What's the importance of the caves in Florida?

[adam0321]

Hello everyone,
I have not been on here in long time as I have been locked away in Okinawa. I am once again respectfully reaching out to the community for help. I am in school pursuing my masters in environmental management and must write a research paper for my environmental sustainability class. I chose (off course) to write on the importance of the Florida cave systems. I would like to highlight the importance of the caves to the endemic species that live in them, their contribution to the ecosystem, and the value they provide in the way of fresh water to the surrounding areas, whether be to humans or animals.
The problem I am having is finding quantifying data to support my paper. I am by no means asking anyone to write this for me, just point me in the direction of information resources. I tried the NSS website but it was little help.

Thanks and dive safe.

[tflaris]

Kelly at NFSA.?


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed that is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

[curtschu]

What I wonder is if you are approaching this the wrong way, albeit the expected way from the Cave diver's perspective. The cave in and of it's self is not important to the overall life and times of Florida. The cave are our window into the area that our water comes from But think about other parts of the country and world where they just drill a well or make a Dam and get water. we have a unique opportunity to look at the effects of the humans and animals that inhabit the recharge areas for our water source. IE: Cathedral/Falmouth, Lafayette and now Alachua if the development happens. Water quality and Rare creatures would be be issues whether we could enter the caves or not. The Bulletin 66 might be a useful resource as there is data pertaining to water quality, nutrient load flow rates overtime etc. These give any time line of human impact and exploitation of Florida Springs. Wekiva and Silver Springs could be great case studies of how close development has a dramatic negative impact. Cambrian Society might have some current data on the Central Florida Springs and Caves.

[wingman]

Check out the water management district web sites under research and publications. Bill

[Kelly Jessop]

Hello everyone,
I have not been on here in long time as I have been locked away in Okinawa. I am once again respectfully reaching out to the community for help. I am in school pursuing my masters in environmental management and must write a research paper for my environmental sustainability class. I chose (off course) to write on the importance of the Florida cave systems. I would like to highlight the importance of the caves to the endemic species that live in them, their contribution to the ecosystem, and the value they provide in the way of fresh water to the surrounding areas, whether be to humans or animals.
The problem I am having is finding quantifying data to support my paper. I am by no means asking anyone to write this for me, just point me in the direction of information resources. I tried the NSS website but it was little help.

Thanks and dive safe.

Have heaps of objective data, what are you looking for??? Please PM me. Tha

[jj1987]

Check with project baseline and Todd K

[adam0321]

Thanks for all the help guys. I cant wait to get back into the caves. I hope this paper helps to bring awareness to the beauty of the Florida cave regions. My professor, like most had no clue we even had caves in Florida.

Dive safe

[Aotus]

What I wonder is if you are approaching this the wrong way, albeit the expected way from the Cave diver's perspective. The cave in and of it's self is not important to the overall life and times of Florida. The cave are our window into the area that our water comes from But think about other parts of the country and world where they just drill a well or make a Dam and get water. we have a unique opportunity to look at the effects of the humans and animals that inhabit the recharge areas for our water source. IE: Cathedral/Falmouth, Lafayette and now Alachua if the development happens. Water quality and Rare creatures would be be issues whether we could enter the caves or not. The Bulletin 66 might be a useful resource as there is data pertaining to water quality, nutrient load flow rates overtime etc. These give any time line of human impact and exploitation of Florida Springs. Wekiva and Silver Springs could be great case studies of how close development has a dramatic negative impact. Cambrian Society might have some current data on the Central Florida Springs and Caves.

Great post.

[adam_Hughes]

http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us/DocumentCenter/

[adam0321]

Adam thank you.