Madison blown as of 4/6

[jason]

What is the proceedure for closing Madison? Surely it's not the park ranger walking over to the spring and looking down and it doesn't look diveable to him and then walking over to Martz to confirm.

Actually, that's more or less the procedure.

[aquadog196]

Actually, that's more or less the procedure.

Seriously? ...and cave divers accept this?

[FW]

Seriously? ...and cave divers accept this?

If Martz is brown, the system is blown.

[aquadog196]

If Martz is brown, the system is blown.

But I have dived Martz many times when the top was all yucky etc but cleared beautifully at about 15'. Perhaps you are saying that the combination of river intrusion at the main spring and tannic water at Martz implies that the entire system is not diveable and this can be determined without a check out dive?... and further are you saying that the 'ranger' at Madison is aware of this and can indeed determine to close the system by simply having a surface 'look see' ?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

... you could always... drive 30 min down the road to peacock :P

[FW]

But I have dived Martz many times when the top was all yucky etc but cleared beautifully at about 15'. Perhaps you are saying that the combination of river intrusion at the main spring and tannic water at Martz implies that the entire system is not diveable and this can be determined without a check out dive?... and further are you saying that the 'ranger' at Madison is aware of this and can indeed determine to close the system by simply having a surface 'look see' ?

Since there is no line committee there, we have little choice. You can tell a lot by watching the run. If it is flowing towards the cave, it is dangerous to dive, regardless of the viz.

[Jim Wyatt]

Since there is no line committee there, we have little choice.

There is a line committee there, its the same line committee as Peacock and Lafayette.
The link---->>> http://www.northfloridaspringsalliance.org/lines.htm

Everyone needs to fully understand the responsibilities of the line committee. Those responsibilities are identified on the web page linked above.

[Kelly Jessop]

What is the proceedure for closing Madison? Surely it's not the park ranger walking over to the spring and looking down and it doesn't look diveable to him and then walking over to Martz to confirm.

It is not worthwhile to use a secchi disk etc,when walking from the spring to the sink will tell you the place has reversed. When the Bruic's owned the place,Mike would go for a dive,but ultimately he quit this because the place reverses quickly,and the system blows out entirely.

I agree with Jason that reversals are an essential part of the health of the system,and this may sound awful to people anxious to cave dive,but I hope we get heavy rains,and everything gets flooded. Losing the systems for a few weeks,increases the quality of the diving throughout the year.

[FW]

There is a line committee there, its the same line committee as Peacock and Lafayette.
The link---->>> http://www.northfloridaspringsalliance.org/lines.htm

Everyone needs to fully understand the responsibilities of the line committee. Those responsibilities are identified on the web page linked above.

Thanks Jim, I learned some things

[aquadog196]

Thanks Kelly, Jim, and Forrest . I happened to be at Madison several weeks ago when the river was rising a bit and witnessed
the 'ranger' making his off hand comments about it being 'almost closing time'. Several of us that overheard him thought ....
.. you're basing this on what? Yes, the tannic river water was approaching the basin but there was a strong outflow from the system.
Indeed , the next morning he had closed it. I have wondered if occasionally this decision is made too quickly and without merit.
Its good to know that several knowledgeable cave divers also monitor the closing of Madison.