LOCATION: On Missouri Route 181 at Bryant Creek in the South-Central region of the state.
SIZE: Ranked the 15th largest spring in the state with an average discharge of 23.5 million gallons of groundwater per day.
OWNERS: Private property of Hank Macler and his wife, Jean. The Macler’s have benevolently restored the site for public enjoyment.
DIVING HISTORY: Hodgson’s Mill was constructed in 1897 to grind flour from wheat and corn. The OCDA was contacted by Mr. Macler in July 2002 with a request that the team assist in exploring the spring conduit. The objective was the explore the system and collect information that would promote preservation in future management and development decisions of the site.
Within that month divers were on-site. First attempts to explore the spring were hindered by high flow and small conduit size. An access point was eventually discovered beneath the mill, although it was so small that divers were forced to modify their gear configuration using sidemount procedures. Upon passing this initial restriction it was determined that the passage was too small to continue exploration–the conduit had developed into a vertical slot in dolomite measuring approximately six inches in width. A second access point from within a small dry cave was attempted later, but this also proved non-navigable.
After a full day of work, diving operations were halted and project diving at this site has thus been suspended. Despite not having much of an underwater system the team enjoyed the support and company of Hank and Jean Macler. It was an opportunity to support the preservation of this historic and natural landmark, and were recommend this as a site worth visiting for everyone.
Mji huo uko kwenye barabara ya Missouri 181 karibu na Bryant Creek, katika eneo la kusini-kati la jimbo hilo. Mto huo ni wa 15 kwa ukubwa katika jimbo hilo na una wastani wa galoni milioni 23.5 za maji ya chini ya ardhi kwa siku. Wamiliki: Mali ya kibinafsi ya Hank Macler na mkewe, Jean. Familia ya Macler imerudisha eneo hilo kwa fadhili ili watu wote waweze kulifurahia. Katika mwaka wa 1897, kampuni ya Hodgson's Mill ilijenga kiwanda cha kusaga unga wa ngano na mahindi. Mkurugenzi wa ODA, Macler, aliwasiliana na timu ya ODA mnamo Julai 2002 na kuomba msaada wa timu hiyo katika kuchunguza mfereji wa chemchemi. Lengo lilikuwa kuchunguza mfumo na kukusanya habari ambayo ingeendeleza uhifadhi katika maamuzi ya baadaye ya usimamizi na maendeleo ya tovuti. Katika mwezi huo wa kwanza, wapiga-mbizi walikuwa mahali hapo. Jitihada za kwanza za kuchunguza chemchemi hiyo zilizuiwa na mtiririko mkubwa na ukubwa mdogo wa mfereji. Hatimaye, sehemu ya kuingia iligunduliwa chini ya kiwanda hicho, ingawa ilikuwa ndogo sana hivi kwamba waogeleaji walilazimika kurekebisha vifaa vyao kwa kutumia mbinu za kupanda upande. Baada ya kupita kizuizi hiki cha awali ilibainishwa kwamba njia ilikuwa ndogo sana kuendelea na utafutaji - mfereji ulikuwa umesitawi kuwa slot wima katika dolomite kupima takriban inchi sita kwa upana. Baadaye, jaribio la kufanya njia ya pili kutoka ndani ya pango dogo kavu lilifanywa, lakini hilo pia halikuwezekana. Baada ya siku nzima ya kazi, shughuli za kupiga mbizi zilisimamishwa na hivyo kupiga mbizi ya mradi katika tovuti hii imesimamishwa. Licha ya kutokuwa na mfumo mkubwa wa chini ya maji timu hiyo ilifurahia msaada na kampuni ya Hank na Jean Macler. Ni fursa ya kuunga mkono uhifadhi wa alama hii ya kihistoria na asili, na tunapendekeza hii kama tovuti yenye thamani ya kutembelea kwa kila mtu.