First, the OW courses are limited strictly to the "arena" portion of the lake, i.e. the portion that was originally disturbed by the building of the "submarine" and performance areas. Students and trainees are not allowed in the main channel. In fact, ANYONE going past the pipe better have on a yellow jumpsuit.
The problem here is that the training area is not a closed system, and non-Aquarena divers can and do *wander* outside of it periodically. I've seen it on three separate occasions myself. That's plenty reason for a government rep to shut down the program.
Second, the training dives are becoming more necessary simply for fiscal reasons. I know this sounds like they're caving in to financial pressures, but the simple fact is that althogh the university is in charge of the operation at Aquarena, it doesn't come anywhere close to supporting it financially. Compromises have to be made, and as long as they don't jeopardize the health of the ecosystem, it might have to be tolerated.
This is the only argument that makes (some) sense. Unfortunately, it only does so for
Aquarena. The government is generally not sympathetic. If an agency decides that environmental or antiquity regulations are being affected even by a
twinge, they often have the authority to close off all access. This is particularly true for anything falling under the Endangered Species Act.
The amount of funding that the University dedicates to Aquarena is appalling and embarrassing for a school of its size. The state and federal government also demonstrates rather lackluster monetary support. Fortunately there is a plan in place to improve this... whether or no the diving programs continue is certainly a point of debate. In the long-term, I certainly see the non-volunteer diving in the lake getting the axe. It has no significant justification to a site where justification is most emphatically the central issue.
Finally, the "relevant government reps" don't have to come by to pay a visit...they are already there. The government offices occupy what used to be the old hotel at the end of the lake. Believe me, they know what is going on and if they didn't sanction it, the process would stop immediately. Instead, the plans to go forward with new and expanded diving facilities are moving along, complete with the necessary permits and inspections.
Sure, the
local government reps are there.
They're typically not the ones that actually make the big decisions, mind you. Think of them more as *caretakers* or *analysts*. The general mindset of a local government staffer is to not rock the boat, not attract attention to yourself, and certainly not to do extra work (they'll just add it permanently to your load). It is often a thankless, monotonous employment. It breeds an environment where nobody wants to complain or critique
officially, however justified they feel
personally.
As such, when glaring problems are *officially* discovered at government-regulated sites, it is often a longstanding issue that the local personnel have been well aware of and either chose to ignore or couldn't previously do anything about. This is VERY common in wildlife and environmental management. And (not pointing fingers), true at Aquarena as well.
Bearing this in mind, here are possible (and highly plausible) regulatory oversight scenarios that could at some (recent) point occur at Aquarena, and place use of the Lake by the public under suspension or full review.
1. Newly appointed management official (local level).
2. Newly appointed management official (regional/state level).
3. Newly appointed senior management official (inter-state federal).
4. Political changeover (any level of government).
5. Heightened government interest in Aquarena.
6. Heightened government interest over enforcement of specific, existing regulations.
7. Re-interpretation and re-classification of specific, existing regulations.
8. New regulations.
9. Comprehensive, on-site review by governmental regional or national inspection team.
10. Comprehensive, on-site review by independent inspection group (eg. academic, NGO).
What many Texans fail to realize is that our own environmental regulations rather suck compared nationally, and so have nowhere to go but UP.
And they are. Aquarena, conversely, appears to be going the opposite way with the dramatically upped recreational classes. That policy is going to bite them in the butt, and possibly all us volunteer eco-divers, as well.
What also has to be taken into account is that the national political climate is enjoying a long "reprieve" from most environmental enforcement and regulation. Most of the public is completely oblivious as to how scaled back our enforcement of existing rules is right now. It's REALLY, REALLY scaled back from several years ago. This will change soon, and it's NOT going to be pretty. :14:
The government, private, and public sectors should prepare for this as best they can. At the
minimum, expect reinstatements of pre-2000 oversight and enforcement.
