Thanks for the update, Mike, and all you and the TCC do for Texas caves!
It's a real shame when trespassers and cavers (who definitely should know better) flaunt the rules and policies governing access. I'd like to see a list of caves that we have lost access to, due to unauthorized access by cavers (whom once again, should have known better). River Styx and some after hours unauthorized trips in Carlsbad come to mind. Must be several more that slip my feeble memory. Sigh, Mark From: Mike Walsh [mailto:mikewaus...@austin.rr.com] Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 12:25 PM To: Texascavers@texascavers.com 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
