Woodville Karst Plain Project
Encyclopedia
The Woodville Karst Plain Project or WKPP, grew out of a cave diving
research and exploration group established in 1985 and incorporated in 1990 (by Bill Gavin and Bill Main, later joined by Parker Turner, Lamar English and Bill McFaden, at the time the chairman of the NACD Exploration and Survey Committee) to map the underwater cave systems underlying the Woodville Karst Plain
, a 450 square miles (1,165.5 km²) area that runs from Tallahassee, Florida
, U.S.
to the Gulf of Mexico
and includes numerous first magnitude spring
s, including Wakulla Springs
, and the Leon Sinks
Cave System, the longest underwater cave in the United States.
WKPP is the only organization currently allowed to dive some of these caves - which are all on State, Federal, or private land - due to the extreme nature of the systems and the discipline required to safely explore them, although these caves were explored extensively prior to the establishment of the WKPP. This is a controversial issue, as many people think these caves should be open to the public or, at the least, to other qualified cave diving groups and individuals. Recently, during 2007, one State-owned entrance of the Leon Sinks cave system has been reopened to other qualified cave divers.
The technology developed by the WKPP under the direction of George Irvine III, from diver propulsion to decompression, has become the basis for much of what is now done in military and scientific diving. WKPP divers hold every distance record in underwater cave diving. WKPP director Casey McKinlay and his regular dive buddy
, Jarrod Jablonski
hold the world's record for the greatest distance from air in a cave dive - 23810 feet (7,257.3 m) each way.
The data gathered by WKPP divers has allowed planners a better definition of what to expect from the underground aquifer
system and how best to handle issues relating to such things as surface water runoff and other nonpoint source pollution
issues. WKPP mapping has resulted in the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
establishing a "greenway" surrounding the Leon Sinks cave system and a "protection zone" for Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
, as well as numerous improvements in water management district operations, DOT road-building, and development planning.
(which is the basis for the teaching methodology of Global Underwater Explorers
) and the use of the Halcyon PVR-BASC and RB80 rebreathers. DIR, an acronym, created by George Irvine, for Doing It Right, is a holistic
approach to scuba diving
. According to the DIR approach fundamental skills, teamwork, environmental awareness, and the use of highly optimized and streamlined equipment configuration are the primary fundamentals of diving. DIR proponents argue that through these essential elements, safety is improved by standardizing equipment configuration and procedures for preventing and dealing with emergencies, and out-of-air emergencies in particular.
Current projects include exploring, surveying, and mapping of the Wakulla-Leon Sinks Cave system, as well as coordinating between private, state, and federal agencies to help protect the flooded caves of the Woodville Karst Plain.
In 2011, The Florida House of Representatives adopted "A resolution
recognizing the Woodville Karst Plain Project for its outstanding contributions to the State of Florida through scientific research and its dedication and tireless efforts to promote the protection of the state's precious natural water resources" (HR9053).
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
research and exploration group established in 1985 and incorporated in 1990 (by Bill Gavin and Bill Main, later joined by Parker Turner, Lamar English and Bill McFaden, at the time the chairman of the NACD Exploration and Survey Committee) to map the underwater cave systems underlying the Woodville Karst Plain
Woodville Karst Plain
The Woodville Karst Plain is a karst area that runs from Tallahassee, Florida, U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico separated by the Cody Scarp.This karst plain includes numerous first magnitude springs, including Wakulla Springs, and the Leon Sinks Cave System, the longest underwater cave in the United...
, a 450 square miles (1,165.5 km²) area that runs from Tallahassee, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and includes numerous first magnitude spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
s, including Wakulla Springs
Wakulla Springs
Wakulla Springs is located south of Tallahassee, Florida and east of Crawfordville in Wakulla County, Florida at the crossroads of State Road 61 and State Road 267...
, and the Leon Sinks
Leon Sinks
The Leon Sinks Geological Area is located on the Woodville Karst Plain in southern and southwestern Leon County, Florida, United States. It is a mature karstic area on the Upper Floridan Aquifer...
Cave System, the longest underwater cave in the United States.
WKPP is the only organization currently allowed to dive some of these caves - which are all on State, Federal, or private land - due to the extreme nature of the systems and the discipline required to safely explore them, although these caves were explored extensively prior to the establishment of the WKPP. This is a controversial issue, as many people think these caves should be open to the public or, at the least, to other qualified cave diving groups and individuals. Recently, during 2007, one State-owned entrance of the Leon Sinks cave system has been reopened to other qualified cave divers.
The technology developed by the WKPP under the direction of George Irvine III, from diver propulsion to decompression, has become the basis for much of what is now done in military and scientific diving. WKPP divers hold every distance record in underwater cave diving. WKPP director Casey McKinlay and his regular dive buddy
Buddy system
The buddy system is a procedure in which two people, the "buddies", operate together as a single unit so that they are able to monitor and help each other.-Advantages:...
, Jarrod Jablonski
Jarrod Jablonski
Jarrod Jablonski is a pioneering technical diver and record setting cave diver. Jablonski is one of the main architects behind the 'Doing It Right' system of diving.-Background:...
hold the world's record for the greatest distance from air in a cave dive - 23810 feet (7,257.3 m) each way.
The data gathered by WKPP divers has allowed planners a better definition of what to expect from the underground aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
system and how best to handle issues relating to such things as surface water runoff and other nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source pollution refers to both water and air pollution from diffuse sources. Nonpoint source water pollution affects a water body from sources such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source air pollution...
issues. WKPP mapping has resulted in the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
establishing a "greenway" surrounding the Leon Sinks cave system and a "protection zone" for Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is a Florida State Park in Wakulla County, Florida, USA. This 6,000 acre wildlife sanctuary, located south of Tallahassee, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated a National Natural Landmark...
, as well as numerous improvements in water management district operations, DOT road-building, and development planning.
DIR diving
The WKPP is notable for its part in the development of cave diving techniques and team diving protocols, the DIR method of scuba divingScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
(which is the basis for the teaching methodology of Global Underwater Explorers
Global Underwater Explorers
Global Underwater Explorers is a scuba diving organization that provides education within recreational, technical and cave diving. It is a not-for-profit, membership organization, based in High Springs, Florida, United States....
) and the use of the Halcyon PVR-BASC and RB80 rebreathers. DIR, an acronym, created by George Irvine, for Doing It Right, is a holistic
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
approach to scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
. According to the DIR approach fundamental skills, teamwork, environmental awareness, and the use of highly optimized and streamlined equipment configuration are the primary fundamentals of diving. DIR proponents argue that through these essential elements, safety is improved by standardizing equipment configuration and procedures for preventing and dealing with emergencies, and out-of-air emergencies in particular.
Current research
On May 20, 2007, divers set off from Turner Sink to try and find a connection but were unable to when the cave became impassable after 3 miles (4.8 km). On July 28, 2007, divers explored 1220 feet (371.9 m) of new passage before discovering an exploration line from Wakulla Springs. On Dec 15, 2007, WKPP divers Casey McKinlay and Jarrod Jablonski completed a traverse from Turner Sink to Wakulla Springs, covering a distance of nearly 36000 feet (11 km). This traverse took approximately 7 hours, followed by 15 hours of decompression.Current projects include exploring, surveying, and mapping of the Wakulla-Leon Sinks Cave system, as well as coordinating between private, state, and federal agencies to help protect the flooded caves of the Woodville Karst Plain.
In 2011, The Florida House of Representatives adopted "A resolution
Resolution (law)
A resolution is a written motion adopted by a deliberative body. The substance of the resolution can be anything that can normally be proposed as a motion. For long or important motions, though, it is often better to have them written out so that discussion is easier or so that it can be...
recognizing the Woodville Karst Plain Project for its outstanding contributions to the State of Florida through scientific research and its dedication and tireless efforts to promote the protection of the state's precious natural water resources" (HR9053).