Post by Kelly Jessop on Nov 19, 2010 18:09:36 GMT -5
northfloridaherald.com/news/article_631c4eaa-f35d-11df-aaa2-001cc4c03286.html
LIVE OAK - As more than 100 people from around the country and throughout the world looked on, Peacock Springs State Park in Live Oak was renamed Tuesday, Nov. 16 in honor of Wes Skiles, who spent countless hours mapping and exploring the park's underwater cave system.
The name of the park is now Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park, an honor given to Skiles in less than four months after his death. Skiles, who lived in High Springs, was known for being one of the world's best underwater cave divers and for helping to give new understanding to how water flows underneath Florida.
"Wes Skiles' passion for Florida's environment was evident in his dedication to portraying the wonders of Florida through his masterful imagery," said Mimi A. Drew, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "Knowing Wes as I did, I'm sure he would be thrilled to have one of his favorite places named after him where it will be a reminder of his lasting contribution to Florida's environment."
As Skiles family looked on at Tuesday's ceremony, Skiles worldwide impact was felt as a speaker asked for a show of hands who was there from other states, then asked who was there from outside the country.
Speakers included DEP's Drew, as well as Jim Stevenson, the former coordinator of the Florida Springs Taskforce, and Wes Skiles' brother, Jim Skiles.
The event was a touching occasion as Skiles' commitment to Florida's environment, passion for Florida's imagery and love of state parks were recounted.
"We are honored to leave a legacy for Mr. Skiles in the state park system," Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione said. "There is no better place to do so than at Peacock Springs, where the avid diver, cave explorer and springs advocate contributed so much of his time and expertise."
Jim Skiles said Wes had a special love for Peacock Springs State Park.
"The Skiles family is greatly honored knowing that Wes's relentless work in creating awareness of our springs will be remembered by future generations," Jim Skiles said. "Wes understood that the abundance of fresh, clean water was critical to a healthy community, environment and economy.
"His love of photography and cave diving became his passion when he realized Florida Springs and her aquifer were our most important resource. Wes referred to Peacock as the heart of cave diving with its many passages. Today, the Skiles family and friends celebrate that the heart and soul of cave diving will be remembered in Florida history."
The Peacock Springs cave system represents one of the most extensively mapped cave systems in the continental United States and one of the longest in Florida.
Skiles' company, Karst Environmental Services, spent hours documenting the cave systems at Peacock Springs. One notable achievement was Skiles' discovery that Bonnet Spring has the only entrance to a separate cave system that may be hydrologically linked to the Peacock system via smaller conduits.
Skiles also made major contributions to the understanding and awareness of the Floridan aquifer and its impact for springs and water resources in the state.
"Wes did more to educate Floridians about the plight of Florida's springs than anyone else," Stevenson said. "His legacy is his outstanding films, beginning with ‘Polluting the Fountain of Youth' in 1998 that has been aired often on PBS and ‘Waters Journey: Hidden Rivers' that was produced in 2003 at the request of the Florida Springs Task Force."
LIVE OAK - As more than 100 people from around the country and throughout the world looked on, Peacock Springs State Park in Live Oak was renamed Tuesday, Nov. 16 in honor of Wes Skiles, who spent countless hours mapping and exploring the park's underwater cave system.
The name of the park is now Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park, an honor given to Skiles in less than four months after his death. Skiles, who lived in High Springs, was known for being one of the world's best underwater cave divers and for helping to give new understanding to how water flows underneath Florida.
"Wes Skiles' passion for Florida's environment was evident in his dedication to portraying the wonders of Florida through his masterful imagery," said Mimi A. Drew, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "Knowing Wes as I did, I'm sure he would be thrilled to have one of his favorite places named after him where it will be a reminder of his lasting contribution to Florida's environment."
As Skiles family looked on at Tuesday's ceremony, Skiles worldwide impact was felt as a speaker asked for a show of hands who was there from other states, then asked who was there from outside the country.
Speakers included DEP's Drew, as well as Jim Stevenson, the former coordinator of the Florida Springs Taskforce, and Wes Skiles' brother, Jim Skiles.
The event was a touching occasion as Skiles' commitment to Florida's environment, passion for Florida's imagery and love of state parks were recounted.
"We are honored to leave a legacy for Mr. Skiles in the state park system," Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione said. "There is no better place to do so than at Peacock Springs, where the avid diver, cave explorer and springs advocate contributed so much of his time and expertise."
Jim Skiles said Wes had a special love for Peacock Springs State Park.
"The Skiles family is greatly honored knowing that Wes's relentless work in creating awareness of our springs will be remembered by future generations," Jim Skiles said. "Wes understood that the abundance of fresh, clean water was critical to a healthy community, environment and economy.
"His love of photography and cave diving became his passion when he realized Florida Springs and her aquifer were our most important resource. Wes referred to Peacock as the heart of cave diving with its many passages. Today, the Skiles family and friends celebrate that the heart and soul of cave diving will be remembered in Florida history."
The Peacock Springs cave system represents one of the most extensively mapped cave systems in the continental United States and one of the longest in Florida.
Skiles' company, Karst Environmental Services, spent hours documenting the cave systems at Peacock Springs. One notable achievement was Skiles' discovery that Bonnet Spring has the only entrance to a separate cave system that may be hydrologically linked to the Peacock system via smaller conduits.
Skiles also made major contributions to the understanding and awareness of the Floridan aquifer and its impact for springs and water resources in the state.
"Wes did more to educate Floridians about the plight of Florida's springs than anyone else," Stevenson said. "His legacy is his outstanding films, beginning with ‘Polluting the Fountain of Youth' in 1998 that has been aired often on PBS and ‘Waters Journey: Hidden Rivers' that was produced in 2003 at the request of the Florida Springs Task Force."