Unfortuntely that's not a practical solution. Not unless the MUD is willing to clean out the entrance and repair the flood damage after every big storm.
As a resident, I can tell you that's just not going to happen. As an engineer I can tell you there is no easy fix. George On Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 7:29 PM, Andy Gluesenkamp < andrew_gluesenk...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Any gate must be maintained. Any cave in a dense residential area is an > attractive nuisance. Gate the cave and keep the trash (literal and > figurative) out. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Sep 27, 2012, at 7:24 PM, "George D. Nincehelser" < > george.nincehel...@gmail.com> wrote: > > My house is less than a block away from the entrance, and I've thought > about this problem for years. > > Lots of water and debris flow through the entrance, and it is sometimes > completely submerged during heavy rains. It's a major drain for the area. > > What kind of bat-friendly grate would you recommend that wouldn't keep > plugging up with debris and cause flooding as well as blocking bat access? > > George > > > On Thu, Sep 27, 2012 at 3:23 PM, wesley s <mudmal...@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> Wow Mike, >> >> Sure sounds like a decent bat friendly gate install would have saved you >> a great deal of public and caver goodwill and protected the cave a hell of >> a lot better. I hope other cave managers are taking note of the >> difficulties you are having and learning from them. >> >> Wes~ >> >> ------------------------------ >> From: mikewaus...@austin.rr.com >> To: Texascavers@texascavers.com >> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:24:59 -0500 >> >> Subject: [Texascavers] Beck Ranch Cave Update >> >> Beck Ranch Cave Update >> >> >> >> >> >> In 1999, the Texas Cave Conservancy entered into a cave management >> agreement with the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District. This is one >> of the few caves under TCC management that does not have a cave gate. The >> cave entrance was not gated in order for the bats to be able to enter and >> exit the cave. A high quality nine- foot tall iron fence was build to >> attempt to control access. Local teenagers were using it for a party cave. >> The fence allowed us to greatly reduce the party traffic so we could >> protect the cave. >> >> >> >> Today, locals continue to trespass and go into the cave. >> Texas cavers are going in without permission as well. Both the locals and >> the cavers have been confronted by law enforcement and issued citations for >> trespassing. In addition, the TCC has not been able to prevent the >> authorized caver groups from creating problems such as changing cloths in >> the parking lot of a public park. Cavers in their underwear, and less, >> have made it difficult to keep cave open. >> >> >> >> *As a result, all authorized trips will be for cave >> management activities such as cave clean up, the bi-annual monitoring, fire >> ant control and inspection, etc. These trips will be set up by the Texas >> Cave Conservancy. We will host an annual cave clean up and restoration >> visit. The next clean up day will be Saturday -February 23, 2013. If you >> are interested in assisting us in conducting the cave management >> activities, send us your name in an e-mail to tcc-ca...@austin.rr.com We >> will place you on the list and contact you prior to our work project. >> * >> >> * * >> >> Further, the TCC would like to make it very clear to Texas >> cavers that steps have been taken to alert law enforcement when >> unauthorized visitation is taking place. The TCC now has to notify the >> cave owner prior to each authorized visit. A Neighborhood Watch system is >> in place to observe the cave. A house near the cave can easily observe >> people entering the cave and call for law enforcement. In addition, >> electronic monitoring should greatly increase the number of trespassers >> arrested. We have been notified that all unauthorized visitors that are >> detected will be arrested and charged with trespassing. This will include >> cavers. >> >> >> >> We want to thank all of the cavers that worked with us to protect the >> cave. Your work has made a difference. The TCC has done everything >> possible, short of these new actions, to prevent problems. I will be at >> the Texas Caver’s Reunion in October if you would like to ask questions. >> Once again, Thank You for working with the Texas Cave Conservancy. >> >> >> >> >> >> Mike Walsh President-Texas Cave Conservancy >> >> >> >> 512-249-2283 >> >> >> >> mikewaus...@austin.rr.com >> >> >> > >
