texascavers Digest 19 Feb 2009 05:38:09 -0000 Issue 712
Topics (messages 10196 through 10201):
UT Grotto Meeting â February 18, 2009
10196 by: Gary Franklin
10199 by: Gary Franklin
15th ICS - Call for volunteers!
10197 by: George Veni
More money sought for Edwards Aquifer study :
10198 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com
looking for Andy Gluesenkamp
10200 by: Cynthia Lee
Cave House for Sale near St. Louis
10201 by: Pete Lindsley
Administrivia:
To subscribe to the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
To post to the list, e-mail:
<[email protected]>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
UT Grotto Meeting
Wednesday March 18, 2009
The Underground Texas Grotto www.utgrotto.org meeting is on Wednesday from 7:45
P.M. - 9:00 P.M. on the University of Texas Campus in 2.48 Painter Hall
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/pai.html
Allan Cobb, former Austinite and UTG member, will present photos and stories
from last spring's archaeological caving expedition to Midnight Terror Cave in
Belize. This cave was featured on the Discovery Channel's Bone Detective
series. Last year was the first year of a multiyear project in the cave
involving cavers from Texas and students from California State University, Los
Angeles and University of New Mexico. The cave was only recently discovered and
has bones of many ancient Maya as well as other artifacts. The question the
project hopes to answer is, are these bones from burials or are they the result
of sacrifice? To find out, come out to hear and see the tale unfoldon the big
screen at the UTG meeting. You might even learn some secrets that were not
revealed by the Bone Detective!
The last few meetings have had over 50 folks in attendance. Come out to share
in the fun, see some of the really cool things that UT Grotto Cavers are doing,
and pay your $10 Annual Dues. As always, the after meeting is at the Posse
East www.posseeast.com for Beer & Burgers.
The UT Grotto wants YOU to share your photos, stories, or research project with
the Cavers in Austin Texas. Contact Gary if you are willing and able
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I apologize for the replication.
The Meeting is TONIGHT and not March as originally sent.
---- Gary Franklin <[email protected]> wrote:
=============
UT Grotto Meeting
Wednesday February 18, 2009
The Underground Texas Grotto www.utgrotto.org meeting is on Wednesday from 7:45
P.M. - 9:00 P.M. on the University of Texas Campus in 2.48 Painter Hall
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/pai.html
Allan Cobb, former Austinite and UTG member, will present photos and stories
from last spring's archaeological caving expedition to Midnight Terror Cave in
Belize. This cave was featured on the Discovery Channel's Bone Detective
series. Last year was the first year of a multiyear project in the cave
involving cavers from Texas and students from California State University, Los
Angeles and University of New Mexico. The cave was only recently discovered and
has bones of many ancient Maya as well as other artifacts. The question the
project hopes to answer is, are these bones from burials or are they the result
of sacrifice? To find out, come out to hear and see the tale unfoldon the big
screen at the UTG meeting. You might even learn some secrets that were not
revealed by the Bone Detective!
The last few meetings have had over 50 folks in attendance. Come out to share
in the fun, see some of the really cool things that UT Grotto Cavers are doing,
and pay your $10 Annual Dues. As always, the after meeting is at the Posse
East www.posseeast.com for Beer & Burgers.
The UT Grotto wants YOU to share your photos, stories, or research project with
the Cavers in Austin Texas. Contact Gary if you are willing and able
[email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I posted the following recently to the International Congress of Speleology
e-mail list and am repeating it here. Feel free to post this on other list
servers, newsletters, or to anyone you think may be interested. For all of
the details on the Congress, visit www.ics2009.us
George
------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends,
Most of you realize that the 15th International Congress of Speleology (ICS)
is being organized entirely by an international team of volunteers. The ICS
Organizing Committee has 88 people, not including their assistants. However,
in hosting an estimated 2,000 people and offering dozens of trips, meetings,
and special activities, more help is needed. I have no doubt that many of
you will arrive and offer to help in whatever way is needed, but for some
tasks we need to know very soon if you will be able to help us in Kerrville.
Below is information on some items where we need help. We welcome help from
anyone, from inside or outside the U.S. Even if you can only donate a few
hours of volunteer time, it will be very much appreciated, and you will
often find it fun. If you are interested in volunteering, please read the
information below and contact the people listed below.
Thank you,
George
George Veni, Ph.D.
Chairman, 15th International Congress of Speleology
Adjunct Secretary, International Union of Speleology
Executive Director, U.S. National Cave and Karst Research Institute
----------------------------------------------------------
ICS Security:
Mike Frazier ([email protected]) is organizing our security team. We don't
expect any problems, but the security team will watch the entrances to the
university to make sure that only ICS and people with university business
will enter. In many ways, security will mostly serve to help people at the
ICS and make the ICS as easy and convenient as possible for everyone.
ICS Daily Trips:
Travis Scott ([email protected]) and Joe Mitchell ([email protected])
are organizing daily caving and non-caving family trips. They have several
trip leaders and assistants but need a few more to meet our estimated demand
for trips. We need to reserve vans well in advance of the ICS and will only
reserve vans for the trips that have leaders. Many of you will come to go
caving or see some tourist destinations anyway, so consider taking charge
and leading others. Also, trip leaders and assistants (one leader and one
assistant per trip) will not pay trip fees! (The fees are to cover the cost
of the vehicles, fuel, etc.) This invitation is not limited to cavers in
Texas. If you have time before the ICS to go to Texas and learn a cave or
tourist destination so you can lead others there, please consider doing so.
Contact Travis and Joe soon.
Other Volunteer Needs:
There are more volunteer opportunities for the ICS than I have space to
describe here. If you would like to know what they are, please contact Nancy
Weaver ([email protected]). Also, send her information on your skills,
interests, and time available, and she will try to match you with the most
suitable opportunity.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
More money sought for Edwards Aquifer study
_By Chris Cobb_ (http://herald-zeitung.com/contact.lasso?ewcd=
6f6cf874d6a84ef1b95e37e9f79195568af7d827721a528e94756ad7a6117f2b&-session=HeraldZeitung:400C74
0F05531011B9Uvq15AFBFB)
The Herald-Zeitung
Published February 17, 2009Additional funding is being sought to help pay for
an in-depth study of how best to manage water levels in the Edwards Aquifer,
both to serve an ever-growing population and protect the native species who
call the aquifer home.
The Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program is a collaborative
effort of more than 35 local governments, water conservation districts and
other
stakeholders, to strike a balance between the needs of the almost 2 million
people that rely on the aquifer for water and the numerous endangered species
that depend on healthy flows in the Comal and San Marcos springs to survive.
The total cost of the study is around $3 million, said EARIP program manager
Dr. Robert Gulley, and he estimates it will take another $1.6 million in
federal or state funding to ensure the program is completed.
“It’s essential that we obtain some additional funding for the program,”
Gulley said. “What it will provide is the ability for the aquifer to continue
to meet the needs of the region for water, while also providing for the
endangered species that live in the springs.”
Eight federally endangered or threatened species are found only in the Comal
or San Marcos springs, including three species of invertebrates, two species
of fish, two types of salamanders and the aquatic plant Texas Wild Rice.
The study is designed to protect them and establish appropriate pumping
levels to make sure the aquifer can continue to provide for most of
south-central
Texas.
“It is vital that the state of Texas put in the necessary dollars to protect
this precious resource, the 1.7 million people, businesses and unique
wildlife that call the Edwards area home,” state Sen. Glenn Hager said in an
EARIP
news release Thursday.
Stakeholders on the EARIP steering committee met Thursday in Austin to
discuss the plan and push for state funding while the Legislature is in
session.
Securing funding from the state Legislature, Hager said in the release, also
would help the program get additional federal dollars.
The EARIP is tasked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with having some
sort of plan in place by 2012. However, no money was ever contributed to the
program, either by the state or federal governments.
While more than $750,000 has been raised by stakeholders, Gulley said, more
money is needed to finish the study.
Doing so, said Roger Biggers, director of water services for New Braunfels
Utilities who also serves on the EARIP steering committee, would ensure the
safety of the aquifer, the springs and everything that depends on them to
survive.
“This is a vital process we need to go through for the long-term health of
the Edwards Aquifer,” Biggers said.
_http://herald-zeitung.com/story.lasso?ewcd=3a16fc5599edd69a&-session=HeraldZe
itung:42F949F7054cd014BDiTsX80684C_
(http://herald-zeitung.com/story.lasso?ewcd=3a16fc5599edd69a&-session=HeraldZeitung:42F949F7054cd014BDiTsX80684C)
**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy
steps!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1218822736x1201267884/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072%26hmpgID=62%26bcd=fe
bemailfooterNO62)
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Andy,
please contact me off list.
Cindy Lee
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Jeff Grigg put this notice up on Mo Caves and since I enjoyed the
story and the web site so much I wanted to share it.
Interesting "house in the mouth of a cave" just South of Saint Louis:
While it's always been called "Caveland," it's a limestone sand mine,
not a natural cave. Kind of a small house, on a big natural lot. It
has character.
A balloon payment on his financing for the land, due now, in tough
economic times, is what's put them in a desperate financial
situation. Personally, I think his best bet would be to try to get
better financing on the land, on the logic that the "house" isn't
very saleable, and will deteriorate if abandoned.
Very interesting story. Lots of good pictures:
The family's web site:
http://www.caveland.us/
Suburban Journals article:
http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2009/02/18/jefferson/
special_feature/0218ndj-cave20.txt
--- End Message ---
