In late 1992 and early 1993, the NSS completed negotiations to accept the donation of Mill Creek Sink, then known as Alachua Sink. The State of Florida, particularly the Florida Geological Survey, renamed this sink in 2003 to avoid confusion with the Alachua Sink located 25 miles south near Payne's Prairie. Located in the city of Alachua, Florida, Mill Creek Sink is a completely water-filled cave system, the sink being the only window into the underground Mill Creek Stream System. The surface stream system, draining a basin of over 70 square miles, is dissected by more than 10 swallow holes which divert water underground.
The Mill Creek Sink Preserve is managed by the NSS Cave Diving Section. Charles Robinson chairs the Management Committee. A fence with a locked gate is maintained around the sink. Access to the system will be permitted to only the highest qualified cave divers, because of the nature and complexity of the underwater cave system. Visitation will be permitted for research, data collection, water sampling, and survey/mapping. No training activities are allowed.
Mill Creek Sink Nature Preserve
