Cave conditions

markdol1

CCRX Supporter
Not being a cave diver"forgive me" i would like to ask about conditions after hurricane irma. Are there total closures and silt outs with the rise in water levels and does it increase or change the flow forces in some? How about the deeper passages, are they less affected also how long does it take to get back to normal diving conditions.Thanks.
 
it is highly likely that flood conditions will show up. This is primarily based on the flooding in south Georgia. Caves like Ginnie and the Mill Pond caves should be essentially unaffected but caves like Madison Blue and Peacock will be blown out for several weeks. Ginnie is mostly immune due to the insane amount of water that comes out of it and the Mill Pond caves aren't really attached to a river so so the floods don't affect them. They'll get a few days or murky water due to runoff coming in at various points upstream, but they'll clear out pretty quick.

As the river level rises, the increased water pressure exceeds that of the aquifer and the water flow will reverse and "recharge" the aquifer. This is a good thing for the health of the system, not so much for diving in it as the water going in is tannic and full of debris. Once the river level goes back to normal it takes a week or so for the higher flow caves like Little River to come back, and up to a month for some of the low flow caves to come back to normal.
 
I'll be in Cave Country starting this weekend, but we fully expect that most of the caves will be blown out for days if not weeks, with the exception of Ginnie and Manatee. I've spoken to several people who are estimating an enormous rise in the rivers which will cause many if not most of the caves to siphon. Hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it!
 
The Santa Fe is flooding to historic levels. There is a big flood pulse coming down the Suwannee. Ginnie will be closed for a while, as will all the other caves with the possible exception of Manatee. That has had strong flow recently so it would take a large rise in the Suwannee to reverse it. Realistically I think that only Manatee and the Mill Pond will be diveable for a month or two. Ginnie is unknown, because the Santa Fe has never been this high. It is so high they have closed I-75 where it crosses.
 
Very interesting ,I asked because of the forces and path of the storm ,something you dont experience on this level. Thanks i am sure folks would like to be updated of improving conditions.
 
Just down the road from our house in Ft. White where the Santa Fe intersects SR 27, the river is projected to hit 35.3 feet. (23 feet is considered flood stage at this area of the river)

Hoping it doesn't rain any more for awhile! :)
 
Madison should be ok when the park reopens after cleanup. Withlacoochie wasn't affected by the hurricane

Peacock park is being cleaned up over last 2 days. Haven't seen any comments about the surface conditions at OG or P1. Cow was still blue over last 2 days. It is very.close to reversing... I'd say it's a toss up right now. The rise at luraville Gage is pretty much over after today I'd say.

Cave excursions is still out of power. I'd assume dive Outpost is in same predicament.


Millpond has been reported as being perfect.
 
Madison should be ok when the park reopens after cleanup. Withlacoochie wasn't affected by the hurricane

Peacock park is being cleaned up over last 2 days. Haven't seen any comments about the surface conditions at OG or P1. Cow was still blue over last 2 days. It is very.close to reversing... I'd say it's a toss up right now. The rise at luraville Gage is pretty much over after today I'd say.

Cave excursions is still out of power. I'd assume dive Outpost is in same predicament.


Millpond has been reported as being perfect.

Cathy has power at the Outpost
 
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