Park Guideline Suggestions?

[+piratetreasure]

I am the owner of a cache located in a small preserve in SW Florida- Matanzas cache- GC3CE. I placed it back in March of 2001, and quite a few people have sought it out since then. A few months ago, it was pulled by the rangers. Their concern was that it's placement was detrimental to the surrounding flora. It was hidden under a boardwalk on a support beam and could be reached without leaving the boardwalk, but honestly, I think most folks hopped off the boardwalk (No hand rails or other impediments to leaving the boardwalk, and absolutely no signs or instructions in the entire park to stay on the boardwalk- actually plenty of non-boardwalk trails in the park) to peek underneath and spot the cache. Where folks would look, there was no plant life, just a sandy/muddy spot that was there prior to my placing the cache. There was a small game trail nearby that some cachers would apparently walk down when seeking the cache.

Anyhow- I spoke with the land steward about a suitable spot for it's replacement. They are not at all adverse to a cache in the preserve, but wanted it in a spot away from the game trail. They said under the boardwalk was fine. So... I replaced the cache in a different spot, and within 2 days received an email from a different ranger who had reconfiscated my cache from it's new spot. This time I was told that her concern was that the decking of the boardwalk was hot in the Florida sun, and that a cacher might burn themselves laying on the decking seeking the cache. I was also told that someone might injure themselves stepping off the boardwalk to look underneath...

In order to find a suitable spot for the cache, agreeable to park management, the ranger and land steward have agreed to meet me next Wednesday at the preserve and we can find a new spot that will hopefully be detrimental to neither cacher nor environment. Lee County Parks and Recreation is currently putting together geocaching guidelines for caches placed within their jurisdiction, and I would love to come to this meeting with some suggestions for them as to what might work. I would really appreciate any guidelines that have been implemented elsewhere, or ideas that other cachers might have in this regard. It seems like the only thing they're pushing right now is a transparent container. I welcome your thoughts and ideas. Thanks in advance!

[+Renegade Knight]

You are doing fine. Your key issue is the left hand right hand issue common to agencies.

 

That the cache had been there with no alarms going of about the degridation of the land is just proof that geocaching is compatable. As for what you think cachers are doing in seeking the cache, you are right. Unless you spell it out for them "CACHE HERE" they will look via various means.

[+briansnat]

Interesting they are insisting on clear containers. Some other places require clear containers, while others insist on animal proof containers with locking lids (which pretty much eliminates anything other than ammo boxes). Personally I think the latter makes more sense. I know the idea behind clear containers is so that park personnel can determine if there is anything harmful inside without opening it, but if someone is intent on placing something harmful inside, it's easy enough to disguise it or conceal it. So clear containers may provide a false sense of security. I think animals opening and getting at the contents is a more realistic concern (you don't want those cute raccoons choking on a McToy now, do you?).

 

In Fla, the St John's River Water Mgmt District has a very geocaching friendly policy. Their guidelines can be found on thier online application.

 

Here are some other guidelines that I know of. PA's and Arkansas' are pretty reasonable. NY's is a lot more restrictive. Each has its good and bad points:

 

PA State Parks (PA DCNR)

 

* Placement of geocaches on lands administered by the DCNR - Bureau of State Parks / Bureau of Forestry requires authorization of the Park Manager / District Forester or designee. This authorization will be considered through a review process, including a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory search (PNDI), which insures its location is compatible with other park and forest activities.

* A geocache contact person responsible for necessary upkeep of the site must be identified prior to approval by the Park Manager / District Forester or designee.

* There should be no earth disturbance or vegetative impact to any approved site. Nor should the cache be readily discernable by the general public.

* Cache(s) shall not be placed in a plastic (PVC) pipe.

* Cache name must be clearly visible on the exterior of all geocache containers. A green and black "Official Geocache" sticker (available at the park office / district forest office) should be placed on the container. The cache name must be the same on the "Official Geocache" sticker, Identification Form, and any web site postings.

* The cache may not be placed within Natural Areas, Penn Nursery perimeter fence, seed orchards, or Wild Plant Sanctuaries, or on stream banks, riparian zones, wetlands, prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, exemplary natural communities, ecologically sensitive areas, unique geological features, dam structures, or unsafe areas. You must contact the Park Manager / District Forester for possible additional restrictions or questions concerning the proposed location.

* A cache may remain at the approved site for no more than three years at which time it must be removed, the site restored to its original condition, and the Park Manager / District Forester informed in writing of the removal. This will control cache abandonment and assist in preventing renegade trail development to the site.

* Unauthorized geocaches on State Park or State Forest lands will be removed and treated as abandoned property, and the responsible person may be cited for littering.

* Responsible party shall delete site location(s) from all publications and/or website(s) within seven days of removal.

 

NY State Parks (NY Dept. Of Parks and Historic Preservation)

Permit/Application

* Any visitor wishing to place a cache must completean application for placement and maintenance

of the geocache site. Such permit applicationrequires review and authorization of the facility manager or designee. Once approved, this application will serve as the permit and the cache owner will be issued a label to be placed on the cache container.

* The original permit will be kept on file, and a copy given to the owner.

* If the permit is denied, justification will be recorded on the permit. The facility manager has discretion in denying permits.

Permit Conditions:

* A cache owner is limited to a maximum of five (5) permits in one facility at one time.

* Multi-caches leave clues to find the next site, eventually leading to a cache. Multi-caches will

be limited to a total of five (5) sites, but require only one permit. However, since the potential

use or impacts of each site is the same, no more than five (5) sites per cache owner will be permitted

in one facility at one time. For instance, if a multi-cache consists of 5 sites, the cache owner will only be allowed one permit at a time.

* Caches will not be permitted within 1320 feet (1/4 mile) of an existing permitted cache.

* All permits will be valid for two (2) years. Exact starting and ending dates will be recorded on the permit.

* If, during the effective period of a permit, the holder wishes to change the location of the cache, a new permit must be issued and the effective permit cancelled.

* Upon permit expiration, the owner is responsible for removing the cache and removing its location from the website or other information source as an active cache.

* Once the cache is placed, a description of the cache and its location indicated on a park map, as well as the GPS coordinates, must be given to the facility manager or designee for completion of the permit.

* Owner must monitor the cache twice a year to maintain family-friendly contents.

* Caches are subject to removal by the facility manager or designee if:

* Facility staff determines that the location of the cache poses a risk to visitors. A new permit may be generated for the relocation of such a cache.

* Facility staff determines that the cache has been the cause of an adverse environmental impact. The permit for such a cache will be cancelled.

* Facility staff discovers a non-permitted cache, or a cache that does not exhibit a permit number on the outside of the container.

* If the facility manager or designee removes a cache, he or she will attempt to notify the owner or indicate on the website that the cache has been removed. The cache will be retained at the park office for 30 days. If the owner cannot be contacted after that time, the cache is considered abandoned property and may be retained in the event the owner comes to claim it at a later date. Justification for removal of a cache will be recorded on the permit.

Cache Placement

The facility manager or designee will inform the applicant of areas recognized as off limits to geocache placement.

* The cache should be accessible from existing trails (no more than twenty (20) ft. from trail unless

otherwise approved).

* Caches are not to be placed on or in:

* locations that would lead to or create spur trails

* sensitive archaeological, historical, or ecological areas, e. g. wetlands, caves, historical buildings, locations containing rare plant or animal species, stream banks, and dam structures.

 

 

Arkansas State Parks

 

Procedures concerning geocaching in Arkansas State Parks and Museums are as follows:

I. CACHE PERMITS

A. Placement of a cache on Department property must be secured with a permit. Any cache located on park / museum property that does not exhibit the required affixed permit number is unauthorized and is subject to removal from its location and the owner subject to fines.

B. The person applying for a permit must provide a valid address, telephone number, email address, driver’s license number, and the website address on which the cache will be posted.

C. The exact location of the cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent / Museum Director, whose main concern will be public safety and the prevention of undesirable impacts to natural, historical, and cultural resources.

D. The exact cache location, including GPS coordinates, must be stated on the permit.

E. All permits will be in effect for a period of twelve (12) months. The exact starting and ending dates will be recorded on the permit. Upon expiration of the initial permit, at the permit holder’s request, a cache permit may be extended for up to twelve (12) months.

NOTE: If, during the effective period of a permit, a permit holder wants to change the location of the cache, a new permit must be issued and the effective permit cancelled.

F. Upon expiration of a permit, the permit holder is responsible for removing the cache and for removing the cache location from all websites and any information source.

G. If the permit holder fails to remove the cache, it will be removed by park staff and held for ten (10) days, after which staff will dispose of the cache. Confiscation and disposal by park staff will be recorded in an incident report.

H. If it is determined that a cache has been the cause of adverse environmental damage, the cache may be removed by the Park Superintendent / Museum

Director or designee, and the permit cancelled.

II. CACHE CONTAINERS AND CONTENTS

A. Cache containers must be non-breakable, have some form of latch or other closing mechanism to prohibit content exposure to wildlife, and must be approved by the Park Superintendent / Museum Director or designee.

B. Each cache container must have an identification label affixed to the outside identifying it as an approved cache and containing the permit number and expiration date.

C. Caches may not contain inappropriate or dangerous items. Such items include, but are not limited to, food, medications, personal/hygiene products, pornography, weapons of any type, etc. Log books are encouraged in Arkansas State Parks / Museums, over exchange items.

D. All caches are subject to random inspection by Park Superintendents and Museum Directors. Park staff has the authority to immediately remove any item held in a cache deemed unacceptable or that is violation of this policy.

III. CACHE LOCATIONS:

A. Physical caches are prohibited inside any state park / museum facility or structure.

B. The location of a cache must be pre-approved by the Park Superintendent / Museum Director or designee.

C. Caches may not be placed in locations that may lead to the creation of spur trails.

D. Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation or stones be disturbed to place a cache.

F. Caches may not be placed in dangerous, inappropriate, or protected areas and habitats, on cliffs, underground, or underwater.

G. Metal detectors may not be used in cache searches.

IV. COMPLIANCE

A. Failure to comply with this policy directive will result in the revocation of effective geocaching permits. Continued failure to comply with these guidelines will prevent the issuance of any further geocaching permits to the non-compliant group or individual.

B. If geocaching activities as a whole are found to have a negative impact on park resources or if safety becomes an issue in geocache searches, the Park Superintendent / Museum Director may ban geocaching from certain areas or from the entire park / museum.

Edited July 2, 2006 by briansnat

[+palmetto]

Hi piratetreasure, there are 2 cachers in your area already working with Lee County Parks on geocaching policy. You might send them an email about your meeting. Doc-Dean and (as part of an Eagle Scout project) LeHigh Mafia.

I've sent Dean Traiger a list of park (especially county park) policies in Florida.

There's a Park Management thread on www.floridacaching.com (the website of the Florida Geocaching Association) where the Florida reviewers and users keep current policies updated. Perhaps you'd post there whenever you've had your meeting. Florida Caching Land manager thread Thanks

 

Rather than re-post the whole Florida County park policy thread here, I'll hunt the email I've already sent Doc-Dean and send it to you through your GC.com profile.

Edited July 2, 2006 by palmetto