Support the opening of Wakulla Springs

[mfsmith1964]

The artifacts and cultural resources are of huge consideration to the parks. I works for the national parks service, and know that the majority of the resistance through the park is because no comprehensive archaeological/paleontological survey has been done of the spring. Those mastodon bones and clovis points wouldn't last long. I support the opening, don't get me wrong. But this is a big issue, especially with the rising interest in Florida's potential for prehistoric remains.

[OFG-1]

But this is a big issue, especially with the rising interest in Florida's potential for prehistoric remains.

Look, for a period of several years, offers were made to the park to do these surveys by biologists, archeologists and others, including the last administrator of FSU's Warm Mineral Springs project in the late 80's. The park management refused this on numerous occasions. The only effort that park management has supported has been exploration by various groups, NOT just the one group that currently has the EOL in there.

When you allow dozens and dozens of divers, carrying hundreds of stage bottles and countless scooters, batteries, habitats, a diving bell, barge and decompression gear, lights, cameras, food, heaters, and god knows what else in there, and then squawk "artifact preservation" its just disingenuous and stupid.

ps - Warm Mineral and Little Salt projects started over 30 years ago, the relics in Wakulla were reported in the early 60's, and NOW they want to bring this up? Please.

[mfsmith1964]

Wow! I could sense the derogatory tone over cyber-space :O

Look, sorry to ruffle your feathers but that's the way it is. I already said I support its opening. However, prehistoric remains from the Clovis period is scant everywhere and could be immensely important to Florida's history. I'm sorry you can only see a dive spot; its more than that. Wakulla is different.

This is not being brought up just now. Artifacts have been left in situ intentionally. With no divers/land development risks (the respective catalysts for WM and LSS projects), there was no immediate need to recover at the time, and nothing get's done until there's pressure. Also, most of the remains are at depth, making excavation and recovery difficult. Shore excavations along the spring already have revealed artifacts that are the oldest in Florida, pushing back dates for when Florida was thought to be settled. In addition its capable of being placed on the National Register, so by law it has to be treated that way. LSS and Warm Mineral serve as precedent for them to lord over us.

I just stated the issue would have to be addressed. It's obviously of great importance to a lot of people and all groups have to be satisfied on this one, there isn't a way around it. We can't just say "**** everything else, lets open it."

PS: The main excavations in both of those springs runs less than 40 feet of water with a little at 80ish which is obviously quite different from excavating at 200+.

[Kelly Jessop]

Kelly - with all due respect, we have now been there and tried that, and it didn't work. The Chamber of Commerce has continuously disregarded our requests for a meeting

Call me lucky,but after some correspondence they had changed their web site to include cave diving as a recreational activity,and used one of my pictures. I don't think it is still there though. FWIW,the local officials may be closed minded to the local dive club,but they get 20-30+ letters from different parts of the country and world,this will have an impact.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Call me lucky,but after some correspondence they had changed their web site to include cave diving as a recreational activity,and used one of my pictures. I don't think it is still there though. FWIW,the local officials may be closed minded to the local dive club,but they get 20-30+ letters from different parts of the country and world,this will have an impact.

I agree, more attempts and letters need to be made/sent to the Chamber of Commerce. I don't think its a wasted effort at all and it'd be wise for no possible venue to be overlooked despite past failures.

Has anyone spoken to any of the other people/groups that have attempted this in the past? It might help to learn what has happened with efforts previously so the focus can be on the issues that have been brought up. Just sending general requests for the opening isn't going to do much. Sending letters that address specific "issues" that have been brought up by opponents to opening would have a better chance at getting some attention. It's not enough to be a squeaky wheel. You need to do your homework and be specific in your requests.

Rob - we sure have!

What happened to keep previous efforts from working? These are issues that, I agree with Rob, need to be addressed in order to move forward.

Artifacts/Fossils preservation

Boat Traffic Safety/Glass Bottom Boat distraction

Aligators/Birds/Manatees/ect

Staying out of the swimmers way...

These are some of the things that are being used to argue against diver access. Most of them are laughable, but they need to be dealt with, regardless.

[megahurts]

Most of them are laughable,

Yeah, that attitude will get you a long way.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Meh... better than sitting in the back and doing nothing I suppose.

[wingman]

Meh... better than sitting in the back and doing nothing I suppose.

Actually some times it is a good thing to sit back and do nothing...there are best practices for many processes. Remember that park missions are to manage the resource so as to balance recreation and conservation. Bill

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I think people have sat back and done nothing for far too long on this issue, its been proven that the parks can manage caves with a proper balance of recreation and conservation in many many other, nearby, state parks. Its not a new concept, you of all people know this.

[wingman]

I think people have sat back and done nothing for far too long on this issue, its been proven that the parks can manage caves with a proper balance of recreation and conservation in many many other, nearby, state parks. Its not a new concept, you of all people know this.

It is not that nothing is being done, it is the negotiation strategy (or lack thereof) that might suggest that some continue to set back. So what do you offer as a measure of proof for a proper balance? Not all caves are created equal and in the management planning process resources are documented along many dimensions (including the archaeology one mentioned earlier) and wakulla is not peacock or ginnie for that matter. The occupy wakulla mind set might play well here but it might sound different (laughable?) to others.