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tcjtn0 · 09-08-2003, 02:11 PM,

Who'd have thunk?! Back country mentality "my sport is the only sport that matters" BS like this? Ok, let's put a little perspective on this: You see a lot more PAYING divers than PAYING fishermen. And, I would venture to guess that the diver figure grows a bit each year, right? So that equals= bubble money talks, bait buckets walk. Unless a huge swing occurs and suddenly tech-trout is all the rage, doubt anyone is gonna wanna disrupt the cash flow that comes from divers in each year. Keep diving kiddies and for cripe sakes be nice to the trees!
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Well said!!! We have to pump in quite a bit more money into the complex than anyone else does. Maybe there are more beach-goers than divers , but certainly we outnumber the fisher-people. If they pull in a hundred divers in a weekend , thats a lot of scratch coming in! I have pumped in quite a bit myself in the last two years (not only to the county park but to the community area itself)! So I will keep diving there and I of course , to continue to be careful around the trees. They are definately my favorite thing to hover around (except to check on hookboy , of course!!!)

Jean ;D

john j · (This post was last modified: 09-08-2003, 03:59 PM by john j.)

It's getting so bad now with all the crap that divers are bringing down there that they have actually surpassed the amount of garbage the fisherman are leaving-and that's pretty hard to do.

Over the weekend, I observed some very offensive trash. For example, an electronic music box thing that had circuit boards in it. Very bad to put something like that in a lake. Also somebody had placed a large floating ball like thing at 180 ft suspended about 20 feet off the bottom using monofilament fishing line attached to a bucket full of rocks. That's not only unsightly, it's hazardous. Someone could get tangled in something like that and even worse, it could break loose and drag them up if they broke or cut the line. There's people doing deep dives and deco stops down there and having something like that around is dangerous in my opinion, in addition to it being trash. Also saw a bunch of reel line tangled in the tree tops at about 40 feet. This is the kind of stuff I am getting upset about.

I know people have differing opinions on the trash, but it's nice to see at least that we are pretty much all in agreement about trying to protect the trees. That's a good start.

Chris · 09-08-2003, 04:47 PM,

Yeah, I can see what you're saying... And the more I think about it the more I can understand where you're coming from. I think if anything is brought down, it should be done by professionals who take all precautions, and it should also serve a purpose at the same time. What that would be I'm not sure... but an example of course is fish cribs or items being intentionally sunk to form as an artificial reef. What pertains to Wazee and the like may differ, but along those lines I could see as reasonable.

As far as the trees, I think we have a large number of members on this site and it's growing constantly. This, along with word of mouth will go a long way I believe. I realize not all divers in Minnesota and surrounding areas visit this site or even know about it, but it's a good starting point to make divers aware and educate them to be more cautious when diving and the effect that it makes when they're not.

Gramps · 09-09-2003, 07:34 AM,

I'm going out there this weekend with a few guys. I'll bring along a net bag to pick up any garbage I see along my dives.
Thanks for the heads up!

waterpanda · 09-09-2003, 10:25 AM,

Let us know what you find...perhaps an award for most interesting garbage is in order? Have fuN!

Posted by: Gramps Posted on: Today at 08:34:01am
I'm going out there this weekend with a few guys. I'll bring along a net bag to pick up any garbage I see along my dives.
Thanks for the heads up!

Inspirationdiver · 09-10-2003, 07:03 AM,

I'll also be out there this weekend, just look for the turtle shell.

Gramps · 09-10-2003, 08:07 AM,

Dunno if you'll fit in my bag but I'll give it a shot ;D

Maka · 09-28-2003, 12:45 PM,

just curious, How long were the statues and the gazing ball down there?

john j · 09-29-2003, 10:36 AM,

They are still there.

Drifter1430 · 12-17-2003, 04:23 PM,

Glad to hear it. I am one that likes to spend my first dive, checking on the ball,
and gently wiping the dust off of the Angel and Gargoyle. Makes me feel like I'm back home.
I had heard about the gazing ball from the local tech divers. Once I got my training in
advanced nitrox and deco procedures, seeing the ball and statues was kind of a rite of passage.
I and other divers I know would sure hate to see someone get a bee in their bonnet and remove
or trash that little peaceful garden. I've attached a picture. I'm all for preserving the
trees and cleaning up the beer cans and fish line, but Wazee is a big lake,
if you don't like looking at the gazing ball or the statues, don't follow the permanent line.
Enter the water someplace else.
Rick Richter~~~