Bonnet ?

[Kelly Jessop]

I understand that the draft plan calls for the closure of Bonnet, and I applaud your efforts to get it opened...even on a limited basis. I was simply asking if the "old way" (100 dives, go with someone who's been, etc) was ever officially part of the management plan or if it was simply a de facto practice that just came into being. Sounds like the former.

Brian

The old management plan didn't call for specific diving plan as you described. More often terms are generic when describing something in a 10 year plan. The old way you mentioned worked great.

[Benthic]

Understood. Thanks for clarifying Kelly.

You've probably already thought of this, but something occurred to me. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but as I understand it diver access is part of the current management plan and the proposed plan would eliminate that access, citing concerns about erosion. Given the presence of the alligator and the last few years of weather, divers have not had access to Bonnet for a long time. So if there are erosion concerns, it hardly seems fair or even accurate to pin that on diver traffic. There hasn't been any for several years now.

Perhaps I'm oversimplifying the issue. I just thought it might be a point that could be made in the efforts to retain diver access.

Brian

[patpicos]

what is the cost to alleviate the erosion issues in terms of ramp/ stairs?

[Kelly Jessop]

Understood. Thanks for clarifying Kelly.

You've probably already thought of this, but something occurred to me. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but as I understand it diver access is part of the current management plan and the proposed plan would eliminate that access, citing concerns about erosion. Given the presence of the alligator and the last few years of weather, divers have not had access to Bonnet for a long time. So if there are erosion concerns, it hardly seems fair or even accurate to pin that on diver traffic. There hasn't been any for several years now.

Perhaps I'm oversimplifying the issue. I just thought it might be a point that could be made in the efforts to retain diver access.

Brian

I understand your thought. In reality Bonnet was closed before the implementation of this current management plan,but since the plan is every 10 years any plan for the management for Bonnet is included. I am guessing,but where Olsen became a huge erosional issue,the same concern is there for Bonnet which has the same rock face,and it sustaining the same wear. The good news is this can be addressed with some steps for example,and has been done successfully in the past at other sites. I think the balance between access and nature can occur where it is a win-win situation.

[Kelly Jessop]

what is the cost to alleviate the erosion issues in terms of ramp/ stairs?

Don't have a clue,but when I see the wording in the new management plan,then engineering plans and cost will be in the equation.