Re: [Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Cavers who have read either BEYOND THE DEEP or HUAUTLA: THIRTY YEARS IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S DEEPEST CAVES about caving at Sistema Huautla, Oaxaca, Mexico, may recognize Kenny Broad's name. He was one of the main exploratory cave divers on the epic 1994 expedition. Bill Steele In a message dated 3/14/2012 12:02:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, tbsam...@verizon.net writes: Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.) Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Cavers who have read either BEYOND THE DEEP or HUAUTLA: THIRTY YEARS IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S DEEPEST CAVES about caving at Sistema Huautla, Oaxaca, Mexico, may recognize Kenny Broad's name. He was one of the main exploratory cave divers on the epic 1994 expedition. Bill Steele In a message dated 3/14/2012 12:02:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, tbsam...@verizon.net writes: Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.) Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
Re: [Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Cavers who have read either BEYOND THE DEEP or HUAUTLA: THIRTY YEARS IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S DEEPEST CAVES about caving at Sistema Huautla, Oaxaca, Mexico, may recognize Kenny Broad's name. He was one of the main exploratory cave divers on the epic 1994 expedition. Bill Steele In a message dated 3/14/2012 12:02:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, tbsam...@verizon.net writes: Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.) Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Results of the Samsung School Contest
Dear Texas Cavers, To those of you who voted online in the Samsung ³Solve for Tomorrow² Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) contest, THANK YOU !! The contest ended at midnight on 12 March 2012. The results for voting from among the twelve finalist schools can be found at: https://pages.samsung.com/us/sft/video/index.jsp Schoharie High School in Schoharie County, New York came out on top in the online voting over second-place Sutter High School in California by 13,527 votes. The results of the top four are: Schoharie High School, NY: 102,023 votes Sutter Middle School, CA: 88,496 votes Lawrence County High School, AL: 13,186 votes Mercer School, WI: 12,087 votes (The other eight school finalists received less than 6000 votes each.) Upon official confirmation by Samsung, this will be a tremendous boost for the town which was devastated by floodwaters from Hurricane Irene storm system as it barreled through the northeast in August 2011. The high school will receive the ³People¹s Choice Award.² valued at about $110,000.00. This includes about $100,000.00 in electronics merchandise and software. (see the above website for the official rules and prizes.) Perhaps more importantly, winning the award is a tremendous morale boost for the community. Again, this is arguably the northeast¹s finest caving area. The NSS and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy own and manage a number of the most significant caves in Schoharie County and in Albany County immediately to the east. Continuing efforts by the NRO cavers, along with a great deal of support from the surrounding communities are helping these folks greatly. Some affected citizens were on the verge of giving up and leaving the area, but the outpouring of support has changed their minds and they have elected to stay and rebuild. Here is how the story played in the leading Capitol Region newspaper yesterday: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schoharie-apparent-video-contest-win ner-3402728.php Again, THANK YOU from the northeastern cavers.
[Texascavers] Results of the Samsung School Contest
Dear Texas Cavers, To those of you who voted online in the Samsung ³Solve for Tomorrow² Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) contest, THANK YOU !! The contest ended at midnight on 12 March 2012. The results for voting from among the twelve finalist schools can be found at: https://pages.samsung.com/us/sft/video/index.jsp Schoharie High School in Schoharie County, New York came out on top in the online voting over second-place Sutter High School in California by 13,527 votes. The results of the top four are: Schoharie High School, NY: 102,023 votes Sutter Middle School, CA: 88,496 votes Lawrence County High School, AL: 13,186 votes Mercer School, WI: 12,087 votes (The other eight school finalists received less than 6000 votes each.) Upon official confirmation by Samsung, this will be a tremendous boost for the town which was devastated by floodwaters from Hurricane Irene storm system as it barreled through the northeast in August 2011. The high school will receive the ³People¹s Choice Award.² valued at about $110,000.00. This includes about $100,000.00 in electronics merchandise and software. (see the above website for the official rules and prizes.) Perhaps more importantly, winning the award is a tremendous morale boost for the community. Again, this is arguably the northeast¹s finest caving area. The NSS and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy own and manage a number of the most significant caves in Schoharie County and in Albany County immediately to the east. Continuing efforts by the NRO cavers, along with a great deal of support from the surrounding communities are helping these folks greatly. Some affected citizens were on the verge of giving up and leaving the area, but the outpouring of support has changed their minds and they have elected to stay and rebuild. Here is how the story played in the leading Capitol Region newspaper yesterday: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schoharie-apparent-video-contest-win ner-3402728.php Again, THANK YOU from the northeastern cavers.
[Texascavers] Results of the Samsung School Contest
Dear Texas Cavers, To those of you who voted online in the Samsung ³Solve for Tomorrow² Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) contest, THANK YOU !! The contest ended at midnight on 12 March 2012. The results for voting from among the twelve finalist schools can be found at: https://pages.samsung.com/us/sft/video/index.jsp Schoharie High School in Schoharie County, New York came out on top in the online voting over second-place Sutter High School in California by 13,527 votes. The results of the top four are: Schoharie High School, NY: 102,023 votes Sutter Middle School, CA: 88,496 votes Lawrence County High School, AL: 13,186 votes Mercer School, WI: 12,087 votes (The other eight school finalists received less than 6000 votes each.) Upon official confirmation by Samsung, this will be a tremendous boost for the town which was devastated by floodwaters from Hurricane Irene storm system as it barreled through the northeast in August 2011. The high school will receive the ³People¹s Choice Award.² valued at about $110,000.00. This includes about $100,000.00 in electronics merchandise and software. (see the above website for the official rules and prizes.) Perhaps more importantly, winning the award is a tremendous morale boost for the community. Again, this is arguably the northeast¹s finest caving area. The NSS and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy own and manage a number of the most significant caves in Schoharie County and in Albany County immediately to the east. Continuing efforts by the NRO cavers, along with a great deal of support from the surrounding communities are helping these folks greatly. Some affected citizens were on the verge of giving up and leaving the area, but the outpouring of support has changed their minds and they have elected to stay and rebuild. Here is how the story played in the leading Capitol Region newspaper yesterday: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schoharie-apparent-video-contest-win ner-3402728.php Again, THANK YOU from the northeastern cavers.
[Texascavers] TSS worksession cancelled
Guys, it seems like another TSS worksession date is upon us, and that all of us forgot to send out an announcement. Because of that, we are cancelling the worksession tonight. Please pass the word. See you next month! Jim Kennedy TSS office manager <>- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] TSS worksession cancelled
Guys, it seems like another TSS worksession date is upon us, and that all of us forgot to send out an announcement. Because of that, we are cancelling the worksession tonight. Please pass the word. See you next month! Jim Kennedy TSS office manager <>- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] TSS worksession cancelled
Guys, it seems like another TSS worksession date is upon us, and that all of us forgot to send out an announcement. Because of that, we are cancelling the worksession tonight. Please pass the word. See you next month! Jim Kennedy TSS office manager <>- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.)Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.)Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Extreme Cave Diving
Kenny Broad (on the NGS media roadshow) will be in Kansas City at the Kaufmann Center next week. Sounds interesting, but it's out of my price range. (Kauffmann Center is new and very snazzy.)Extreme Cave Diving: Exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas is the show's title. - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] WNS Reported in Alabama
Follow the link to the official press release. http://caver.net/pipermail/swr_caver.net/attachments/20120314/6dc6f9e9/attachment.pdf Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802
[Texascavers] WNS Reported in Alabama
Follow the link to the official press release. http://caver.net/pipermail/swr_caver.net/attachments/20120314/6dc6f9e9/attachment.pdf Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802
[Texascavers] WNS Reported in Alabama
Follow the link to the official press release. http://caver.net/pipermail/swr_caver.net/attachments/20120314/6dc6f9e9/attachment.pdf Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802
[SWR] Fw: Breaking News - WNS in Alabama
Breaking News: WNS Confirmed in Alabama Attached is the official press release. Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802 WNS found in Alabama.pdf Description: Adobe PDF document ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/swr_caver.net
[SWR] Fw: Breaking News - WNS in Alabama
Breaking News: WNS Confirmed in Alabama Attached is the official press release. Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802 WNS found in Alabama.pdf Description: Adobe PDF document ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/swr_caver.net
[SWR] Fw: Breaking News - WNS in Alabama
Breaking News: WNS Confirmed in Alabama Attached is the official press release. Peter Youngbaer White Nose Syndrome Liaison National Speleological Society (802) 272-3802 WNS found in Alabama.pdf Description: Adobe PDF document ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/swr_caver.net
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 -0000 Issue 1514
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 - Issue 1514 Topics (messages 19707 through 19712): NSS Director's Election 19707 by: R D Milhollin Phantom Springs Cave 19708 by: Lee H. Skinner USDA Soil Survey App 19709 by: germanyj.aol.com Texas Land Trends 19710 by: germanyj.aol.com Remember the guy that killed the bats on TV? 19711 by: R D Milhollin Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news 19712 by: Aimee Beveridge Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: To post to the list, e-mail: -- --- Begin Message --- [Forwarded] The 2012 Director Election will begin on March 15th and conclude on May 1. Eligible members with a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive an e-mail from Vote-Now.com with instructions for how to vote online. Members without a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive a postcard with instructions for how to vote online or how to request a paper ballot. What can members do to help? 1) Vote online, if possible, to save money for the NSS. 2) Vote right away--don't put it off--to avoid a reminder that will cost more money to the NSS. 3) Print out candidate platforms--study them and pass them along to folks without Internet access. 4) Offer to let folks use your computer to vote if they aren't connected. Web Pages: Nominating Committee Home slate of candidates and general information http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/index.shtml Candidate Platforms Candidate Platforms in HTML http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/Platforms2012.htm Candidate Platforms in.pdf version http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Downloads/2012%20Platforms.pdf Paperless Election FAQ http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/PaperlessBallotFAQ.htm Any questions? Contact: Allan Weberg, Chairman NSS Nominating Committee nominat...@caves.org --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New story on KBTX.com: http://tinyurl.com/6syqdx8 Lee Skinner --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- USDA Creates Smartphone App to Access Soil Survey Information The USDA recently launched, SoilWeb, a new smartphone application that combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of both iPhones and Androids. The app is a portable version of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's Web Soil Survey. The mobile tool will be beneficial to engineers, developers, farmers and many others who are working in the field. Some of the features include retrieving graphic summaries of soil types based on user queries and user-friendly narratives of soil conditions. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New Tool Helps Texans Understand State's Changing Dynamic Land Use The Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the American Farmland Trust have developed a new tool to help Texans better understand land trends. Texas Land Trends highlights changes, including land use, property size, land type and loss of agricultural lands. The information is searchable by county, watershed, ecoregion and metro area. The information is also available on a statewide basis. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- The bats got the last laugh... 'Man vs. Wild' star Bear Grylls fired by TV network LOS ANGELES | Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:05pm EDT (Reuters) - Bear Grylls, the British adventurer and star of survival show "Man vs. Wild", has been fired by U.S. cable television network Discovery Channel in a contract dispute. Grylls, 37, who was dropped into hostile places to survive by eating insects, wading rapids and drinking his urine, has hosted the TV show since 2006, becoming a celebrity around the world. But Discovery Channel said on Tuesday that "due to a continuing contractual dispute with Bear Grylls, Discovery has terminated all current productions with him." http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/entertainment-us-beargrylls-idUSBRE82C1FO20120313 (previously) From Bat Conservation International: A recent episode of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild featured Bear Grylls gleefully killing bats with a homemade club. The clip, which shows Grylls throwing a flame in a cave to “smoke out” the bats, swatting them to the ground and then stomping on them, has aired internationally and been posted on YouTube, allowing for continued access. (Update: Since this article was published, the video has been removed from YouTube). Intentionally or not, this clip perpetuates negative attitudes toward bats and could generate senseless copycat activity and/or the type of vandalism that is drivi
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 -0000 Issue 1514
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 - Issue 1514 Topics (messages 19707 through 19712): NSS Director's Election 19707 by: R D Milhollin Phantom Springs Cave 19708 by: Lee H. Skinner USDA Soil Survey App 19709 by: germanyj.aol.com Texas Land Trends 19710 by: germanyj.aol.com Remember the guy that killed the bats on TV? 19711 by: R D Milhollin Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news 19712 by: Aimee Beveridge Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: To post to the list, e-mail: -- --- Begin Message --- [Forwarded] The 2012 Director Election will begin on March 15th and conclude on May 1. Eligible members with a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive an e-mail from Vote-Now.com with instructions for how to vote online. Members without a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive a postcard with instructions for how to vote online or how to request a paper ballot. What can members do to help? 1) Vote online, if possible, to save money for the NSS. 2) Vote right away--don't put it off--to avoid a reminder that will cost more money to the NSS. 3) Print out candidate platforms--study them and pass them along to folks without Internet access. 4) Offer to let folks use your computer to vote if they aren't connected. Web Pages: Nominating Committee Home slate of candidates and general information http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/index.shtml Candidate Platforms Candidate Platforms in HTML http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/Platforms2012.htm Candidate Platforms in.pdf version http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Downloads/2012%20Platforms.pdf Paperless Election FAQ http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/PaperlessBallotFAQ.htm Any questions? Contact: Allan Weberg, Chairman NSS Nominating Committee nominat...@caves.org --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New story on KBTX.com: http://tinyurl.com/6syqdx8 Lee Skinner --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- USDA Creates Smartphone App to Access Soil Survey Information The USDA recently launched, SoilWeb, a new smartphone application that combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of both iPhones and Androids. The app is a portable version of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's Web Soil Survey. The mobile tool will be beneficial to engineers, developers, farmers and many others who are working in the field. Some of the features include retrieving graphic summaries of soil types based on user queries and user-friendly narratives of soil conditions. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New Tool Helps Texans Understand State's Changing Dynamic Land Use The Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the American Farmland Trust have developed a new tool to help Texans better understand land trends. Texas Land Trends highlights changes, including land use, property size, land type and loss of agricultural lands. The information is searchable by county, watershed, ecoregion and metro area. The information is also available on a statewide basis. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- The bats got the last laugh... 'Man vs. Wild' star Bear Grylls fired by TV network LOS ANGELES | Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:05pm EDT (Reuters) - Bear Grylls, the British adventurer and star of survival show "Man vs. Wild", has been fired by U.S. cable television network Discovery Channel in a contract dispute. Grylls, 37, who was dropped into hostile places to survive by eating insects, wading rapids and drinking his urine, has hosted the TV show since 2006, becoming a celebrity around the world. But Discovery Channel said on Tuesday that "due to a continuing contractual dispute with Bear Grylls, Discovery has terminated all current productions with him." http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/entertainment-us-beargrylls-idUSBRE82C1FO20120313 (previously) From Bat Conservation International: A recent episode of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild featured Bear Grylls gleefully killing bats with a homemade club. The clip, which shows Grylls throwing a flame in a cave to “smoke out” the bats, swatting them to the ground and then stomping on them, has aired internationally and been posted on YouTube, allowing for continued access. (Update: Since this article was published, the video has been removed from YouTube). Intentionally or not, this clip perpetuates negative attitudes toward bats and could generate senseless copycat activity and/or the type of vandalism that is drivi
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 -0000 Issue 1514
texascavers Digest 14 Mar 2012 14:56:47 - Issue 1514 Topics (messages 19707 through 19712): NSS Director's Election 19707 by: R D Milhollin Phantom Springs Cave 19708 by: Lee H. Skinner USDA Soil Survey App 19709 by: germanyj.aol.com Texas Land Trends 19710 by: germanyj.aol.com Remember the guy that killed the bats on TV? 19711 by: R D Milhollin Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news 19712 by: Aimee Beveridge Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: To post to the list, e-mail: -- --- Begin Message --- [Forwarded] The 2012 Director Election will begin on March 15th and conclude on May 1. Eligible members with a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive an e-mail from Vote-Now.com with instructions for how to vote online. Members without a valid e-mail address on file with the NSS Office will receive a postcard with instructions for how to vote online or how to request a paper ballot. What can members do to help? 1) Vote online, if possible, to save money for the NSS. 2) Vote right away--don't put it off--to avoid a reminder that will cost more money to the NSS. 3) Print out candidate platforms--study them and pass them along to folks without Internet access. 4) Offer to let folks use your computer to vote if they aren't connected. Web Pages: Nominating Committee Home slate of candidates and general information http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/index.shtml Candidate Platforms Candidate Platforms in HTML http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/Platforms2012.htm Candidate Platforms in.pdf version http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Downloads/2012%20Platforms.pdf Paperless Election FAQ http://www.caves.org/committee/nominating/Pages/PaperlessBallotFAQ.htm Any questions? Contact: Allan Weberg, Chairman NSS Nominating Committee nominat...@caves.org --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New story on KBTX.com: http://tinyurl.com/6syqdx8 Lee Skinner --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- USDA Creates Smartphone App to Access Soil Survey Information The USDA recently launched, SoilWeb, a new smartphone application that combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of both iPhones and Androids. The app is a portable version of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service's Web Soil Survey. The mobile tool will be beneficial to engineers, developers, farmers and many others who are working in the field. Some of the features include retrieving graphic summaries of soil types based on user queries and user-friendly narratives of soil conditions. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- New Tool Helps Texans Understand State's Changing Dynamic Land Use The Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources and the American Farmland Trust have developed a new tool to help Texans better understand land trends. Texas Land Trends highlights changes, including land use, property size, land type and loss of agricultural lands. The information is searchable by county, watershed, ecoregion and metro area. The information is also available on a statewide basis. --- End Message --- --- Begin Message --- The bats got the last laugh... 'Man vs. Wild' star Bear Grylls fired by TV network LOS ANGELES | Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:05pm EDT (Reuters) - Bear Grylls, the British adventurer and star of survival show "Man vs. Wild", has been fired by U.S. cable television network Discovery Channel in a contract dispute. Grylls, 37, who was dropped into hostile places to survive by eating insects, wading rapids and drinking his urine, has hosted the TV show since 2006, becoming a celebrity around the world. But Discovery Channel said on Tuesday that "due to a continuing contractual dispute with Bear Grylls, Discovery has terminated all current productions with him." http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/entertainment-us-beargrylls-idUSBRE82C1FO20120313 (previously) From Bat Conservation International: A recent episode of Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild featured Bear Grylls gleefully killing bats with a homemade club. The clip, which shows Grylls throwing a flame in a cave to “smoke out” the bats, swatting them to the ground and then stomping on them, has aired internationally and been posted on YouTube, allowing for continued access. (Update: Since this article was published, the video has been removed from YouTube). Intentionally or not, this clip perpetuates negative attitudes toward bats and could generate senseless copycat activity and/or the type of vandalism that is drivi
[Texascavers] Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news
http://www.statesman.com/news/williamson/sensitive-williamson-county-cavern-systems-feed-salamanders-springs-2236277.html Nestled in a three-lot patch of land in the middle of the Avery Ranch neighborhood is a concrete and metal hatch the entrance and only sign of an ancient, dripping cave of glistening caramel-colored, calcite-covered limestone beneath. Hundreds of similar karst caverns — 750 in Williamson County alone — honeycomb the Central Texas landscape. Water from the ground above seeps through the soil, drips down the walls of the caves and into the Edwards Aquifer. It then empties through springs back into creeks and streams on the surface. "It's all connected," said Mike Walsh, president of the Texas Cave Conservancy, which owns the Avery Ranch land that covers the cave. Avery Ranch Cave feeds water to springs that are home to the Jollyville salamander — a candidate for the endangered species list and a source of tension between Williamson County officials, federal officials and environmental groups. One such spring nearby is home to a "healthy" population of the critters, an official said Tuesday. Walsh and other officials were in far Northwest Austin at the cave Tuesday as part of a city-sponsored event promoting Groundwater Awareness Week. More than 50,000 Austin residents rely on groundwater, city officials said. Most cities in Williamson County provide residents a mix of groundwater and surface water, according to a representative for the Brazos River Authority, which serves much of the county. The Avery Ranch cavern was closed off for thousands of years before a crew attempting to put in sewer lines discovered it in 2001. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then granted the cave conservancy a contract to develop the site as an educational show cave. It's open to the public twice a year; April 14 is the next day for visitors. Walsh's group helps maintain caves for entities that include Cedar Park, the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation. "Cedar Park is very critical to the watershed," Walsh said. He explained that water that enters one Cedar Park cave system — the roughly 1-square-mile Buttercup Creek watershed — flows through a series of underground streams and then surfaces in springs in the Volente area. Those springs feed Cypress Creek, which flows into Lake Travis, from which much of Austin gets its water, Walsh said. Water from Avery Ranch Cave also feeds a dozen springs in the area, several of which are home to the Jollyville salamander — one of two species of salamander that call the county home. Officials have been fighting the potential endangered species listing, arguing the county can maintain the species without federal regulation, which they fear will inhibit development in the ever-growing county. One spring, at the Avery Ranch Golf Course, supports a healthy population of salamanders, said Sylvia Pope, a hydrogeologist for the city. She said the public golf course is irrigated with water from Brushy Creek and has a pest management system that's actually helped the ecosystem. "Avery Ranch has done a great job," Pope said. Laurie Dries, a salamander biologist at the City of Austin, said salamanders are important because they are good indicators of water quality. "This whole karst aquifer system is a sensitive system because water runs through it so quickly," Dries said. "Those species are adapted to live in that environment, so how they're doing tells us a lot about the water." The city is promoting Groundwater Awareness Week to remind residents to use "green" gardening habits — such as using natural compost, as opposed to chemical-heavy fertilizers — and emphasize that residents should clean up messes, from motor oil to dog waste, said Wendy Morgan of the city's groundwater protection department. "All of that moves through these rocks and becomes part of the groundwater."
[Texascavers] Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news
http://www.statesman.com/news/williamson/sensitive-williamson-county-cavern-systems-feed-salamanders-springs-2236277.html Nestled in a three-lot patch of land in the middle of the Avery Ranch neighborhood is a concrete and metal hatch the entrance and only sign of an ancient, dripping cave of glistening caramel-colored, calcite-covered limestone beneath. Hundreds of similar karst caverns — 750 in Williamson County alone — honeycomb the Central Texas landscape. Water from the ground above seeps through the soil, drips down the walls of the caves and into the Edwards Aquifer. It then empties through springs back into creeks and streams on the surface. "It's all connected," said Mike Walsh, president of the Texas Cave Conservancy, which owns the Avery Ranch land that covers the cave. Avery Ranch Cave feeds water to springs that are home to the Jollyville salamander — a candidate for the endangered species list and a source of tension between Williamson County officials, federal officials and environmental groups. One such spring nearby is home to a "healthy" population of the critters, an official said Tuesday. Walsh and other officials were in far Northwest Austin at the cave Tuesday as part of a city-sponsored event promoting Groundwater Awareness Week. More than 50,000 Austin residents rely on groundwater, city officials said. Most cities in Williamson County provide residents a mix of groundwater and surface water, according to a representative for the Brazos River Authority, which serves much of the county. The Avery Ranch cavern was closed off for thousands of years before a crew attempting to put in sewer lines discovered it in 2001. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then granted the cave conservancy a contract to develop the site as an educational show cave. It's open to the public twice a year; April 14 is the next day for visitors. Walsh's group helps maintain caves for entities that include Cedar Park, the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation. "Cedar Park is very critical to the watershed," Walsh said. He explained that water that enters one Cedar Park cave system — the roughly 1-square-mile Buttercup Creek watershed — flows through a series of underground streams and then surfaces in springs in the Volente area. Those springs feed Cypress Creek, which flows into Lake Travis, from which much of Austin gets its water, Walsh said. Water from Avery Ranch Cave also feeds a dozen springs in the area, several of which are home to the Jollyville salamander — one of two species of salamander that call the county home. Officials have been fighting the potential endangered species listing, arguing the county can maintain the species without federal regulation, which they fear will inhibit development in the ever-growing county. One spring, at the Avery Ranch Golf Course, supports a healthy population of salamanders, said Sylvia Pope, a hydrogeologist for the city. She said the public golf course is irrigated with water from Brushy Creek and has a pest management system that's actually helped the ecosystem. "Avery Ranch has done a great job," Pope said. Laurie Dries, a salamander biologist at the City of Austin, said salamanders are important because they are good indicators of water quality. "This whole karst aquifer system is a sensitive system because water runs through it so quickly," Dries said. "Those species are adapted to live in that environment, so how they're doing tells us a lot about the water." The city is promoting Groundwater Awareness Week to remind residents to use "green" gardening habits — such as using natural compost, as opposed to chemical-heavy fertilizers — and emphasize that residents should clean up messes, from motor oil to dog waste, said Wendy Morgan of the city's groundwater protection department. "All of that moves through these rocks and becomes part of the groundwater."
[Texascavers] Avery Ranch Cave Preserve in the news
http://www.statesman.com/news/williamson/sensitive-williamson-county-cavern-systems-feed-salamanders-springs-2236277.html Nestled in a three-lot patch of land in the middle of the Avery Ranch neighborhood is a concrete and metal hatch the entrance and only sign of an ancient, dripping cave of glistening caramel-colored, calcite-covered limestone beneath. Hundreds of similar karst caverns — 750 in Williamson County alone — honeycomb the Central Texas landscape. Water from the ground above seeps through the soil, drips down the walls of the caves and into the Edwards Aquifer. It then empties through springs back into creeks and streams on the surface. "It's all connected," said Mike Walsh, president of the Texas Cave Conservancy, which owns the Avery Ranch land that covers the cave. Avery Ranch Cave feeds water to springs that are home to the Jollyville salamander — a candidate for the endangered species list and a source of tension between Williamson County officials, federal officials and environmental groups. One such spring nearby is home to a "healthy" population of the critters, an official said Tuesday. Walsh and other officials were in far Northwest Austin at the cave Tuesday as part of a city-sponsored event promoting Groundwater Awareness Week. More than 50,000 Austin residents rely on groundwater, city officials said. Most cities in Williamson County provide residents a mix of groundwater and surface water, according to a representative for the Brazos River Authority, which serves much of the county. The Avery Ranch cavern was closed off for thousands of years before a crew attempting to put in sewer lines discovered it in 2001. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then granted the cave conservancy a contract to develop the site as an educational show cave. It's open to the public twice a year; April 14 is the next day for visitors. Walsh's group helps maintain caves for entities that include Cedar Park, the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District and the Williamson County Conservation Foundation. "Cedar Park is very critical to the watershed," Walsh said. He explained that water that enters one Cedar Park cave system — the roughly 1-square-mile Buttercup Creek watershed — flows through a series of underground streams and then surfaces in springs in the Volente area. Those springs feed Cypress Creek, which flows into Lake Travis, from which much of Austin gets its water, Walsh said. Water from Avery Ranch Cave also feeds a dozen springs in the area, several of which are home to the Jollyville salamander — one of two species of salamander that call the county home. Officials have been fighting the potential endangered species listing, arguing the county can maintain the species without federal regulation, which they fear will inhibit development in the ever-growing county. One spring, at the Avery Ranch Golf Course, supports a healthy population of salamanders, said Sylvia Pope, a hydrogeologist for the city. She said the public golf course is irrigated with water from Brushy Creek and has a pest management system that's actually helped the ecosystem. "Avery Ranch has done a great job," Pope said. Laurie Dries, a salamander biologist at the City of Austin, said salamanders are important because they are good indicators of water quality. "This whole karst aquifer system is a sensitive system because water runs through it so quickly," Dries said. "Those species are adapted to live in that environment, so how they're doing tells us a lot about the water." The city is promoting Groundwater Awareness Week to remind residents to use "green" gardening habits — such as using natural compost, as opposed to chemical-heavy fertilizers — and emphasize that residents should clean up messes, from motor oil to dog waste, said Wendy Morgan of the city's groundwater protection department. "All of that moves through these rocks and becomes part of the groundwater."
