Cave Conservancies, Surveys, Etc.

As more and more caves are added to the "closed" and "restricted access" lists, it becomes important that we cavers take an active part in preserving caves for the future. Cave Conservancies keep growing to focus cavers' efforts to save the caves. This year, three or more Conservancies will set up on vendor row with information and donation requests. All are worthy of support, financial as well as personal. Following are descriptions of a few of our worthy groups.

THE MID-ATLANTIC KARST CONSERVANCY acquired Billy Clay Pit in June 2000, preserving a pristine Pocahontas County cave that was closed for years. This is a three drop cave that requires competent vertical skills. They are (in order) 32, 20, and 43 feet. The middle one is a handline drop. Walt Hamm's new map depicts over a mile of passageways including over a quarter mile of new discoveries. The conservancy's property also includes a dead bottom pit, Clay Pit #2. In order to properly manage this sensitive caver-owned resource, the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy requires all trip leaders to apply for a free permit for each trip. The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy enforces a management plan of one trip per day, maximum six cavers per trip. The cave is in the middle of a development. Be forewarned (or aware) that local residents may stop to verify that you have secured a permit. Stop at the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy's booth on Vendor Row for more details. Because of the limited number of trips during OTR, you may wish to visit Billy Clay Pit some other time. Advance arrangements are encouraged. Check the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy's website (www.karst.org) for more information.

THE WEST VIRGINIA SPELEOLOGICAL SURVEY was founded by Roger Baroody in 1967. Roger's intent was to have an organization that would continue the work begun by William E. Davies in 1949 with the Caverns of West Virginia and its supplement, which appeared in 1965. When the West Virginia Geological Survey decided it would publish no more updates to Davies' book, even though much new data was available, the need for some sort of continuing survey to gather information about West Virginia's caves and karst became apparent. Thus, the West Virginia Speleological Survey was created as a study group of the National Speleological Society with the stated objective of compiling data and, where appropriate, publishing information about West Virginia caves and karst.

In addition, the West Virginia Speleological Survey has been compiling and storing information on West Virginia caves on a computer database since 1988. This is a major undertaking now that the number of known caves within the state is well over 3800. Updates or new reports should be forwarded either to the Database Coordinator or the various county survey coordinators for inclusion in this database. Requests for information from the database should be addressed to the Database Coordinator. As with any cave database, some information is listed as confidential and will only be released if authorization is received from the contributor of the information.

The West Virginia Speleological Survey is your, the cavers of West Virginia, survey. It works because of your participation and support. If you have questions about the survey and its work, if you wish to be a coordinator (Grant County has none at present), or if you wish to contribute to our files, then please contact us at the addresses listed below. Lastly, we are at present working on a publication documenting the caves in Pendleton County. If you have any pertinent information on the caves or karst of this county, if you know of any undocumented caves or karst springs, or if you would just like to help, then you should contact the coordinators working in this area.

Executive Director (and Pendleton County Coordinator):
George Dasher
(304) 965-1361
wvcaver@juno.com
Database Coordinator:
Bill Balfour
bbalfour@daa.com
Germany Valley:
Gordon Brace
gbrace@agi-web.org

West Virginia Cave Conservancy currently owns or manages mcclungs cave (including the lightner entrance), haynes cave, island ford cave, lobelia saltpeter cave, and rapps cave. the conservancy has a pledge to help keep access open to caves throughout west virginia, and virginia when we can help. please stop by our booth on vendor row and feel free to help inform us of any caves that you feel we should try to help protect. our website is www.wvcc.net.