The line committee is responsible for keeping the lines and signs in good repair. If you see any sections of line in the Peacock, LaFayette or Madison Blue Springs Cave system that is in need of repair please contact the chairman of the line committee as soon as possible.

Peacock, LaFayette Blue and Madison Blue Springs State Parks Line Committee

The Peacock Springs State Park and Madison Blue Springs Line committee members will be responsible to the chairman of the line committee and to the directors and officers of the North Florida Springs Alliance (NFSA).

The chairman of the line committee will be responsible to the manager of the parks and will report directly to the park manager. The chairman will also be responsible to the BoD of the NFSA.

The line committee will be composed of 7 qualified cave divers who are certified to at least the full cave diver level. All line committee members must be park volunteers or NFSA members with volunteer agreements on file.

The other 6 members of the line committee will be appointed by the chairman, and serve at his/her pleasure. The line committee chairman serves at the pleasure of the manager. The other 6 members are voting members. The alternates are pre-approved to complete line work if voting members are unable.

Duties of the line committee include, but are not limited to ensuring the lines and signs at Peacock, LaFayette and Madison stay in good shape and to replace those lines on an as needed basis with prior approval of the manager. The manager has set certain guidelines for this work and all members will strictly adhere to these guidelines.

Duties of the line committee chairman include being the liaison between the line committee members and the manager regarding safety and conservation of the cave and lines.

After flood events/underwater trail closings the line committee members will report to the chairman the conditions of the lines and the underwater visibility in the cave to help the manager determine when it is prudent to re-open the cave, after the manager gives approval for a test dive. The responsibility for the decision of reopening the underwater cave lies solely with the manager. The manager has stated he will consider, among other things the recommendation of the line committee chairman.

After flooding events/underwater trail closings the manager may open the underwater caves to different groups of varying certification levels. The line committee chairman will consider underwater visibility and overall conditions of the line when making a recommendation to the manager.

The manager may choose to open the underwater cave to full cave divers only; the manager may choose to open the cave to introductory/basic cave divers and above. The manager may open the cave to all cavern, intro/basic and full cave divers. The manager may open the open water sections to all levels of certified divers.

There will be at least 2 members, of the line committee, or 2 designated cave divers by the chairman evaluating the conditions of the underwater cave and the open water portions of the cave prior to making their recommendation the chairman.

The chairman will use as a guideline certain cave training agency standards for minimum visibility at each level of certification for making his/her recommendation to the manager. The standard will be if 2 divers separated by pre-determined distance can clearly see and interpret hand signals.

The line configuration in the underwater cave will not be changed by members of the line committee unless approved by the chairman. The line configuration has been long established by park management. If line committee members see a need for a change in configuration of one of the lines it should be brought to the attention of the chairman in writing. The chairman will consider the configuration change, confer with other members of the line committee and elect whether or not to suggest it to the manager.

Line changes will be publically announced prior to change with notification of date and time, and completed at a time with limited park visitors where possible. Upon completion the NFSA will be informed to archive this information in their minutes.

VOTING LINE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
As of November 2011

Jim Wyatt - Chairman
VOTING MEMBERS
Dan Patterson
Mark Messersmith
Rick Crawford
Kelly Jessop
Lamar Hires
Marc Bryan

John Jones as alternate.
Jim Womble as alternate.
George Gawinowski as alternate