Jones for their efforts in providing survey, engineering and autocad detail of the platform and steps to be installed at Emerald Sink.
Please note that Cheryl Sink will remain a closed site to be used only as an emergency exit point. A fence will be constructed along New Light Church Road with Wakulla Park strictly enforcing a no trespassing policy. Access to the system will be from Emerald Sink only. Cheryl is, of course, accessible from Emerald.
In attendance were Sandra Cook, Park Manager, Ron Weiss, Assistant Park Manager, Lamar English, Greg Flanagan, Larry Green, Lamar Hires, Kelly Jessop and myself.
Sandra Cook expressed concern of the lack of funding available to make the necessary improvements as a prerequisite to Emerald site access. While the Florida Springs Initiative may provide some funding, the Park will rely heavily on donations of funds, materials and labor from the cave diving community.
The following is the basis of the agreement reached:
1. Access to Emerald Sink will be from SR 319 along a fire break and to a parking lot to be constructed within reasonable distance from Emerald.
2. A maximum of two teams consisting of a maximum of four divers will be permitted on a daily basis. A FAX form must be submitted to Wakulla Park at least 72 hours in advance of the planned dive specifying team leader, group members, time in and out and include a c-card copy for the team leader (person requesting the reserved date). The team leader shall assume responsibility for insuring that all diver prequisites have been met and that all site protocol are observed. Violation of any site access rule will ultimately result in loss of the privilege to subsequently dive the site.
3. Dive hours available will be those of State Park business hours. All divers will be required to exit the property no later than 6:00 p.m. with the team leader placing a telephone call to Wakulla Park stating that the dive has been safely concluded and the team has exited the property.
4. Access will be through a locked, coded gate changed monthly and provided to the team leader at the time the request for access is approved. As with other State sites, the annual State Park Pass (required) and c-card must be placed on the vehicle dash.
5. Each diver must be Full Cave, no DPVs are permitted and no training activities are permitted. The no DPV policy was put into effect for an initial period to require divers to become (re)aquainted with the system and will be reviewed after one year.
The next step in this process is to provide a materials list to Sandra Cook and an estimate of materials cost. Once completed, a plan for beginning inprovements will be agreed upon and implemented. Again, strong support from the cave community is requested by Park Management.
At an appropriate time, donations of funds and materials will be requested from the cave diving agencies and individual members of the cave diving community.
While membership in the Wakulla CSO- Friends of Wakulla- is not required, joining would indicate our support of the Park for a nominal $15.00 annual fee. I encourage each of you to join Friends at your earliest convenience. Information may be obtained from the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park website.
A successful outcome of this effort would not have been possible without the support of each member of the cave diving community who took the time to participate. This has been a joint effort involving many who made time to express their interest and concern in obtaining access to this very beautiful system.
Updates will be provided as further progress is made.
Thank you all for the support you have shown in obtaining access to Emerald Sink.
Yours,
Johnny Richards, NACD
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