FYI WES SKILES article orlando sun sentinel 9/23 07

[fno]

I don't recall ever seeing Wes out there in the river measuring the flow for Mark Wray. I also question whether Wes is still a principal at Karst Productions. Seems a few more facts are needed before someone gets shot in the back. But hey, that's the internet......

[skip]

wes is still a principal at karst environmental. he and peter were at the nacd board meeting and gave a convincing rebuttal. there is little doubt that karst environmental is indeed environmental. it is absurd that they would cook the data (no one questions the flow rates anyway) or otherwise promote anti-environmental objectives.

I suppose I should mention that I have been paid by Nestle' to cave dive and report what I found under the water. They tell me where to go, they get landowner permission, they have a crew of 2-4 on site to help lug gear, and all they want to know is how big it is under the surface and if there is going cave or not. I don't ask why they want to know and they don't tell me, and I get $250.00 for one dive in virgin cave. pretty cool if you ask me. I just wish they'd call more often!

-skip

[contender]

By the way, I'm curious. Did anyone who read my article find it nasty, baseless or libelous? If you did, I'd be interested to hear your side of it. As for alarmist and accusatory, you're probably right. I'm alarmed that a resource that means so much to me is being exploited and harmed, and people aren't willing to even look at the issue. I'm alarmed because I've seen similiar things happen to other areas in the country we're running out of pristine resources. I'm accusatory because I believe in the conservation statement I signed and am disgusted that other cave divers don't.

Jacki

I did not find the article to be nasty or slanderous, but it did lack in scientific facts. It's also my belief that cave divers are some of the most caring about the aquifer and conservation. However we all support water bottling in some form, think about it the next time you buy a bottle of water before a dive. The next time you dive at Ginnie or any other "popular" cave take a look around at the vehicles and count water bottles, you will find plenty. I am not sure at what point it became popular in mainstream to carry bottled water around, but to make a difference we need to start by getting it less popular. If this is successful, bottling companies will not have the money to apply for permits, let alone build a plant. This is also my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

[JDostal]

Yeah, I've always wondered why people buy bottled water. In a country where clean and safe water is as common as the air we breathe, people find the need to waste money buying the stuff. Always makes me shake my head.

I guess filling up a Nalgene or god forbid a plain water bottle just isn't cool anymore. Either that or the cash must be making their wallets too thick.

I work with guys that go through four or five bottles a day. They just throw them away...

No wonder our environment is going to hell. I'm not a radical environmentalist, but dang...ya gotta be a little respectful.

[jlcdvr]

In my opinion helping water bottling plants get permits to pump water out of the caves is a bad thing. But in the end it is a business decision, and the almighty $$ wins.

Joel

[contender]

In my opinion helping water bottling plants get permits to pump water out of the caves is a bad thing. But in the end it is a business decision, and the almighty $$ wins.

Joel

I agree Joel, but unfortunately the almighty dollar wins almost every time.

Chad

[Mike]

I personally don't trust the water that comes out of my tap.
They can send me all kinds of stuff with my bill that says it's okay but, I know they fudge the numbers to get through EPA.
I have a small water filtration system I fill up & put in my fridge then fill water bottles that I have bought (they get nasty after a while so, buy a new one every now & again).
This keeps quite a bit of the crap out of the landfill & makes me feel I'm doing something to help the environment, not to mention spending tons of money on bottled water & making these people lots of money.
This is definitely a very controversial subject & I don't live in Fla.
If I had a well that I Knew was being drained by one of these company's I would more than likely be at their door step yelling.
A lot of private wars in the past in this country have been waged over water.
I hope we don't see this in Fla.
Water is at times, like now, a precious commodity so who ever controls it is king.
I just hope the King makes the right decisions.

Mike