Open Wakulla-Letters needed

[Kelly Jessop]

The public hearing for the open of Wakulla Springs is Jan 19th at 7pm in Crawfordville,FL,and your attendence is needed very badly. But,if you can't attend,then your support in the form of a letter is needed. Even if you live out of state or out of the country,this is a state driven by tourism dollars,especially in a bad economy when less disposable income is spent on vacations.

Please write to:
Division of Recreation and Parks
Office of Park Planning
3900 Commonwealth Blvd
Mailstation 525
Tallahassee,FL.,32399


Of note,and worthy of contact:

Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce
23 High Dr
Crawfordville,FL.,32327

Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 1639
Tallahassee,FL.,32302
Chambers represent area businesses that would receive support from out visit.

In fiscal year 2009/2010 Wakulla Springs State park had 177119 visitors,which represented $6,173,306 in visitor expenditures in the area,and there was a direct economic impact of $9,292,608. The total jobs generated was 186.
With increased visitation,the expectation would be these economic impact numbers would increase,especially last year there was a threat of park closure and a reduction of services.

Cave diving is not the extreme sport,but a form of ecotourism no different than kayaking etc. Ecotourism is a growing sector of travel.

[JamesK]

I will write one tomorrow, and send it off. However, I can not guarantee it will make it in time. Mail here to and from the states can take up to three weeks at times.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

This will likely be drawn out longer than the public meeting, so even late, the letters will very much help.

[Kelly Jessop]

This will likely be drawn out longer than the public meeting, so even late, the letters will very much help.

Agree with Matt,think of the letters as an absentee ballot

[Skorpiov]

Done and in the mail.

[scuba_shark_fart]

Letter written and sent.

[skully6]

will be writing today!so when my time of training comes it will be there to enjoy

[Greenwood_60]

Are we looking for quantity or quality? I am happy to print, sign and send a form letter. Is that OK?

[gschaut]

Form letters tend to be ignored by politicians. Every nut group and organization can wallpaper the state capital with hundreds of thousands of "petitions" and "form letters".

Politicians DO tend to take note of individual letters from individual people. Especially if you mention how much money the state will make off of your diving...

It does not have to be long or pretty. You can even put it on the back of a post card. Just let them know you are out there.

For whatever it's worth:

Division of Recreation and Parks
Office of Park Planning
3900 Commonwealth Blvd
Mailstation 525
Tallahassee, FL 32399

January 4, 2012

Gentlemen:

With regard to the issue of opening Wakulla Springs to Recreational Cave Diving:

1. I am a cave diver living in Buffalo, NY
2. I visit Florida at least twice a year for the primary purpose of cave diving.
3. I estimate a direct economic impact to Florida in excess of $3,000/year from my spending on hotel, rentals, food, equipment, entrance fees, etc.

I would strongly urge that you open Wakulla Springs to recreational cave diving. There have been many concerns raised both recently and in the past regarding this subject. And I believe that the NACD, NSS-CDS, NFSA and other organizations have been able to properly address your concerns.

30 or 40 years ago, there may have been legitimate reasons to restrict cave diving at Wakulla. But 30 years ago, when I started open water, recreational SCUBA diving, I could not get life insurance. Because any form of SCUBA diving was considered to be “high risk”.

The equipment, skills, and protocols that I have been taught (and still continue to learn – training never ends) did not exist 30 years ago. The recreational cave diving community has been able to show that we are now able to conduct SCUBA diving as a safe and enjoyable sport.

And although Florida remains one of the best places in the world for cave diving, you do not have a monopoly. You are in direct competition with Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda and other states for recreational cave diving tourism.

Please do not overlook this opportunity to advance Florida’s status as one of the finest eco-tourism destinations in the world.

Gary L. Schaut

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Everything helps, if you don't have time for a personalized letter, shoot out one of the several available form letters - they have their place as well.