[Dirtmail] Fw: [NMCAVER] : Lincoln Cave Program, Information...

[J. LaRue Thomas]

For your information:

The following was posted to both the New Mexico and Texascavers remailers. 
It clarifies a lot of the information going around recently about the 
Lincoln National Forest caves and personnel. Jacqui


> Subject: Lincoln Cave Program, Information round one
> From: jabuchanan at fs.fed.us
> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 14:10:35 -0700
>
>
> Hi folks,
>
> I just wanted to let all of you know that much of what you are hearing 
> about the cave situation in Carlsbad is simply not true.  Both my staff 
> and I have been working on a plan for not only keeping the program going 
> but to actually improve it from where it has been in the past.  We are 
> currently dealing with a turnover in staff there on the District but not 
> to the degree that rumors seem to indicate.  Deanna Younger, the Assistant 
> District Rec Staff/Cave Program Manager left about 7 months ago to take a 
> job at the BLM.  We immediately flew that position and have back filled it 
> with a gentleman from Florida so there has been NO decision to remove a 
> position.  The issue we do have is that we did not have any applicants 
> with Cave experience that applied for the job so we are now in a position 
> that we have to get this person trained up as quick as possible.  We are 
> looking at multiple options for his training as well as how to keep the 
> program fully functional until he is trained.  We are fortunate to have 
> the NPS in proximity so we are exploring how we might be able to use the 
> expertise they have to help us out.  We still have the Rec Staff Officer 
> in place there (Larry Paul) and considering that he has been overseeing 
> the Rec program as well as supervising the Assistant Rec Staff/Cave 
> manager for 7+ years I would expect the District to be able to keep up 
> with a majority of the request coming in although we are going to have to 
> prioritize the permits for approval.  We are concerned with the oversight 
> of the caves in regard to vandalism and we are trying hard to figure out 
> what options we have for that.  My District Ranger position at Carlsbad is 
> also vacant at this time and we are working hard to have that position 
> filled as soon as possible.   Until the DR position is filled we will be 
> handling some of the work from the Supervisors office here in Alamogordo.
>
> In regards to the Cave Tech position that keeps coming up, that is a 
> position that I added to the org chart in 2009 in hopes of getting a 
> second position in place at Carlsbad.  To be clear, there has not been a 
> Cave Tech in that office for over 7 years so not having it filled at this 
> time has nothing to do with our commitment to the program.  In fact, it 
> shows my commitment to the program since I personally am the one who 
> approved putting it back on the Organizational Chart.
>
> I fully recognize the importance of the Cave Program at Carlsbad and being 
> a cave enthusiast  myself I understand the concern that all of you have. 
> I hope that from this point forward, each of you will help us make our 
> Cave Program the best in the National Forest System.  As a part of the 
> opportunity we now have, I would very much like to offer all of you the 
> chance to have input in how we move this program forward.  I am trying to 
> set up a meeting with the other agencies during the week of February 22 
> and I would like to meet with any of you that have an interest as well. 
> Right now I am planning on being in Carlsbad on the 22 and 23 of February 
> and I would like to set up a meeting at the District office for 600 pm on 
> the evening of the 22nd to get input from the cave community.  Please let 
> me know if any of you are interested in meeting with me to discuss the 
> program and options for the future.
>
> We will be sending out an information statement on Monday to all of you 
> that captures most of what I stated above as well additional information 
> on our current approach for processing permit applications.  I encourage 
> all of you take advantage of the opportunity to be a part of our future 
> program in a productive manner.  You have my personal commitment that the 
> Lincoln fully recognizes the importance of the cave system we manage as 
> well as the importance of serving the public that we work for.
>
> Please feel free to email or call me if you have questions or concerns. 
> My cell phone number is 575-644-9768 and I am happy to visit with anyone 
> that has a question.  Please feel free to share this email or the 
> information sheet we will send you Monday with anyone that is interested.
>
> Jacque
>
> Jacqueline Buchanan
> Forest Supervisor
> Lincoln National Forest
> 575/434-7306
> jabuchanan at fs.fed.us
>