We held our second annual NACD sponsored cleanup at Cannonball Cave at Lake Wappapello, MO on the 3rd of July. Volunteers met at 09:00 and picked up the trash on the parking lot above the spring, the trail leading down to it and along the lake shore overlooking it. After picking up and bagging the trash above the water we put our gear together, launched a boat and motored over to the spring from the landing. We suited up, took some mesh bags for collecting trash in the mouth of the spring, then dropped down to the entrance of the cave. We left the mesh bags by the bucket where we attached the dive flag and did a leisurely swim into the cave. One of the divers, Alan Garrett, took a number of photos (which can be seen on the Cave Divers Forum). Exiting the cave we picked up trash at the mouth of the spring, surfaced, and then had a picnic lunch.
We had gifts donated by NACD for all those who took part (hats, a Peacock III map, a one year membership in NACD, a matted cave photo, NACD stickers and cave bears for all the kids who took part). The weather was perfect, the visibility in the cave approaching 40 feet and the spring water a balmy 55 degrees Fahrenheit. I want to thank the NACD for their excellent publicizing of this event and their generous support of it.
Submitted by C. Douglas Rorex