Emerald Sink

[mpoucher]

Back in June, Johnny Richards announced that negotiations were underway to re-open Emerald and urged everyone to join the Friends of Wakulla as a show of support by cave divers for the park. (See the NACD website at www.safecaving.com) I found the form on the Waklla Springs website under Park Menu, Additional Information:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wa...application.pdf

[MikeH]

Your link doesn't work. Below is a link to the general Wakulla page, the "Park Menu" that Mike references is on the right side of the page.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wak...gs/default.cfm

The direct link to the Friends of Wakulla application is:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wak...pplication.pdf

Mike

[Kelly Jessop]

Back in June, Johnny Richards announced that negotiations were underway to re-open Emerald and urged everyone to join the Friends of Wakulla as a show of support by cave divers for the park. (See the NACD website at www.safecaving.com) I found the form on the Waklla Springs website under Park Menu, Additional Information:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/wa...application.pdf

Thanks Mike. This is a good move to show support of their park,plus it will bring support to issues they face such as polluted ground water and water bottling companies.

[Ken Hill]

Mike and all,
I just downloaded the form and filled it in. An individual membership is $15 and a family is $20, which is what I sent for me and Robin.

I would urge all parties joining to list "Cave Diving" under the "Special Interests and Skills." With regard to the "Service Projects" select the area of interest that suit you and check the "Other" box and enter "Karst Study at Cheryl and Emerald Sinks."

With luck our membership will see the sites opening with a definite timetable. /Ken

[aw]

Count me IN!!! I'm filling mine out right now.

[johnnyrichards]

Thank you all for your support.

The process is slow, but at least it is moving. Sandra Cook has been provided a materials list for the platform and steps at Emerald and has agreed to provide a response to the list either in the form of approval or modified material requirements. She will also provide a cost statement for the materials.

Membership in The Friends of Wakulla will demonstrate to her our willingness to support the Park and help begin a working relationship between the general cave diving community and Wakulla Park.

I will keep you updated as further progress is made.

The key word in all of this is "patience". The site has been closed to us for almost ten years- a little while longer won't hurt.

Johnny Richards
NACD Conservation Chair

[Kelly Jessop]

Thanks Johnny

[Genesis]

When was the materials list provided, and was there an expected time (and if so, what is/was it?) for Ms. Cook to either approve or request modifications to it?

Does a critical path analysis list exist for the project yet, and if so, is it publically available?

[Bishop]

Does a critical path analysis list exist for the project yet, and if so, is it publically available?

Just file a FOIA request and you should get it.

[Ken Hill]

While the FOIA idea may produce results, the cooperative atmosphere could also produce the same results. As it stands, conservation issues, planning, and funding are the remaining obstacles. Johnny has the lead on this and I would take his guidance.

I would encourage participation within the Wakulla CSO, the Friends of Wakulla. That was the initial suggestion of the park management from day one. It will also provide her with the budgetary ammunition she will need as well as funding from within cave divers belonging to the CSO.

As an aside and piece of past trivia, it was suggested we call it the Friends of Wakulla - Cave Diving Section. In the spirit of being ecumenical I suggested something else like the Friends of Wakulla - Cave Diving Group.

If everyone who signed the petition and supported the various letters to the state joined, they could perhaps generate four or five thousand dollars that could be used to address the conservation issues at Emerald and later plan to address at Cheryl.

My .02... /Ken