Permission to Place Cache

[dhyams]

I am a relatively new geocacher (20-something finds), and would like to place a cache in the in the Falling
Water Falls State Natural Area see

www.chattanooga.net/membersites/nchick/map.html

Does anyone know how to properly gain permission to place the cache? Any tips would be very welcome (and
I hope that things work out for this cache, because
this will be a very fun one!).

A larger question: can someone summarize areas were
we have "blanket" permission, as well as areas that
are forbidden?

Thank you!

[hikenit]

As of now there are no blanket permissions on cache placements in the area that I know of. Also, no cache is forbidden with permission just use good judgment when placing the cache. A great example of this would be Prentice Cooper State Forest. The area is used for hunting and would not be a wise choice for cache or a Geocacher on his/her hunt.

[dhyams]

So can *anyone* name just one contact that they have used
for any of the area caches? There are caches placed in the
Chickamauga Creek Greenway, Chickamauga Gorge, Harrison
Bay State Park, Chester Frost, etc. etc. and the list goes on.

My hope is if there is just one person that I can call associated
with an existing geocache, they might lead me to the right
people to ask permission from.

I am just trying to figure out how in the world you folks get
the job done; there have been many new caches in the last
month, but I can't even get out of the starting blocks.

dhyams

[hikenit]

The best way to go about it is to get some paperwork about Geocaching and your cache box and let the land owner / operator take a look of the contents, GPS, paperwork of a cache and explain how Geocaching works. This is how I did the Detour cache when placed. Although permission was already granted with the help of AB4N, I still had to show them what I was doing. Examples really work well.

As for as a contact goes. You need to find someone in charge for the area. It could be a Park Ranger or some one with authority that you can show the above all you have to do is ask around for the right person. If the person finds the concept of Geocaching interesting, then you might have another Geocacher being born.
Hope I helped you out on your quest.

[sparc77]

When I planted Boyd Gap near the upper dam of the Ocoee, I just had a little talk with one of the rangers in the area. Once I indicated to them that the cache would be hidden on the trail (but out of sight) and that seekers would not disturb the off-trail environment, they told me that I could go ahead and plant the cache. They felt it would be eaiser to do that than to get any "official"permission and that unless I heard from someone about it, then it should be okay.They more or less adopted an "easier to get forgiveness than permission" policy.

I wouldn't necessarily take that as a rule, but it is an option.

[AB4N]

dhyams said:

So can *anyone* name just one contact that they have used
for any of the area caches? There are caches placed in the
Chickamauga Creek Greenway, Chickamauga Gorge, Harrison
Bay State Park, Chester Frost, etc. etc. and the list goes on.

My hope is if there is just one person that I can call associated
with an existing geocache, they might lead me to the right
people to ask permission from.

I am just trying to figure out how in the world you folks get
the job done; there have been many new caches in the last
month, but I can't even get out of the starting blocks.

dhyams

When I placed a cache in Harrison Bay I contacted the Park Manager and told him what I was up to and where I was placing the cache and he was fine with it.

Tenn. state parks have a basic procedure that must be followed any time a cache is placed in one of the parks. A person wanting to place a cache in a state park must get permission of some kind from the individual park manager. Then they must provide the geocaching.com administrator with contact information so that they can verify that permission was given.

There are lands that do have basically blanket permission; that would be Army Corp of Engineer land. They have been kind enough to ask that we use common sense when placing caches, but no specific approval process is necessary. Those are the only lands that I am aware of with anything like blanket permission though.

Hopefully after this next week we will have a similar agreement for TVA areas. We will keep the group updated as we work out the details.

Hikenit has provided information to the city of Chattanooga on geocaching, but to my knowledge they have not responded. I provided information to the parks and rec department for the city of East Ridge, and they did not respond either. Since we have not gotten a response I don't see that there is a problem placing caches in such places. The parks are for public use and geocaching is probably one of the better activities that happen in the parks I did get permission from the city park manager for a couple of caches that I placed in Cleveland.

If there is an area in particular that you are not certain about let us know and someone might be able to help you get permission if it seems pertinent.

[hikenit]

I got this info from The Chattanooge Bike Club today via email. Looks like it might be a good contact for public lands.

Dear Greenway Advocates
The federal transportation reauthorization bill that will soon be before Congress contains a provision allocating $1.6 million to the City of Chattanooga for construction of the next phase of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway. A local foundation has graciously agreed to provide $400,000 in required matching funds if Chattanooga's provision is passed. The greenway segment targeted for construction would go east from the Riverwalk and then south toward the Brainerd Levee.

Congressman Zach Wamp has worked with the city and local nonprofit groups on this project, but he would like to hear from his constituents to know that they support this measure. The transportation reauthorization bill will be coming up soon, so now is the time for individuals and grassroots organization to contact Rep. Wamp to support the South Chickamauga Creek project. This is a great way to support one of our local greenway projects and extend the connected grid of urban and suburban trails.

Attached is an information sheet about the bill and how to contact Rep. Wamp to help you formulate your communication. Please note that it is better to contact him via fax and e-mail. (Letters will take several months to arrive.) Constituents can send e-mail to Rep. Wamp from this website:
www.house.gov/wamp/IMA/get_address4.htm . Please get the word out to anyone else who may be interested.

Thanks,
Carla

Carla M. Askonas
Development Coordinator
The Trust for Public Land
1253 Market Street, Suite 200, Chattanooga, TN 37402
T [phone], F [phone]

Conserving Land for People - an average of 350 acres of parks and open space each and every day. On the Web at www.tpl.org .

[dhyams]

Thanks to all who responded; AB4N wanted to know the
actual location of where I am trying to place the cache;
I was planning to place two in the Falling Water Falls
State Natural Area:

www.state.tn.us/environment/nh/natareas/fallingwater/

I have contacted the person listed at the bottom of the
page, but he seems to be ignoring me.

[hikenit]

I think that contacting these people would benifit you better, although in person would be better.

Town of Walden
P.O. Box 335
Signal Mountain TN 37377-0335
phone [phone].

[AB4N]

dhyams said:

Thanks to all who responded; AB4N wanted to know the
actual location of where I am trying to place the cache;
I was planning to place two in the Falling Water Falls
State Natural Area:

www.state.tn.us/environment/nh/natareas/fallingwater/

I have contacted the person listed at the bottom of the
page, but he seems to be ignoring me.

You might try calling the phone number given and asking for the park managers name and for a time to meet with him in person to discuss your interest in placing a cache in the park. A personal appointment with the manager will probably get the best results, and you can plant your cache at the same time.

Good luck and I look forward to being FTF on your new caches

[DrNature]

About the name at the bottom of the Falling Water Natural Area Page (one Brian Bowen): Brian is a good friend of mine; we served together on the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council board. I doubt that there is anyone who actually "works" at this natural area, so Brian is probably a good contact.

You might forward me an e-mail that I can send on to him; he might respond to something with my name on it, especially if I tell him we will "Cache in-Kill Privet".

Brian is a pretty busy person, so this is one where having an "in" might make a difference. Let me know and I'll be glad to help.

[dhyams]

Thanks to all who have helped in trying to get this cache placed. Unfortunately, I have heard back from
Mr. Bowen, and permission has been denied to place
caches at the Falling Water Falls Natural Area.

"We are in the process of reviewing their impacts or non-impacts on natural areas. Until we make a determination, we ask that they not be placed in state natural areas"

I don't really like virtual caches, but I might have to
do one anyway.

Oh well; I gave it a good shot.

dhyams