This news story popped up on my Google Alert: http://www.herald-citizen.com/index.cfm?event=news.view&id=B5D73C77-19B9-E2E2-677CE5FEC199A60A
( click on photo also ) or, "Cavers clean up watershed" Cold, wet weather wasn't enough to deter a group of cavers from their appointed duties. Over the course of several hours and with the help of rigging equipment, the group hauled tons of trash from the side of a steep incline and sent it to be recycled or to a landfill. "It went fantastic," said event organizer Anne Elmore of the clean- up at Coal Bank Road in White County. "We went two or three feet deep in bottles, cans, diapers and all the dead animals." The group was part of the SERA (SouthEastern Regional Association) Karst Task Force, a nonprofit organization of cavers dedicated to the conservation and clean up of caves and watersheds. Fifty-nine volunteers braved the cold weather, traveling from as far away as Texas and North Carolina to be a part of the event. The Coal Bank Road area is part of the Blue Spring Watershed. It is also the site of trash dumping. "The people at the bottom of the watershed, when they turn their water on, it's been filtered through the dirty diapers, the dead goats, the tires," Elmore said. "And it goes into our nightly glass of water." She hopes people will think before they throw their trash on the side of the road and consider not only the damage it can do to the landscape, but also the damage it can do to the environment and ground water. Evan Hart Ph.D., at Tennessee Tech University, explained groundwater moves quickly in this area due to the bedrock and high density of caves and sinkholes. "In the Highland Rim, you have a high density of caves and underground openings that allow water to move quickly," Hart said. "A trash dump can easily be connected to a spring or well a few miles away." Hart explained water is naturally filtered by soil, sand and rock, but it needs to move slowly to be effective. Trash dumping in a watershed area has a high potential for damage, he said. Cavers are uniquely qualified for an event such as this, which was taking trash up a steep hillside. Using a haul system, the group was able to easily haul up trash and old tires they found. "The hard thing is getting people to sit and pick through the dirt," Elmore said. "Cavers can do that." The group recycled 6,780 pounds, for which they earned $33.90, which will be used to purchase materials for a future clean-up. Another 8,040 pounds of trash was collected and transported to the White County landfill. "That's not bad for the first shot at it," Elmore said, noting another clean-up would be needed. "We still have stuff at the bottom. And that's the heavy things, the stoves and refrigerators. But those can be knocked out in a few hours." Elmore thanked everyone who took part in the clean-up, including White County Executive Herd Sullivan, who waived tipping fees and provided a roll-off container for the trash collection; PSC Metals in Cookeville, which provided a recycling container and picked it up; Lonnie Carr, who also assisted with planning the event; and the landowner William Johnson. Weather that morning was difficult. "It started out overcast in the 30s, and it went downhill from there," Elmore said. But the volunteers came out, many with their children, and all were ready to face the elements. Elmore organized a clean-up just for the kids nearby the adults so they could be part of the day. "I want our children to clean up trash. It makes an impact," Elmore said. "They are the ones that are going to clean up when we are gone. "When you're working down a slope like this and you are working and sweating and you've got your best friends next to you, weather is just so insignificant. And you are all working toward the same goal, you don't even think about it." Elmore said the organization operates on a shoestring budget and relies on volunteers. They are also always looking for potential clean-up locations -- both on private and public property. They complete six to eight clean-ups each year and can tackle clean-ups where the terrain requires special equipment. "We keep plugging because we believe it's the right thing to do," Elmore said. "You feel really good at the end of the day. Between cave trips, we feel like we need to give back to Mother Nature and what she lets us do underground." For more information about SKTF, e-mail sktfi@yahoo. com. It is a nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
