texascavers Digest 6 Jun 2009 17:09:47 -0000 Issue 770
Topics (messages 10847 through 10855):
Re: [NMCAVER] WNS and ICS
10847 by: George Veni
Re: WNS and ICS
10848 by: Minton, Mark
Re: Texas Considering Closing Caves for WNS
10849 by: Minton, Mark
10851 by: Jim Kennedy
Beer Hydrates Better Than Water!
10850 by: Minton, Mark
TSS work session
10852 by: Ron Ralph
Re: WNS testimony yesterday before a congressional joint sub-committee
10853 by: Jay Jorden
Sinkhole drains Brushy Creek in Round Rock Texas :
10854 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
A new era in caving
10855 by: David
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Immediately after posting the message below I got a reply from TPWD. Nothing
has changed for the ICS. We will not enter bat caves (which is ICS policy
anyway) and we will have access to non-bat caves as previously agreed.
Someone please forward this note to the GVKS and CVILLEGROTTO lists. I'm not
signed up to post there.
Thanks,
George
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of George Veni
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:42 AM
To: 'nmcaver'; 'gvks'; [email protected]; 'txcaver'
Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] WNS and ICS
Over one month ago, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department granted access
to their non-bat caves for the ICS (we will have access to the Devil's
Sinkhole to watch bats fly out, but we can't enter). I am now checking to
see if that policy has changed. Stay tuned.
George Veni
Chairman, 15th International Congress of Speleology
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Jim Kennedy
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 10:43 AM
To: Minton, Mark; nmcaver; gvks; [email protected]; txcaver
Subject: Re: [NMCAVER] WNS and ICS
Mark, and all - the ICS has been planning around WNS for the past 2 years.
There will be a set of cleaning/decon protocols in the Program book. There
will be cleaning/decon stations on campus. There will be trash bags (for
gear) and cleaning products on all the buses and vans. Many caves have been
removed from the visitation list because of WNS. Many trips have been
cancelled outright because of WNS. Timing could not be worse, having this
happen right as we are planning one of the biggest and most important caving
events in the world. But we are Taking precautions not only to avoid
premature introduction to Texas, and also to avoid potential
cross-contamination and introduction into yet another country. But as
George keeps saying, this is an event not to miss, and we need everyone
possible to attend, partly to make up lost revenue from the cancelled trips
and to offset the additional (unplanned) expenses from dealing with WNS.
-- Jim
From: Minton, Mark [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:23 AM
To: nmcaver; gvks; [email protected]; txcaver
Subject: [Texascavers] Texas Considering Closing Caves for WNS
The following article says that the Texas is considering closing all
caves in the state to ward off the possible introduction of White Nose
Syndrome. The order would only apply to state-owned caves. I wonder how
that would affect the upcoming ICS/NSS convention.
<http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1408256.html>
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George,
>Someone please forward this note to the GVKS and CVILLEGROTTO lists. I'm not
>signed up to post there.
Done. I sent your two posts and Jim Kennedy's. Thanks for the quick
response.
Mark Minton
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Mark, et al.,
>Further info is available at the TSA homepage:
>http://www.cavetexas.org/information/white_nose_syndrome.html
The link on that page for the USFWS Disinfection Protocol is out of date.
It has procedures from March. The supposedly final June versions are here:
<http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html>. Note that in several places
these new documents state that quaternary ammonium compounds with a
concentration of >3% should be used. According to people I have spoken with,
that is incorrect. It should state 0.3%. This is actually what the second
USFWS document says in the table on page 5, in contradiction to what it says on
pages 2 and 3 of the same document. This is very unfortunate. It is actually
difficult to find these compounds in concentrations as high as 3%.
Mark Minton
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The Material Safety Data Sheet for Lysol(r) All-purpose Professional
Cleaner (http://www.hescoinc.com/msds/ly74392.pdf
<http://www.hescoinc.com/msds/ly74392.pdf> ) shows concentrations of
quats over 3%. I have seen it for about $5 for a 22-ounce bottle
online.
-- Jim
From: Minton, Mark [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 1:53 PM
To: [email protected]; nmcaver; txcaver
Cc: Lyndon Tiu
Subject: [Texascavers] RE: Texas Considering Closing Caves for WNS
Mark, et al.,
>Further info is available at the TSA homepage:
http://www.cavetexas.org/information/white_nose_syndrome.html
The link on that page for the USFWS Disinfection Protocol is out
of date. It has procedures from March. The supposedly final June
versions are here: <http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html>. Note
that in several places these new documents state that quaternary
ammonium compounds with a concentration of >3% should be used.
According to people I have spoken with, that is incorrect. It should
state 0.3%. This is actually what the second USFWS document says in the
table on page 5, in contradiction to what it says on pages 2 and 3 of
the same document. This is very unfortunate. It is actually difficult
to find these compounds in concentrations as high as 3%.
Mark Minton
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Beer drinkers take heart! According to Spanish researchers, beer is
better than water for rehydration.
<http://www.backpacker.com/beer_hydrate_water/blogs/daily_dirt/1074>
Mark Minton
Hallelujah: Beer Hydrates Better Than Water
Now, there's no reason to wait for that post-hike beer
At last, I no longer have to act ashamed whenever people discover my hydration
bladder is full of Miller High Life-I'm simply ahead of my time. Our pal
Science now says that beer, yes beer, is more effective for rehydrating the
body than plain ol' water. I think I'm not alone when I say that this qualifies
as news on par with peace in the Middle East.
Researchers at Granada University in Spain found this Nobel Prize-worthy
discovery after months of testing 25 student subjects, who were asked to run on
a treadmill in grueling temps (104 degrees F) until they were as close to
exhaustion as possible. Half were given water to drink, and the other half
drank two pints of Spanish lager. Then the godly researchers measured their
hydration levels, motor skills, and concentration ability.
They determined that the beer drinkers had "slightly better" rehydration
effects, which researchers attribute to sugars, salts, and bubbles in beer
enhancing the body's ability to absorb water. The carbohydrates in beer also
help refill calorie deficits.
Based on the results of the study, researchers recommend moderate consumption
of beer as a part of athletes' diets. "Moderate consumption" for men is 500ml
per day, and for women is 250ml per day.
Goodbye Gatorade, hello Pabst Blue Ribbon: This opens the door to a whole raft
of new athlete beer sponsorships. Hopefully we'll see Lance replace the water
bottle on his bike with a 40 of St. Ides in the next few months. (In fact,
maybe that's why he didn't win the Giro d'Italia.)
This of course doesn't mean anything for hydration outside of strenuous
exercise, but I'm not taking any chances-best to start hydrating now. [cracks
open can of Lone Star]
-Ted Alvarez
It's Better To Drink Beer After Exercise Than Water (Cleveland Leader)
<http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/3467>
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Cavers,
The work session is the second Wednesday in June, the 10th. My error on the
previous posting (I was looking at May), but glad a few of you are paying
attention Andy.
Ron
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FYI, the NSS issued a press release Monday related to planned testimony by Peter Youngbaer of
Plainfield, Vt., the NSS' WNS liaison, and Merlin Tuttle of BCI, both NSS members.
*The Associated Press* covered the WNS hearing Thursday and filed an article on
the national wire:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BAT_DIE_OFF_VTOL-?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-WwzBhNA4BID341ex3fe7ZA7IXgD98K1SIO1
*
The AP article was picked up by *New York newspapers*:
http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_BAT_DIE_OFF?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-06-04-15-47-56
http://www.newsday.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-us-bat-die-off,0,6607951.story
*
On *ABC,* *MSNBC, CNBC*:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=7757022
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31109536/from/ET/
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31109536
*
And *other newspaper/broadcast/magazine/Web sites*:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-us-bat-die-off,1,1554797.story
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/04/ap6505708.html
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Science/US_Bat_Die_Off.html
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98K1SIO1&show_article=1&catnum=0
http://my.unionplus.net/NewsArticle.aspx?catId=6&articleId=1921023
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-3/124413766075820.xml&storylist=new_topstories
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-3/124413766075820.xml&storylist=washington
http://www.modbee.com/2032/story/730686.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2009/06/04/Experts_Bat_fungus_causing_historic_decline_z/
http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20090604/UPDATES01/90604031/1005/rss
http://www.newsobserver.com/nation_world/story/1556285.html
http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=2303122
http://www.examiner.com/a-2051536~Experts__Bat_fungus_causing_historic_decline.html
http://www.kentucky.com/512/story/819090.html
http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/scitech/2009/06/04/D98K03SO3_us_bat_die_off/
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2009/06/04/2896730-experts-bat-fungus-causing-historic-decline
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10509620/1/experts-bat-fungus-causing-historic-decline.html
http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S963079.shtml?cat=500
http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/46970817.html
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=169&sid=6709223
http://www.wral.com/news/science/story/5281589/
http://wtop.com/?nid=220&sid=1689402
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Experts-Bat-fungus-causing-apf-15443399.html?.v=6
[email protected] wrote:
>From TagNet last night:
WNS testimony today -- Video online!
By: Cheryl Jones (Mclean, Virginia)
[email protected]
The testimony on WNS before the joint sub-committee* today went very
well. "Our" panel of Peter Youngbaer, Merlin Tuttle (BCI), Scott
Darling (Vermont F&W Dept.), and Tom Kunz (Boston U.) did a terrific job,
and Peter sure did the NSS proud. The NSS received kudos from the USF&W
and USFS witnesses.
Although it would appear that with only 6 or 7 sub-committee members
present the hearing was poorly attended. However the staff said that
actually attendance was excellent -- often only the chairman shows up
for hearings. The audience seating was over flowing, primarily with
congressional staff taking careful notes.
The committee members seemed quite interested, and appeared to
(eventually) grasp the situation, issues, the value of bats, and need
for research funding. Fingers crossed.
A copy of the conservation issue of the NSS News (the issue with the WNS
bat on the back cover) was distributed to the committee, and available
for attendees.
Go here to watch the video of the hearing -- I think you'll find it
pretty interesting -- and/or to read the written statements that were
presented in advance to the sub-committee members
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=27&extmo
de=view&extid=259
A take away quote: "It probably is the most serious threat to American
wildlife of the past century."
Cheryl *Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and the
Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife
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Sinkhole drains Brushy Creek
Hole was quickly filling with water once it formed
Published : Wednesday, 03 June 2009, 5:18 PM CDT
* _David Scott_ (http://www.kxan.com/dpp/search/David_Scott_752536)
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Round Rock residents were amazed on Wednesday to
see a giant sinkhole emerge in the middle of Brushy Creek.
Brushy Creek is normally 30-feet wide along a certain stretch. Folks go
there to float or fish. However, there will be no fishing right now.
Brushy Creek is as dry as a bone.
Christopher Wentworth first discovered the giant sinkhole while walking his
dog Wednesday morning. The hole was quickly filling with water, draining
the creek in the process.
"This was a really nice creek," said Christopher Wentworth. "And now we've
got this sinkhole taking away all its water." Where do you think it went."
I think its finding its own way."
Groundwater engineers quickly solved the mystery when they discovered
limestone collapsed because of low underground-water levels and the nearby
aquifers needing to recharge. Mother nature was thirsty and the sinkhole was
like a giant straw.
"What happens is underground levels need to balance out and recharge the
aquifer," said Paul Morales, Round Rock water engineer. "So this is a
perfectly natural occurrence. Yes it is."
The sinkhole has turned into an impromptu swimming hole while Brushy Creek
is filling back up.
_http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/williamson/Sinkhole_forms_drains_Brushy_
Creek_
(http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/williamson/Sinkhole_forms_drains_Brushy_Creek)
**************We found the real ‘Hotel California’ and the ‘Seinfeld’
diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com.
(http://www.whereitsat.com/#/music/all-spots/355/47.796964/-66.374711/2/Youve-Found-Where-Its-At?ncid=eml
cntnew00000007)
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June 5th, 2009
A caver can now purchase an excellent headlamp
at a department store that is suitable for all kinds of
caving.
Energizer has a new headlamp that rocks. Target
is selling it for $ 40 along with a similar line of flashlights
that I will talk about later.
This headlamp is unique. It is as good as the Princeton Tec
Apex and in some ways far better.
Not only does this headlamp have 3 very bright light settings, but has
an additional
boost feature better than any other LED product I have tested. And in addition
to that it features, 2 tiny 5 mm LEDS for emergency use.
It also has an excellent light pattern and the light is focusable
and this works very well.
Another unique feature is the battery pack is removable without
taking the headlamp off your helmet. This will work great if
you can get your hands on additional battery packs. I suspect
that Energizer's plan is to sell Lithium-ion battery packs for this
light, as they seem to have gone to a lot of trouble to add the
removable battery pack feature.
The headlamp appears to be well constructed, and much more
durable than any other retail headlamp I have seen.
The lamp is water resistant and has o-rings in the battery pack.
However, there is a water issue with this light. The removable
battery pack has 2 electrodes that match 2 electodes on the
headlamp. These are exposed. I suspect you will have
to turn off the lamp when going underwater. And then you
will need to dry off the connectors before turning the lamp
back on. That might be kind of hard to do in Honeycreek.
However, some duct-tape might resolve the issue, and you
are unlikely going to need to change the batteries on a
your average caving trip.
I will be talking about this headlamp again soon, as I
can't find any info on it on the web.
In the meantime, go get one.
This is a historical moment in caving history. Just like when
the Jumar first appeared, or Kernmantel rope, and granola
bars. Although, the Stenlight is a better headlamp. This
headlamp is something that a newbie or 1st time caver can
just run out and get without having to put any thought into
the buying decision.
The price includes 3 AA lithium batteries, so the headlamp
can be used right out of the box.
This headlamp features all of the things I have been
fantasizing about. The only ways I can see to improve
it, is with a lithium-ion battery pack, and exchanging
the plastic helmet bracket with stainless steel.
This may not be good news for companies selling $ 300
caving headlamps or the vendors that sell them.
David Locklear
caver in Fort Bend County, Texas
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