PROJECT REPORT

Colorado Bend State Park Project

Project Date: April 12-14, 1996 Reported by: Dale Barnard

Person-hours: 157.5

Personnel: (21 folks)

Butch Fralia, Keith Heuss, Benjamin Heuss, Christopher Heuss, Sharon Mastbrook, Rafal Kedzierski, Daniel Brown, Eng-Shien Wu, John Case, Matt Duffin, Jim Kennedy, Bill Chamney, Christy Quintana, Summer Barber, Patty Kennedy, Dale Barnard, Jennifer Hargrove, Chris Hutton, Tom Kaler, Terry Holsinger, Sara Dierk

Butch's crew (Sharon, Keith, Benjamin, and Christopher) spent 11.5 hours over two days surveying and taking GPS readings. First, they located SAB38, took GPS readings (long sample for averaging). Surveyed 28 feet of SAB38 until someone spotted a snake. GPS readings collected at USGS bench mark, Nile's Cave, Gorman Spring and End of Road Cave. This should complete the locations for all known caves on Lemon's Ranch. On Sunday, they took GPS measurements on two caves in Lively Pasteur (SAB225 and SAB226) that were not on the overland survey and lost up until last year. Then, they located an untagged cave between SAB196 and SAB197. After some analysis, they concluded that it must be SAB197 and was omitted when the tags were passed out. Butch gave Ed Young a printout of the database with all the UTM measurements of caves on the park.

Rafal's crew (Daniel, Eng-Shien, John, and Matt) spent 6.5 hours in Lively Pasteur. They located Dog & Butterfly Cave. Then, they surveyed Cenote de Carne for about 30 meters, leaving two leads.

Jim's crew (Bill, Christy, Summer, and Patty) spend 5.5 hours surveying Nopalitas Cave (SAB186) for 23 meters. Bill sketched for the first time and Jim said that he did a nice job. They then went to Ricotta Razor Rift (SAB185) to try to finish the resurvey, but they determined that it will require a full day of surveying.

Dale's crew (Jennifer, Chris, and Tom) spend 7.5 hours continuing the survey in the upper area of the SAB194/218 system for about 40 meters. We confirmed that the SAB218 entrance is not passable without breaking rock so we will leave it alone (it makes the cave seem longer to have only one entrance, anyway). This cave will require 2-3 more days of surveying. With some luck, we might complete it next month before adjourning until September or October.

Terry and Sara spent a total of 5 hours on a variety of jobs. First, they assisted Jim's and Rafal's crews in locating their caves. Then, they relocated SAB196, 197, 186, 185, 195, and a karst feature in the area. They walked back to camp from Lively Pasteur (whew!), rechecking drainage that SAB206, 227, and 228 are in. Then, they set off to relocate SAB189 and 190 for future mapping. They indicated that SAB 189, 190, and 185 should be mapped.