Post by L Roebuck on May 27, 2006 19:10:43 GMT -5
Management of county-owned cave questioned
Sandy Rathbun Reports
Two years ago, Pima County learned that it owns a cave that has formations said to rival the state's Kartchner Caverns. Now, there are questions about how Pima County is protecting it.
La Tetera cave is located on the far southeast side inside Pima County's Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
The county keeps its exact location secret to keep people out. But some researchers say, to protect the wonder, they need to get in.
The few people who've seen it say La Tetera has bones of extinct animals, dripping formations and a red floor laced with white crystals.
It's unlikely you'll ever be allowed in. Instead, Pima County plans to use this cave for scientific research. The issue is when.
"Over the past year nothing's been allowed to happen there," according to scientist Yar Petryszyn.
Petryszyn is a bat expert and associate curator of the University of Arizona's mammal collection.
A year ago he was asked to join a scientific committee to advise the county on how to protect the cave. But Petryszyn says the committee's met just once.
Others anonymously told News 4 that research already has been lost because the county's mismanaging the cave.
Petryszyn says, "I don't know if I'd say mismanagement. It's not being managed. Let's put it that way."
Petryszyn believes to protect the living cave, the county needs to study it as soon as possible.
He says, "Since the cave has been breached by its discovery and people going inside, it's not a virgin cave anymore, and the more data you can accumulate, the better you'll know how to deal with it."
Pima County Parks Director Rafael Payan says, "There's no reason to rush this. The cave will be here."
Payan says, "With a cave, once you make a mistake, there's no way to repair or replace it."
Plus, Payan says the cave's location is a complication. It's near a hiking trail and the Colossal Cave tourist attraction.
Payan says, "We're not dragging our feet, no. Like I said earlier, we're trying to coordinate all the parties."
Payan says he hopes to meet with his scientific advisors later this summer.
KVOA
Sandy Rathbun Reports
Two years ago, Pima County learned that it owns a cave that has formations said to rival the state's Kartchner Caverns. Now, there are questions about how Pima County is protecting it.
La Tetera cave is located on the far southeast side inside Pima County's Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
The county keeps its exact location secret to keep people out. But some researchers say, to protect the wonder, they need to get in.
The few people who've seen it say La Tetera has bones of extinct animals, dripping formations and a red floor laced with white crystals.
It's unlikely you'll ever be allowed in. Instead, Pima County plans to use this cave for scientific research. The issue is when.
"Over the past year nothing's been allowed to happen there," according to scientist Yar Petryszyn.
Petryszyn is a bat expert and associate curator of the University of Arizona's mammal collection.
A year ago he was asked to join a scientific committee to advise the county on how to protect the cave. But Petryszyn says the committee's met just once.
Others anonymously told News 4 that research already has been lost because the county's mismanaging the cave.
Petryszyn says, "I don't know if I'd say mismanagement. It's not being managed. Let's put it that way."
Petryszyn believes to protect the living cave, the county needs to study it as soon as possible.
He says, "Since the cave has been breached by its discovery and people going inside, it's not a virgin cave anymore, and the more data you can accumulate, the better you'll know how to deal with it."
Pima County Parks Director Rafael Payan says, "There's no reason to rush this. The cave will be here."
Payan says, "With a cave, once you make a mistake, there's no way to repair or replace it."
Plus, Payan says the cave's location is a complication. It's near a hiking trail and the Colossal Cave tourist attraction.
Payan says, "We're not dragging our feet, no. Like I said earlier, we're trying to coordinate all the parties."
Payan says he hopes to meet with his scientific advisors later this summer.
KVOA