Cow Springs Access Policy
Revised January 1, 2003
Cow Springs is open to NSS-CDS divers for all levels of cave and cavern
diving. The NSS-CDS has set minimum standards to enter this cave; however,
each individual must evaluate their own skills and qualifications to dive
the site. Cow Springs belongs to all NSS-CDS members and it is up to us to
protect it. The upstream in particular is a very fragile and pristine
site. Divers entering this system must be prepared to use the very best
technique at all times, realizing that once damage is done, it is there
forever. If we all do our part, it will be as beautiful and awe inspiring
to future generations of cave divers as it is today.
The Board of Directors for the NSS-CDS has established the following
policies for the site:
1. Cow Springs is open for the use of NSS-CDS members only. An exception
is made for students of NSS-CDS Instructors under the guidelines
established below.
2. A minimum of NSS-CDS Cavern certification or a recognized equivalent is
required to dive. No open water diving or classes are allowed.
3. Divers entering the upstream portion of Cow Springs must be NSS-CDS
Full Cave certified or a recognized equivalent.
4. Only NSS-CDS Instructors may use Cow Springs as a training site within
the guidelines contained in this document.
No training dives are to be conducted in the upstream section. Exceptions
are made for sidemount classes only. Students at this level should already
be proficient in buoyancy control and be able to exercise proper technique
to avoid damaging the cave. Students should also be sufficiently aware of
their own skill level to properly determine if they are prepared to enter
a fragile site. Instructors are also charged with determining the skill
level of their students and the appropriateness of using Cow Springs as a
training site.
5. The use of DPV's is expressly forbidden in all areas of Cow Springs.
6. Parking is allowed in designated areas only.
7. No camping is allowed on the property.
8. Diving is at your own risk.
9. All members of the dive team must sign in with one of the designated
gatekeepers.
10. All divers must sign a liability release prior to entering the site.
11. The dive team is responsible for keeping the gate locked while diving
and insuring that it is locked upon leaving to prevent unauthorized access
or "piggybacking".
12. Violators of this policy will be barred from future access to Cow
Springs and any other NSS-CDS sites upon recommendation by the Cow Springs
Property Manager. This action may be appealed to the CDS Board of
Directors. Appeals must be made in writing to the Chairman.
Site Improvements:
Cow Springs was acquired by the CDS in 1998. At the time of this writing,
August 2001, a new parking area has been cleared and improvements made to
prevent further erosion of the bank on the west side of the spring. The
property has been posted for trespassing and plans are to gate the
property following Labor Day 2001.
Some of the current problems are: non-members camping on the property,
littering, vehicle traffic destroying vegetation and aggravating erosion
problems, artifact hunters digging around and in the spring further
aggravating erosion problems, use of the spring by open water divers, and
excessive alcohol use by some visitors.
Significant erosion has taken place, particularly along the western side
of the spring, due to vehicle and foot traffic, and also because of
artifact digging in that area. The erosion is of some concern because the
sand is washed directly into the entrance of the upstream side and could
make continued access to the upstream difficult.
Our first concern is to minimize as much as possible, the erosion taking
place. At one time, a ridge along the west side of the property kept water
from draining directly to the spring.
Over time, traffic has breached that ridge and now water flows freely from
the county road and into the property and the spring. To this end, we
propose to re-establish the berm along the west side to stop water flowing
from the county road to the spring.
A parking lot is now established adjacent to the road on the west side of
the property, approximately midway along lot 30. Capacity of the lot is
about 10 vehicles. A trail is defined to the spring so as to minimize foot
traffic and allow vegetation to re-establish itself. By establishing a
parking lot away from the spring, we hope to keep vehicles away from the
spring and to allow natural vegetation to reestablish and prevent further
erosion.
The parking lot is defined by the limits of clearing and existing
vegetation. At some point in the future, bollards or some other means may
be needed to prevent vehicles from expanding the parking area. Picnic
tables for meals, or configuring gear, may be added for use by divers. A
portable toilet may be added at a future date.
The second priority is to close off the property to prevent unauthorized
use of the property. This should correct the majority of the littering
problems and also limit traffic, allowing vegetation to re-grow and slow
down the erosion process. We propose to do this by gating, or otherwise
blocking the existing entrances to the property. The long-range goal is to
completely fence the entire property.
The third priority is to acquire the additional property surrounding the
spring. The CDS does not own the property where divers now access the
spring. Contacts have been established with the landowner and negotiations
are on going at this time.
The cave system
The downstream section of the cave has seen heavy use by divers and
students. The shallow depths, sand floor, relatively high flow, and clear
waters has made Cow Spring a popular training site for cavern and cave
classes. The downstream is also a very popular cave for Intro cave divers.
The upstream section is very fragile and easily subject to damage. The
walls and floor contain many goethite formations. There are outstanding
clay banks in many areas. The lower section is almost completely covered
in black goethite deposits. Every effort should be made to preserve these
formations and steps taken to limit diver impact while still allowing
visitation.
The first explorers installed a ski rope to aid in progressing against the
heavy flow normally present in the system. The ski rope allowed pulling
techniques without using the cave itself as handholds.
Wes Skiles, Tom Morris, Woody Jasper, and Lamar Hires mapped the cave in
1986. Since then, new passage has been discovered, but the map has not
been updated. The section should endeavor to collect this information at
some point in time.
One species of cave crayfish, Procambarus Pallidus, and an unidentified
species of amphipod have been observed at Cow Spring1. We are not aware of
any other biological studies or water quality studies done in Cow Springs.
This is another area the CDS needs to investigate. A baseline study of the
system may prove valuable in determining future impact of development and
use of the property.
Review Process
This management plan should be reviewed from time to time by the NSS-CDS
Board of Directors.
Specific areas that should be looked at are: the impact of diving
activities on the cave system, particularly in the upstream section,
erosion around the spring, additional site improvements and frequency of
use. Because of the increased potential for damage both to the property
and the cave system, overuse needs to be looked at particularly carefully
and limits put in place should it become necessary. Additional safeguards
may need to be put in place to protect and preserve Cow Springs for the
use of future generations.
Training
Only NSS-CDS Instructors may use Cow Springs for cave training. Training
for all levels of cave diving is allowed in the basin and downstream
portion of Cow Spring. Training in Upstream Cow Spring is limited to
side-mount courses.
Students at this level should already be proficient in buoyancy control
and be able to exercise proper technique to avoid damaging the cave.
Students at this level should also be sufficiently aware of their own
skill level to properly determine if they are prepared to enter a fragile
site. Instructors are charged with determining the skill level of their
students and the appropriateness of using Cow Springs as a training site.
Visitation Levels
Overuse has the potential to damage the site and to degrade the enjoyment
of diving the spring. A periodic review of all diving activities should be
done periodically to determine their impact. It may be necessary, at some
point in time, to limit the number and/or frequency of dives being
conducted to allow users to enjoy the spring.
DPV Use
The use of DPV's is expressly forbidden without the written approval of
the NSS-CDS Board of Directors.
Property Manager
The Property Manager is appointed by the Chairman of the NSS-CDS and is
responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of the property.
These duties include:
1. Enforcing the policies set by the NSS-CDS Board of Directors.
2. Establishing the gatekeepers.
3. Establishing procedures for sign-in and filling out liability waivers.
4. Collecting sign-in sheets and liability waivers and keeping them on
file.
5. Investigating violations of the rules.
6. Make reports to the NSS-CDS Board of Directors at regular meetings or
as otherwise appropriate concerning of rules violations and actions taken,
any maintenance activities done, and other items of interest.
References
1. Franz, Bauer, Morris, "Review of Biologically Significant Caves and
their Faunas in Florida and South Georgia", Brimleyana, Number 20, June
1994.
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