The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) will be the world’s premier cave and karst research organization. NCKRI promotes and performs projects of national and international application, of the highest quality and integrity, through dedicated staff and partners.

NCKRI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. It was created by the US Congress in 1998 in partnership with the National Park Service, State of New Mexico, and the City of Carlsbad. Federal and state funding for NCKRI is adminis- tered by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technolo- gy (aka New Mexico Tech or NMT). Funds not produced by agreements through NMT are accepted directly by NCKRI.

NCKRI’s enabling legislation, the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998, 16 U.S.C. §4310, iden- tifies NCKRI’s mission as to: 1) further the science of speleology; 2) centralize and standardize speleological information; 3) foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; 4) promote public education; 5) promote national and international cooperation in pro- tecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and 6) promote and develop environmentally sound and sus- tainable resource management practices.

NCKRI produced this publication as part of its annual Our 2011-12 Annual Report cover showed a speleothem reporting of activities. The reporting period covers NCKRI’s reported as destroyed. It still exists; a similar nearby speleo- fiscal year, from 1 July to 30 June of the following year. them had been destroyed. For reasons like this, NCKRI ar- Digital copies of this and previous reports are available for chives cave photos as historical and scientific records. We free at www.nckri.org. appreciate your support in achieving these goals.

Sinkhole damage has been in the news this year, but not all sinkholes are bad. On the front cover, Rainbow Springs, the 4th largest in Florida, rise from a submerged sinkhole as the source of the Rainbow River. On the back cover, the sink- hole entrance of Lost Creek Cave, Tennessee, is an important source of water into a local aquifer. Both photos by George Veni.

Sinkholes have been in the news a lot this year. Sinkhole collapses claimed lives in Florida and China. Millions of dollars in damages and years of disrupted lives were tallied as the months rolled by. Yet sinkholes are natural features of karst terrains and not all sinkholes are alike. While some form overnight or over many months to hurt people and property, others form over thousands of years and cause no harm. Such sinkholes are often scientifically important and vital to replenishing groundwater in karst aqui- fers for human use. This year was also the first that the Sinkhole Conference, more formally known as the Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineer- ing and Environmental Impacts of Karst, was held under NCKRI’s manage- ment. The purpose of this 29-year old conference series aligns well with NCKRI’s goals to better understand karst phenomena, predict where prob- lems might occur, prevent and repair them when they do occur, and help people to more wisely live in karst while benefiting from cave and karst re- sources. The Sinkhole Conference developed in response to a catastrophic 1981 collapse in Winter Park, Florida. Some media sources have wondered why so many sinkholes seemed to have formed this year. I know that if not for the previous dozen Sinkhole Conferences, the collapses would have been greater in number, size, and damage. The Sinkhole Conference series was the first and perhaps most important in a number of events that improved our understanding of sinkholes, leading to improved regulations, construction, and engineering methods that have reduced sinkhole occurrence and dam- age. Certainly there is a lot more to learn about sinkholes and a need for regulatory policies to improve. I’m proud that NCKRI now includes the Sinkhole Conference as part of its efforts to better manage karst, and to edu- cate and protect the public in regard to this unique terrain. An expert team of karst scientists is working with NCKRI on the Sinkhole Conference, but with roughly 20% of the US being karst, more help is greatly needed. I invite you to contact us at NCKRI and help however you can: donations, infor- mation, research partnerships, memberships, whatever you can do. Sinkholes cannot be avoided, but with your help NCKRI will continue to work on mak- ing life on karst as safe and beneficial as possible.

George Veni, Ph.D.

During the first quarter of 2013, Drs. Land and Veni conducted NCKRI’s first dye trace investigation. It was based in west Texas, in Jeff Davis and Reeves counties, to deter- mine if a hydrologic connection exists between Phantom Lake Spring Cave and the San Solomon Spring group. Located at the western edge of the Edwards Plateau, the cave is the western most of the six springs of the San Solomon group, which are dis- tributed over a 13-km long northeast- southwest trending area that extends across the town of Balmorhea. San Solomon Spring is located in the mid- dle of the group and is the largest spring with a mean flow of 850 L/s. The spring pool is the main attraction at Balmorhea State Park. side the cave to the refugium pool, nature of the aquifer system. Dye was The San Solomon Spring group which flows over a small dam back not detected at any of the other flows from the Cretaceous age rocks into the cave, to sustain the species at springs or at any of four monitored of the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer. Earli- that location. wells. er studies suggest that much of the The water in the cave rises from The results of the tracer study water is recharged in the older Permi- submerged passages. Cave divers of demonstrate conclusively that the an age rocks of the Apache Moun- the ADM Exploration Foundation cave is the principal source of water tains, 40-80 km to the northwest. have surveyed about 2.4 km of under- for San Solomon Spring. A careful While these springs have been water passages upstream of the en- review of the dye concentrations indi- used by Native Americans since pre- trance to a depth of 140.8 m, making cate little inflow of other water be- historic time, in 1986 the Texas Water it the deepest underwater cave in the tween the dye injection point in the Commission proposed the springs’ US. Although water no longer flows cave stream and San Solomon Spring. region as part of a “critical area” that from its entrance, it continues to flow A full report is being prepared “is experiencing or is expected to into passages that extend downward and will serve as the foundation for have ground-water problems resulting and have been explored about 500 m future tracer studies in that area to from ground-water overdrafts from an southeast of the cave’s entrance. The better define and help best manage its aquifer.” Spring records show general water in this passage was suspected as crucial water resources. declines in flow since 1945 when the main source of water for the other NCKRI conducted this project in irrigation pumping began to greatly five San Solomon springs. The tracer cooperation with and the assistance of increase in the area. study was designed to determine if the ADM Exploration Foundation, The decrease in discharge was this was true. City of Balmorhea, Madera Valley greatest at Phantom Lake Spring In January 2013, Drs. Land and Water Supply Corporation, Reeves Cave, which the US Bureau of Recla- Veni injected uranine dye into Phan- County Water Improvement District mation purchased and built a refugi- tom Lake Spring Cave. The dye ar- No. 1, Texas Parks and Wildlife De- um canal and pool in 1993 to protect rived less than six days later at San partment, The Nature Conservancy, the populations of two endangered Solomon Spring at Balmorhea State US Bureau of Reclamation, private species of fish that depend on its Park about 6 km east of the cave en- well and spring owners, and especial- flow. In 1999, flow ceased from the trance, demonstrating a mean flow ly the Edwards Aquifer Authority cave’s entrance and from May 2000 rate greater than 1,000 meters/day, which provided critical supplies, to the present, the US Bureau of Rec- and clearly demonstrating the karstic equipment, and analyses. lamation has pumped water from in-

nedy, and Ronnie Sidner, were able to “If you build it, they will come.” complete the first version of NCKRI’s NCKRI believes this will be true for bat roost research plan before any its bat roost. NCKRI Headquarters is bats move in. Second, our dataloggers the only building in the world de- are collecting important information signed to include a home for bats. The on conditions in the roost. This will roost has space for an estimated 5,000 be useful in better understanding roost -7,500 bats, but since it was finished conditions after it is occupied. in late 2010, no bats have moved in. Once the roost is occupied, you What’s the problem? will be able to watch the bats on our Bat Conservation International website and in one of our future mu- (BCI) helped design the roost to be an seum exhibits! ideal home for bats. BCI’s statistics If you would like to support show that 2-5 years are usually need- NCKRI’s bat roost research, join our ed for bats to find a new roost, so the Adopt-A-Bat program. Adopting a bat lack of bats as of the end of June 2013 costs only $25 and includes a Certifi- isn’t a surprise. Motion-activated in- cate of Adoption, educational infor- frared cameras have been watching mation about bats and our bat roost, The Fort Stanton Cave/Snowy for bats since September 2011, so we and your very own “Barty the Bat” River Passage project continues. know that no bats have discovered the stuffed animal. All proceeds go to NCKRI Scholar Daisy Morgan and roost during the past 22 months. maintenance and equipment needed Dr. Penny Boston have developed While the NCKRI roost is within for the bat roost. We are also looking methods to separate and analyze the the normal waiting period for discov- to expand our monitoring program mud deposits in Fort Stanton Cave, ery, something may also be keeping with more and better equipment. For New Mexico, for biological and cli- bats away. Since the time the roost more information on how to help or mate signal data. To identify biologi- was built, New Mexico has suffered to adopt a bat, go to www.nckri.org or cal fragments found in cave muds, with what is now seen as its worst call 575-628-2702. they are developing a comprehensive drought on record. With low rainfall, atlas of plant crystals (phytoliths) and far fewer insects are in the area. Fly- diatoms (freshwater silica shelled ing insects are what most bats in the Dr. Penny Boston in collabora- algae) viewed in both optical and area eat and with less food, the Carls- tion with Dr. Diana Northup and Mi- electron micrographs, energy disper- bad area has fewer bats. With low bat chael Spilde, both from the University sive X-ray spectra, and X-ray diffrac- populations, fewer bats are looking of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and tion patterns. NCKRI’s geophysical for a new home. Cameron McMillan, Northern Arizo- work at the cave is described on As we wait for rain and bats, na University, Flagstaff, continue to page 5. we’ve found two positive sides to the analyze materials collected during the drought. First, our Bat Roost Re- 2008 and 2009 Naica expeditions to search Committee, comprised of bat Chihuahua, Mexico. biologists Debbie Buecher, Jim Ken- Based on analyses of DNA, the In April, 2013 work resumed on nearest relatives to mi- a survey of karst research, manage- croorganisms found in ment and educational resources with- this remarkable system in the US National Park Service include microbes from (NPS). Dr. Lewis Land is the lead other caves elsewhere in investigator on this NPS-funded pro- the world, volcanic soils, ject, which includes sending a ques- heavy metal environ- tionnaire about karst and pseudokarst ments, and other unique resources to all National Park units settings. The specific, identified as having the potential for unusual properties of the such caves and features within their strains isolated from the boundaries. Identification of these system include extraordi- park units is based in part on GIS data nary resistance to highly derived from the US Geological Sur- osmotic fluids, resistance vey’s National Karst Map project. to high temperatures, June 24 was the deadline for survey high salinity, and high responses, after which NCKRI staff metal contents. will analyze the results.

During fiscal year 2012-2013, In October 2012, Intrepid Pot- NCKRI continued its use of electri- ash Company discovered a small cal resistivity surveys to investigate cave while excavating a pipeline a variety of karst-related phenome- trench in eastern Eddy County, New na. This work makes use of the In- Mexico. The cave extended about stitute’s AGI SuperSting R8/IPTM 1 m below ground level and then resistivity equipment and Topcon opened into a room approximately GR3 global positioning system. 8 m long by 5 m wide, reaching a Resistivity profiles collected with maximum depth of about 10 m. the SuperSting equipment package NCKRI was contracted to conduct a illustrate vertical and lateral varia- series of electrical resistivity sur- tions in subsurface resistivity, and veys of the site to evaluate its stabil- are strongly affected by the pres- ity for further trenching and related ence of air or water-filled conduits. activities. The work was led by Dr. The resistivity method is thus well- Lewis Land and Dianne Joop, with assistance from Intrepid personnel. suited for investigations of karst The surveys successfully im- phenomena. aged the cave and did not find evi-

dence of other large or potentially unstable significant voids in the studied area. The complete results In August 2012, Dr. Land spent Resistivity surveys conducted were published and are available in five days conducting electrical resis- NCKRI’s Report of Investigations 3. tivity surveys at White Sands Nation- during the previous fiscal year suc- cessfully imaged a fault zone adjacent While NCKRI was happy to as- al Monument (WSNM) in the Tula- sist Intrepid Potash Company in rosa Basin, assisted by colleagues to a bedrock outcrop, suggesting that the Jarilla Fault probably occurs sev- maintaining its excellent safety rec- with the New Mexico Bureau of Ge- ord, NCKRI’s special interest in this ology and Mineral Resources eral kilometers farther east than indi- cated on existing surface geologic project was that the cave was formed (NMBGMR). The specific objective entirely in gypsite (compacted gypsif- of these surveys was to more precise- maps. Results of the August 2012 surveys indicate that resistivity survey erous soil), not bedrock. NCKRI’s ly locate the Jarilla Fault. records suggest this may be the first This basin-scale fault has no sur- lines also intersect the Jarilla Fault in an area ~10 km northeast of the elec- electrical resistivity survey in gypsite. face expression but trends from south This survey will be an important addi- trical resistivity surveys conducted to north beneath WSNM and the tion to NCKRI’s geophysical data- during the previous year’s investiga- White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). base for future comparative study. tions. The Jarilla Fault may play an im- This work is funded by the Na- portant role in controlling deep tional Park Service. It is part of a larg- groundwater flow paths in Paleozoic During the winter of 2012-13 er effort by the NMBGMR to charac- carbonate aquifers that underlie sever- Drs. Land and Veni led six electrical terize the groundwater hydrologic al hundred meters of Tertiary basin resistivity surveys of Manhole Cave fill, including the white gypsum systems within WSNM, and deter- in the Guadalupe Mountains, New sands. The position of the fault is only mine the relationship between Mexico, with the help of many excel- roughly known. It is based primarily groundwater and surface water sys- lent volunteers. Manhole is a roughly on airborne gravity surveys conducted tems in that part of the Tularosa Ba- 25-m deep pit in the Seven Rivers several decades ago. sin. Embayment of the Guadalupes, and is thought by many cavers to be a sec- ond entrance to Lechuguilla Cave. Digging in the cave has been ongoing for several years, following airflow through cemented breakdown. Con- ducting electrical resistivity surveys in the area was quite challenging be- cause of the rugged terrain and desert vegetation. Preliminary results suggest that a substantial void is present in the sub- surface a few tens of meters below

publicly accessible (e.g. 30.26, -97.77 versus 30.2639, -97.7781). In addition to deploying the GIS functionality, we are working with colleagues from the US Geological Survey, The Nature Conservancy, and the University of Arkansas to repair and implement an online geospatial database and mapping service called and to the south of the dig. Dr. Land the “Karst Regions of the is developing a three-dimensional The work to complete adding the World” (KROW). The brainchild of model of the survey results using National Speleological Society’s ma- Emily Hollingsworth (formerly a EarthImager 3D software, and will terials to the KIP collections has con- graduate student at the University of present the results in a report to the cluded (with many thanks to Alex Arkansas, working under Dr. Van US Bureau of Land Management. Sproul!). KIP now also has the full Brahana), work on KROW is now NCKRI staff are preparing to conduct run of The Texas Caver (two years proceeding. a microgravity survey of Manhole were missing). Professor Bogdan In addition to these upgrades and Cave in late summer of 2013 to com- Onac of the University of South Flori- new projects, the collection of materi- bine and compare with the ER survey da (USF) obtained permission for KIP als in KIP’s open access library has to better interpret the data. to host all issues of the journal Theo- grown to over 6,700 items and use of retical & Applied Karstology. This KIP continues to increase. necessitates some digitization of is- During the second quarter in sues currently only accessible in print. 2013, Dr. Land began working with a The migration of KIP to a new How much of the world is karst? Scintrex CG-5 gravity meter that platform (Drupal 7.0) was completed. Mapping efforts over the years have NCKRI has on extended loan from A mapping service has been imple- estimated it at 12-25%. NCKRI is the Hoffman Environmental Research mented and is accessible when users now part of an international team, led Institute at Western Kentucky Univer- browse the collection by cave name by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technol- sity. In return for access to the gravity (http://www.karstportal.org/browse). ogy in Germany, to develop a new, meter, Dr. Land will provide training In 2012, USF hired a full time Geo- highly detailed, GIS-based World for WKU staff on use of the instru- spatial Analyst to contribute to this Karst Map. ment when he returns it to them in mapping and other projects associated The International Association of October 2013. with data management and open- Hydrogeologists is funding the karst To date, microgravity surveys access publishing. map, which is being assembled from have been conducted over Parks When users now browse the col- digital national geologic maps and Ranch Cave and additional surveys lection by cave name, spring name, other international karst maps such as are planned for Fort Stanton Cave and karst formation name, and soon, sink- the KROW project described above in Manhole Cave, all in New Mexico. hole name or designation, they re- the KIP report. The mapping team is These surveys will occur along elec- trieve a record that provides a Google also collecting information on major trical resistivity surveys previously -style map locating the feature, a de- caves, karst springs, and wells; conducted at those sites. scription of the feature, and a list of NCKRI is taking the lead on North resources in KIP that contain content America and the Caribbean. A paper concerning the feature. map will be produced from this pro- This is the first of four phases of ject, which will also be digitally avail- development that will conclude with a able in a form that can be easily up- geographic interface through which dated. KIP users can access KIP’s virtual library. It is a complicated process and innovative plan with no known model to draw from. To protect site locations, we are limiting the geospatial precision of feature locations to that which is either: 1) publicly available via a web search in the case where loca- tions are described, or 2) two deci- mal places when locations are not

Actun (Mayan for “cave”) Kaua Last year Dr. Land published a is located under the town of Kaua in map of the regional water table in the north-central Yucatan, Mexico. It is a southern Sacramento Mountains, New 10.4-km long complex maze, with Mexico. Extending that mapping far- many of its larger passages containing ther west, this year Dr. Land complet- potsherds and drawings from the an- ed a map of the water table on the cient Maya. Parts of the maze contain west flank of the mountains and east- more than 1 km of passage per 100 ern Tularosa Basin, in collaboration m2 area—the highest density of pas- with colleagues from the New Mexico sages known in the world. Dr. Veni Bureau of Geology and Mineral Re- was part of the team that was survey- sources (NMBGMR). The hydrologic ing and studying this cave, but work setting in this area is much more com- on the project was put on hold since plex than in the southern Sacramen- his last trip in January 2003. tos, with multiple karstic and non- While in Cancun, Mexico, teach- karstic aquifers in a variety of rock ing a workshop in September 2012, types including volcanics. That map Dr. Veni returned to the cave with Many questions remain about will be published as an NMBGMR members of Grupo Espeleológico Actun Kaua. Its full extent is not Open File Report. Ajau from the city of Merida. NCKRI known. Its mode of origin is unusual, sponsored some of the expedition and potentially geologically unique. costs with funds earned from the The cave’s use by the ancient Maya workshop. About 100 m of survey and the meaning of the drawings is Dr. Boston completed the fourth were added to the cave during their uncertain. The known limits of an- and final year of this project, yielding short visit. The main goals of the trip cient Maya activity extend to near the a unique, tunable acousto-optical laser were to reestablish ties with the town explored limits of the cave. The an- spectrometer. The instrument was lab- mayor and police, who are happy to cient Maya have proven capable of tested and integrated with a time-of- see continued work at the cave, and exploring long distances into caves. flight mass spectrometer at Goddard assess the cave and current local lo- They could have penetrated consider- Spaceflight Center in late 2012. Plans gistics for future, more substantial ably further, which additional explo- for deployment of the small field unit study when greater funding and spon- ration and study will determine. are underway in caves in New Mexi- sorship are available. co in the summer of 2013. She collab- orated with Dr. Nancy Chanover and Dr. Dave Voelz at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces.

Dr. Boston completed the first year of another collaboration with Dr. Nancy Chanover at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, and Scott Halliday at Navajo Technical College (NTC), Crownpoint, New Mexico, to produce the fully worka- ble field unit of the acousto-optical spectrometer described above. Addi- tionally, they are producing physical models of cave wall textures using LiDAR (laser) mapping and rapid- prototyping technology at NTC. They are using the physical models to in- vestigate microbiological, mineralogi- cal, and micrometeorological proper- ties of cave walls at small scales.

and show cave managers. The work- This year NCKRI’s Education shop also included 10 papers by region- Director, Dianne Joop, conducted a al experts and a roundtable discussion series of Environmental Education on the karst hydrogeology and manage- presentations for our local partners: ment of the Yucatan aquifer. Carlsbad Public Library, Nana’s Fire and Safety School, and Carlsbad Cav- erns National Park. Three hundred and eleven participants crawled their way through manmade caves, prac- ticed echolocation, modeled ground- water flow, and crafted bats and water cycle bracelets.

The summer education program was made possible through a grant provided by Outdoor Nation.

Dr. Veni travelled to Cancun, Mexico, to teach the workshop, Envi- ronmental Impacts and Management of Karst Systems. The workshop was The focus for the Education Pro- hosted by Los Amigos de Sian Ka’an gram this year was web development and sponsored by multiple organiza- and graphic design, where Dianne tions. Over 100 participants joined the Joop put her creative talents to use! two-day event, including governmen- She developed websites, graphics, tal, private, and non-profit geologists, and other materials for conferences biologists, environmental scientists, being hosted by NCKRI.

Dianne Joop conducted a week- long program for Sinkhole Confer- ence guests, providing interpretive tours to local cultural and natural re- sources including Sitting Bull Falls USFS recreation site, Bottomless Lakes State Park, UFO Museum, Carlsbad Museum & Art Center, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

Cave and Karst Studies at New Mexico Tech (NMT) is NCKRI’s aca- demic program and taught through NMT’s Earth and Environmental Sci- ences Department. A variety of regu- lar courses and special topics are taught by Dr. Penelope Boston on a rotating 2-year frequency, several in collaboration with other faculty. Researchers and students of the Cave and Karst Studies program are engaged in excellent and exciting research with new and continuing projects, setting a very high academic and research standard at NMT.

Laura Rosales Lagarde, former PhD student, graduated in fall 2012, and is currently doing a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. M. Lachniet, Uni- versity of Nevada, Las Vegas, work- ing on climate signals in speleothems in Mexican caves. Land Management. These data are Lavafield lava tubes in the Mojave being compared to cave muds from Desert, California, which is managed Aaron Curtis, PhD Student, Geol- US Forest Service caves in the Gua- by the Bureau of Land Management. ogy, is in his final year of studying dalupe Mountains of New Mexico. ice samples from Antarctica obtained during previous field seasons as part Sam Rochelle, BS student, Phys- of his work on the physical and bio- Hilary Kelly, MS/PhD Student, ics Major, Earth Science Minor, con- logical dynamics of fumarolic ice Geology, completed her first year at tinues work on a research project in caves and towers on Erebus Volcano. New Mexico Tech. She completed a Black Cave, Hidden Cave, and Cot- He will be returning to Antarctica for five week intensive summer field tonwood Cave in the Guadalupe a fifth and final field season in No- course, Geobiology 2013, sponsored Mountains of New Mexico. Sam is vember 2013. by the Agouron Institute and the characterizing distinctive dark coat- Moore Foundation. Kelly’s research ings and banding in speleothems and centers on a pilot field study in col- on surfaces in Black Cave and using Kristina Daisy Morgan-Edel, MS laboration with Navajo Technical the other caves as control cases. He is Student, Hydrology, is on track to College. She is using 3-dimensional also conducting laboratory tests of graduate in December 2013. She has replicas of lava tube walls, both with some of the basic transport mecha- developed cutting edge procedures to and without significant visible micro- nisms that might bring black particu- search for biological materials and bial/mineral deposits, in order to late materials into these caves. He is climatically significant geochemical study them in the laboratory. The attempting to explain how such color- signals from surface sources from field sites are at El Malpais National ation came to be present and what flooding events in Snowy River, Fort Monument, Grants, New Mexico, role it may have played in the history Stanton Cave, New Mexico. This which is administered by the National of these caves, which are managed by cave is managed by the Bureau of Park Service, and at the Pisgah the US Forest Service.

NCKRI’s Advancement Office was established to position, support, NCKRI’s Adopt-A-Bat program and advance NCKRI’s mission continues to grow and helps raise through membership, fundraising, funds for the maintenance and equip- news and communication, marketing, ment needed for our bat roost. community relations, and special NCKRI’s Headquarters is the first events. building in the world with a bat roost In August of 2012, Suzanna Lan- intentionally incorporated into its gowski was brought on as NCKRI’s design! Once it is occupied, you will new Advancement Director. Suzanna be able to watch the bats on our web- came to NCKRI after several years of site and in one of our future museum experience building resource manage- exhibits! Each adoption is only $25 ment programs for large land holding and includes a Certificate of Adop- agencies throughout the USA. Below tion, educational information about are reports of some of her activities NCKRI’s Annual Membership bats and our bat roost, and your very during her first year at NCKRI. In program is offered to all interested own “Barty the Bat”. Sorry, you do addition, she has focused on complet- people who want to support NCKRI not receive a live bat. For more infor- ing the administrative foundation nec- activities. You can join online at mation and to adopt a bat, go to essary for NCKRI to have a fully ef- www.nckri.org or call the Advance- www.nckri.org or call us at 575-628- fective advancement program. ment Office at 575-628-2702. 2702. When you become a member, Additional information about you will receive a quarterly digital NCKRI’s bat roost and it research newsletter, reduced rates on special program are in an article on page 3. presentations, classes, lectures, and Like many cities, Carlsbad col- facility rentals, as well as discounts in lects an occupancy tax of 5% on NCKRI’s Museum Store. “gross taxable rent” from hotels, mo- tels, or other premises used for lodg- ing of tourists. Businesses and organi- zations may apply for Lodgers Tax With the installation of the new funds in support of special events, AV system, NCKRI’s conference advertising, and promoting tourist- space is now fully ready to host con- related attractions and facilities. ferences, meetings, training, and other NCKRI applied for and received activities. During the past year it has a $25,949.35 grant from the City of been increasingly rented by a wide NCKRI recognizes four levels of Carlsbad for a professional audio- variety of organizations looking for a partnership and uses their descriptions visual system for use in the Head- versatile and professional meeting below in defining its relationships quarters’ professional conference facility in the heart of Carlsbad. with NCKRI partners: space. The system includes two ceil- NCKRI also rents for parties and oth- ing mounted projectors (one is a 3D er fun and less formal events. All projector), sound system, BluRay funds from the rentals go to support NCKRI’s Founding Partners player with WiFi and hard-wired In- and build NCKRI and its programs. played a crucial role in the creation of ternet access, high-definition wall- For more information, contact us at the Institute and continue to serve as mounted projection screens in each [email protected] or by calling 575-887 major supporting partners. Each room that are suitable for both 2D and -5518. Founding Partner maintains one per- 3D images, and a few dozen profes- manent position on NCKRI’s Board sional grade 3D glasses. In addition to of Directors: use during conferences and meetings, Follow us on Facebook at https:// City of Carlsbad the new system allows projection of www.facebook.com/NCKRI?ref=hl New Mexico Institute of Mining 3D movies for entertainment and will and keep up-to-date with all kinds of and Technology support NCKRI’s educational pro- cave and karst news! US National Park Service gramming.

coupons and bargains that can save Organizations with formally de- Individuals and organizations you money! fined mutually supportive relation- that have paid annual dues to NCKRI ships with NCKRI through Memoran- and receive the rights and benefits da of Agreement, Memoranda of Un- described in Section III of the most Private gifts support the mission derstanding, contracts, or other writ- current version of NCKRI’s Bylaws, of the National Cave and Karst Re- ten and signed agreements that are in and as elaborated on in the most cur- search Institute. Your contributions effect for periods of at least one year rent version of associated member- enhance programs, provide for excel- and which define each party’s specific ship documents found at lence in staff, and support research roles and responsibilities: www.nckri.org. programs. Thank you for your gener- American Geosciences Institute osity and making NCKRI a priority in Emil Racovita Institute of your charitable giving choices! Speleology Many of our programs and pro- Geological Society of America jects rely on the help of our fantastic Hoffman Environmental volunteers. We would like to thank At the National Cave and Karst Re- Research Institute/Western the following individuals for support- search Institute, every gift makes a Kentucky University ing NCKRI through their volunteer big difference. Through Annual Giv- Instituto do Carste efforts: ing, donors and friends support the International Academy of Bonny Armstrong areas of greatest need. The annual Karst Sciences Tom Bemis fund is the cornerstone of our fund- International Union of Speleology John Burke raising program, and is used to sup- Karst Research Institute John W. Burke port scholarships, equipment, facili- Ukrainian Institute of Speleology Pam Cox ties, research, and exhibit develop- and Karstology Matt Dollar ment. By making gifts, our supporters US Forest Service Jennifer Foote demonstrate their regard for the Na- University of New Mexico Clay Gates tional Cave and Karst Research Insti- University of South Florida Andrea Goodbar tute and its mission. Andrew Goodbar Jim Goodbar Give Online: The simplest way to Organizations that have demon- Larry Henderson give. Visit www.nckri.org to make strated meaningful support for Aubrey Jenson your gift. NCKRI and its goals, or their intent to Mark Joop Give by telephone with a credit do so, but without a formal defining Chase Kicker card: Call our Advancement Office agreement. NCKRI Affiliates are ap- Dwayne Kicker at 575-628-2702 and we will assist proved by the NCKRI Board of Di- Tom Langowski you in making your gift. rectors. NCKRI and its Affiliates ex- Sean Lewis Give through the mail: Use the con- change news and information as Santana McPherson-Ward tribution envelope included in your available, and they seek to coordinate Larry Pardue printed Annual Report to make your and/or cooperate with each other in Michael Queen gift, or send it to us at, National Cave projects and activities. Each organiza- Aaron Stockton and Karst Research Institute, 400-1 tion below may also extend other ben- Jason Walz Cascades Avenue, Carlsbad, NM efits according to their internal rules Tami Walz 88220-6215. and abilities: ADM Exploration Foundation Bat Conservation International Please help raise funds and sup- NCKRI’s Legacy Cavers are Carlsbad Municipal Schools port for NCKRI by searching the In- donors who have chosen to make a Edwards Aquifer Authority ternet and shopping online through planned or deferred gift through their Fort Stanton Cave Study Project www.goodsearch.com and estate planning that will have an ever- Karst Waters Institute www.goodshop.com. Register lasting impact on the organization. National Speleological Society NCKRI as the organization you sup- Planned or deferred gifts include: National Aeronautics and port, and each GoodSearch will result bequest through a will, charitable gift Space Administration in a small donation to NCKRI and a annuity, charitable remainder trust, New Mexico Bureau of Geology percentage of your GoodShop pur- charitable lead trust, and gift of life and Mineral Resources chases will automatically go to insurance, real estate or other assets. US Bureau of Land Management NCKRI at no extra expense or hassle Gifts such as this not only help US Fish and Wildlife Service for you. GoodShop also has many NCKRI, but also help provide the US Geological Survey

donor with additional income, convert Albertson’s Market Dale Pate and Paula Bauer low income assets to higher income Dr. E. Calvin Alexander PELA GeoEnvironmental assets, help care for your surviving Connie Campbell-Brashear Dr. Michael Queen family members, avoid long-term Dr. Robert Brinkmann Leonard Runner capital gains tax, reduce your estate Jessica Buckles Geary Schindel taxes, and generate income tax deduc- Lynda Burd Dr. Lindsey Schuyler tions. Carlsbad Community Foundation Dr. Patricia Seiser The NCKRI Advancement staff Richard Cervantes Larry Shore will work with you in arranging prop- City of Carlsbad Susan Lee D. Stevens er forms or recognition that reflects Sandra Cosand Heather Tuček your personal gift’s purpose and your Harvey DuChene Dr. George Veni preferences. Your gift may also be Earth and Water Resources, LLC WalMart given anonymously. For tax purposes, Edwards Aquifer Authority David Weary the National Cave and Karst Research Edwards Aquifer/Barton Springs Estate of William L. Wilson Institute is a 501(c)(3) with a tax- Conservation District exempt ID: 42-1741207. The National Flight 33 Productions Cave and Karst Research Institute has Dr. Derek Ford It is always difficult to distin- not retained any professional solicitor Garden Mart guish certain gifts among the many, and 100% of each contribution is re- GoodSearch.com but this year’s contributions to ceived directly by NCKRI. For more Dr. Ronald Green NCKRI’s library deserve special information on leaving a legacy, Illinois State Geological Survey mention. Generous gifts were made please call our Advancement Office at Larry and Signe Henderson by Dr. Derek Ford, Dr. Patricia Seis- 575-628-2702. Katrina Henry er, Lee Stevens, and the Estate of Intrepid Potash William L. Wilson. The Ford and Johanna Kovarik Wilson collections were especially Scholarship support is one of the Scotia Kurowski large and filled important gaps in the most important ways to impact the Suzanna Langowski international and hydrogeological lives of students. There are several David Lester sections of NCKRI’s growing library. ways to support student scholarships Santana McPherson-Ward With the Wilson collection coming at the National Cave and Karst Re- Hazel and Doug Medville from Florida, it was first scanned into search Institute: Scott Nyhof the Karst Information Portal at the  Through NCKRI’s Annual Giving Outdoor Nation University of South Florida. program  By making a gift to an existing scholarship fund  By creating a new scholarship fund  By donating to NCKRI’s Endow- ment Fund that is managed and invested by the New Mexico Insti- tute of Mining and Technology’s NMT Foundation You can designate your program of choice and name the scholarship fund in memory or honor of someone. We would be happy to talk with you about your ideas, so please call our Advancement Office at 575-628- 2702.

Our Annual Giving Program recog- nizes those individuals and corpora- tions who made gifts or pledges dur- ing FY 2012-2013 in support of NCKRI programs:

Workshops, symposia, meetings, congresses, and conferences all serve as focused events that are vital to ful- filling NCKRI’s diverse mission. NCKRI has hosted, or will host, three events in calendar year 2013, two in 2014, and has at least one a year planned for 2015 through 2019. Below are descriptions of conferences held during the year of this report and those planned through 2014. For more infor- mation and to register for these upcom- ing events, visit www.nckri.org.

On January 7-11, 2013, the Karst Waters Institute held its most recent conference at NCKRI Headquarters. It was co-organized by NCKRI and in cooperation with Karst Research In- stitute (KRI) of Slovenia. This meet- included an opening reception, clos- tion of the Pecos Valley evaporite ing attracted a highly specialized ing banquet, field trip to Carlsbad karst, a 650-m descent into the transu- group of about 50 scientists from Cavern, and many opportunities for ranic waste repository of the Waste eight countries. They presented 47 networking and comparing notes on Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a geo- papers on the changes in inorganic the latest advances in karst science. logical tour of Carlsbad Cavern, and a and organic carbon between the sur- variety of shopping and tourist trips face and subsurface in karst systems. throughout the region. The 480-page The papers will be published in an proceedings are available for free upcoming special issue of KRI’s jour- download from the NCKRI website, nal Acta Carsologica. The conference the Karst Information Portal, and www.sinkholeconference.com where Since 1984, “The Sinkhole Con- information on the upcoming 2015 ference” series has been among the Sinkhole Conference in Rochester, most significant in creating a better Minnesota is posted. understanding of karst processes that result in environmental problems. Now under NCKRI’s management, on May 6- 10, 2013, it attracted 113 people from eight coun- tries. The conference’s 52 papers highlighted effec- tive methods to identify karst impacts before they occur, prevent them from occurring, and remediate them when they do occur. In addition to many social activities, field trips in- cluded a detailed examina-

The Karst Interest Group (KIG) The International Workshop on meets roughly every three years to Ice Caves (IWIC) is a series of work- encourage and support interdiscipli- shops devoted entirely to ice cave nary collaboration and technology research. IWIC is the only conference transfer among US Geological Survey focused on state-of-the-art ice cave (USGS) scientists working in karst research, where international experts areas. The KIG also encourages coop- discuss ongoing research efforts and The National Cave and Karst erative studies between the USGS and promote global cooperation in ice Management Symposium (NCKMS) other Department of Interior agencies, cave science and management. IWIC and with university researchers and is a conference of the Glacier, Firn, is the world’s longest-running confer- th ence series on cave and karst manage- research institutes. This 6 KIG and Ice Caves Commission of the ment issues. It began in New Mexico Meeting will be held at NCKRI Head- International Union of Speleology. in 1975 and will return for its 20th quarters on April 28 - May 2, 2014. IWIC-VI is being hosted by NCKRI meeting on November 4-8, 2013 in As the westernmost KIG, the field trip on August 17-22, 2014, in Idaho Carlsbad. NCKRI will host this and probably many of the papers will Falls, Idaho. This will be the first NCKMS in close partnership with the focus on arid and evaporite karst hy- IWIC held outside of Europe. Bureau of Land Management, the drogeology, and the special research National Park Service, and the US and management challenges posed by Forest Service. those environments. “NCKMS: A Changing Climate” reflects this symposium’s theme, not just on how climate change is or might impact caves and karst systems, but the changing attitudes, laws, fund- ing sources, and other factors which are crucial to cave and karst manage- ment. In addition to the usual array of papers, a diverse mix of four work- shops and four field trips will be of- fered. NCKRI will also host two nation- al board meetings in association with NCKMS. The Cave Research Foun- dation’s Board of Directors will meet immediately before the symposium and the National Speleological Socie- ty’s Board of Governors will meet immediately afterward.

NCKRI formally defined its part- nership categories this year and has begun reaching out to establish formal partnerships with several agencies and organizations. One was complet- ed, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Forest Service. The purpose of the MOU is broad. It defines the general relationship and intent to work together when possible for mutual benefit and the advance- ment of cave and karst science, edu- cation, and management. It also serves as the foundation for develop- ing agreements for specific joint pro- jects. We look forward to working with the US Forest Service for many years to come. A couple of years ago NCKRI teamed with Engineers Without Bor- ders (EWB) on a field project that solved a karst flooding problem in north-central Guatemala. EWB con-  13th Multidisciplinary Conference  Caves and astrobiology for Fresh- tinues to work with NCKRI, this year on Sinkholes and the Engineering man Honors program, University of getting hydrogeological advice on and Environmental Impacts of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New safely developing a sanitation system Karst; Carlsbad, New Mexico. Mexico. for the village of Ak' Tenamit in a  Carbon and Boundaries in Karst  Caves in New Mexico, caves in the karst area of eastern Guatemala. Symposium; Carlsbad, New Mexico. Solar System. Summer Sciences NCKRI is proud to work with human-  Geological Society of America program, New Mexico Tech, So- itarian organizations like EWB to Convention; Minneapolis, Minne- corro, New Mexico. solve karst challenges wherever they sota.  Caves in New Mexico and the occur.  Geological Society of America World: a primer for docents. Do- Tragic sinkhole collapses were Regional meeting; Albuquerque, cent Training Class, New Mexico featured in the national news this New Mexico. Museum of Natural History and year. As a result, NCKRI sponsored a Science. congressional briefing on sinkholes  Chemotrophy meets heterotrophy: with the American Geosciences Insti- Drs. Boston, Land, and Veni the inverted critical zone of the tute, Association of American State were invited to give the following subsurface. Boundaries and Carbon Geologists, and Association of Envi- presentations and lectures: in Karst, Karst Waters Institute and ronmental and Engineering Geolo-  Acid metal rock: the music of the NCKRI sponsored conference, gists. The April 2013 briefing was subsurface geomicrobes. Geobiology Carlsbad, New Mexico. conducted in cooperation with Repre- Gordon Conference, Ventura, Cali-  Electrical resistivity surveys of a sentative Steve Southerland from potential sinkhole collapse site in a nd fornia. Florida’s 2 District. NCKRI was  BatsLive! US Forest Service webi- densely populated area: Carlsbad, represented by Board Director David nar. New Mexico. New Mexico Tech Weary at the Washington, DC event.  Big Manhole Cave geophysical Earth and Environmental Sciences research: status report. Southwest- seminar; Los Alamos Geological ern Region of the National Speleo- Society talk. NCKRI attended, sponsored and/ logical Society’s Winter Technical  Exploration Science, English 389, or had a booth at the following con- Meeting, Albuquerque, New Mexi- Communication for University Stu- ferences during the past year: co. dents.

 Freshmen, fear, and fortune, and  The global cave wilderness: our un- coevolution of life and minerals. Nat- derground world heritage. Center for Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Emeritus ural Science Foundation Cutting International Studies, Albuquerque, Scientist of the Oklahoma Geological Edge Teaching Workshop. University New Mexico. Survey, presented Salt dissolution and of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New  The National Cave and Karst Re- sinkholes in west Texas and southeast Mexico. search Institute: from inner space to New Mexico on May 6, 2013. With  Humor in presentations. Science and outer space. Edwards Aquifer Au- sinkholes being very much in the news Communications class, University of thority Brownbag Luncheon Lecture this spring and the potential of a major New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Series, San Antonio, Texas; Interna- sinkhole developing in Carlsbad, this Mexico. tional Good Neighbor Council, Carls- talk was especially well attended.  Hydrogeologic controls on the evolu- bad, New Mexico. tion of the Edwards Plateau Karst,  Titanic: a personal journey. Ameri- Texas, USA. Karlsruhe Karst Lecturer can Association of University Wom- NCKRI co-sponsors the Edwards 4, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, en, Socorro, New Mexico; New Mex- Aquifer Authority’s Distinguished Lec- Karlsruhe, Germany. ico Museum of Natural History and ture Series in San Antonio, Texas. This  Lunar lava tubes: science, shelter, Science, Albuquerque, New Mexico. year Dr. John “Jack” Sharp spoke on habitat. National Space Society Lu- Groundwater—Texas style: understand- nar Conference, Pasadena, California. ing and utilizing geology, hydrology,  Mine caves of Sardinia, New Mexico and environmental concern for ground- Tech Cave Club Grotto. water resources in a place of critical  Natural cavities and drilling. Extra- socioeconomics, law, and politics in terrestrial Drilling Workshop, God- June 2013. dard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.  New Mexico to Mars: magnificent Dr. Penelope Boston: caves and the extremophiles that call  Attended the NASA Planetary Protec- them home. New Mexico Museum of tion Subcommittee, December 17-20, Natural History and Science, Albu- 2012. NASA Headquarters, Washing- querque, New Mexico. ton, DC.  Overview of the First International  Attended the NASA Innovative Ad- Planetary Caves Workshop. Mars vanced Concepts External Council Exploration Program Analysis Group. meetings, November 13-16, 2012. NASA. Norfolk, Virginia; March 12-14,  Panel on science on Mars. Panel on 2013, Chicago, Illinois. agriculture on Mars. Evening panel  Participated in the Astrobiology on where to look for life on Mars. Roadmapping for the Next Decade. Humans to Mars Conference, George Astrobiology Meeting of Experts, Washington University, Washington, NASA Wallop’s Island Flight Facili- DC. ty, Virginia.  Regional investigations of groundwa-  Why we live where we live: the im- Dr. George Veni: ter residence time using multiple pact of karstic water resources on  Continued his three-year appointment tracers: Southern Sacramento Moun- settlement patterns in southeastern by the Secretary of the US Depart- tains and Roswell Artesian Basin, New Mexico. An introductory earth ment of the Interior to serve on the New Mexico. New Mexico Tech science course at New Mexico State Resource Advisory Council for the Earth and Environmental Sciences University-Carlsbad. Bureau of Land Management’s Pecos seminar. District. The council meets 2-4 times  Return to the Mayan maze: Actun Dr. Veni also organized or co- a year to collect and analyze infor- Kaua. Southwest Region of the Na- organized the following events: mation, make field observations, hear tional Speleological Society’s, Winter  Served as a Scientific Committee public comments and develop recom- Technical Meeting, Albuquerque, member of the International Work- mendations for the Bureau. New Mexico; Bexar Grotto, San An- shop on Ice in Caves V, Barzio and  Continues his service on the Aquifer tonio, Texas. Milan, Italy, September 2012. Science Advisory Panel of the Ed-  The giant crystals and tiny microbes  Co-led a field trip into Carlsbad Cav- wards Aquifer Authority (EAA). The of Naica. Student Science Symposi- ern for the Society of Environmental panel meets about twice a year in San um, University of New Mexico, Gal- Journalists Conference, October Antonio, Texas, to review active and lup, New Mexico. 2012.

proposed EAA research and manage- exploration, and cave research is wel- ment programs. come to attend.  Was invited to represent NCKRI as a member of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s White-Nose Syndrome Dr. Penelope Boston: Stakeholder Committee.  Was interviewed by BBC Radio on The Board met in Charlotte, North Carolina in November 2012 and at Served as an independent reviewer of Mars exploration.  NCKRI Headquarters in May 2013. The plans and decisions proposed by the  Was interviewed by CBS Saturday Board also met via telephone in August US Fish and Wildlife Service for en- Morning on the Mars Curiosity and had an on-line vote in January. dangered karst species and karst spe- lander, life in the Mars subsurface. cies proposed for endangered listing.  Took part in the Carlsbad Caverns film shoot for National Park Service.  Served as technical advisor for Tex-  Revisions were made to the By-Laws Dr. Lewis Land: as’ Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance updating election procedures, term Low Impact Development Manual for  Was interviewed by the Carlsbad limits, and membership classes. urban development over the karstic Current-Argus, CNN, and National  Memoranda of Understanding were Edwards Aquifer. Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation signed with the International Acade- about sinkholes, their origins, and my of Karst Sciences and the US For- risks to public. est Service. Suzanna Langowski: NCKRI staff:  The Board decided to free additional  Was the weekly featured interview in money from the reserve fund to be  Provided annual briefings on NCKRI Vamanos! Magazine, Carlsbad Cur- used for fund raising; the reserve fund to the Carlsbad City Council and Ed- rent-Argus and Ruidoso News. will contain six months of operating dy County Commissioners. Dr. George Veni: expenses.  Participated in the Carlsbad Chamber  Was interviewed multiple times about  New officers were elected this spring: of Commerce’s annual Bat Brigade. how an endangered species of blind Robert Brinkmann (NY), Chairman This delegation of community leaders cave spider, named in his honor 21 of the Board; Geary Schindel (TX), visits leaders of New Mexico govern- years earlier, might affect construc- Vice Chairman, and Jesse Richardson ment at the state capitol to raise their tion of a highway in Texas. (WV), Executive Committee Member awareness and support for issues in  Gave interviews to the British Broad- -at-Large. the City of Carlsbad and Eddy Coun- casting Corporation, Carlsbad Cur-  Paula Dye (FL) retired from the board ty. rent-Argus, and the How To Do Eve- and Jack Swickard (NM) was elected  Celebrated their seventh year of part- rything podcast about sinkholes, their to replace her. nership with the Bureau of Land origins, and risks to the public. Management, National Park Service,  Was the weekly featured interview in and National Forest Service in Relay Vamanos! Magazine, Carlsbad Cur- for Life, a nationwide campaign to rent-Argus and Ruidoso News. raise awareness and funds to fight  Wrote two commentaries for the cancer. Carlsbad Current-Argus, updating the  Regularly attended board meetings of public on NCKRI and the status of a the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, potential sinkhole that may form in and its Government Affairs and Tour- town. ism Committees, Carlsbad Depart-  Was interviewed by the Carlsbad ment of Development and its Cas- Current-Argus about the Carbon and cades Committee, and participated in Boundaries in Karst Symposium that groundbreakings and related activities NCKRI hosted in January 2013. supporting new businesses and com-  Gave an interview to the Pecos Enter- munity leaders. prise newspaper on NCKRI’s dye tracing study in Balmorhea, Texas  Participated in the annual Carlsbad (see page 2 for details). Chamber of Commerce Business  Consulted and was filmed for The Fair. Weather Channel’s Secrets of the  NCKRI hosts the monthly meetings Earth series for the episode Strangest of the Pecos Valley Grotto of the Na- Places that features Caverns of Sono- tional Speleological Society on the ra, Texas. The episode is scheduled third Thursday of each month at 7 for broadcast in Summer 2013. p.m. Anyone interested in caves, cave

tivities at NCKRI. Calvin is a Professor in the Earth Sci- ences Department at the University of Member since 2005, Chairman 2006- Minnesota, Minneapolis. He serves 2013, Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics Member since October 2011; perma- on the Board of the Deep Portage and Computer Science. Hazel is a nent position appointed by the Mayor Learning Center. He is a Fellow of retired Computer Engineer/Manager of Carlsbad, New Mexico; Bachelor’s the National Speleological Society. who now spends much of her time Degree in Business Administration. Calvin works on many aspects of surveying caves in Hawaii and Colo- Anna has over 26 years of experience karst hydrogeology and the impacts of rado. She was the President Pro-Tem in fiscal management, 24 of those human activities, particularly agricul- and Government Liaison for the Na- with the City of Carlsbad. As the ture, on karst systems and vise versa, tional Speleological Society, the City’s Project Administrator, Anna the limits that karst systems place on Technical Program Chairman for the oversees capital improvements, grant sustainable agriculture and other hu- 15th International Congress of Spele- administration, project management, man activities. ology, and is currently the Director of and fiscal administration, Anna was the West Virginia and Hawaii Speleo- instrumental in the construction and logical Surveys. In 2003, Hazel was funding of NCKRI Headquarters and Member since October 2011; Bache- honored to receive the William J. continues to support NCKRI. lor’s and Master’s degrees in Geogra- Stephenson Outstanding Service phy. Paula is the Strategic Planning Award from the National Speleologi- Manager for Tampa Bay Water. She cal Society in recognition of her long Member since January 2009; perma- has been with the agency since 1997, term contributions to the society. nent position representing the Nation- and manages the agency’s long-term al Park Service (NPS); Bachelor’s water supply planning program, Degree in Geology, Master’s Degree serves as liaison with local and re- in Environmental Systems/Applied gional government planning officials, Member since May 2010; Bachelor’s Geology. Dave is the NPS Geologic and directs the its outside funding and and Master’s degrees in Geology, Resources Division Chief. One of his legislative program. She is a member PhD in Geography. Professor and responsibilities is oversight and sup- of the American Planning Association Director of Sustainability Studies at port of the Service-wide cave and and the American Water Works Asso- Hofstra University and the Director of karst resource management program. ciation. Paula obtained her member- Sustainability Research at the Nation- ship in the American Institute of Cer- al Center for Suburban Studies. Bob tified Planners (AICP) in 1998. works on many karst issues, particu- Member since 2005; Member at larly karst policy, urban karst, envi- Large of the Executive Committee ronmental sustainability, and geomor- 2005-2012; PhD in Geology. He is Charter board member; Bachelor’s phology. He recently authored the the Executive Director of the Geolog- Degree in Park and Recreation Man- book, Florida Sinkholes: Science and ical Society of America (GSA). Prior agement; graduate studies in cave and Policy. to joining GSA in 2001, he was Exec- utive Director of the Division of Hy- drologic Sciences and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Desert Member since 2005; permanent posi- Research Institute in Nevada. He tion representing New Mexico Tech serves on the boards of the Karst Wa- (NMT); Master’s Degree in Account- ters Institute and Longs Peak Council ing and Information Systems, and is of the Boy Scouts of America, as well also a CPA. Richard is NMT’s Asso- as NCKRI. He is a Fellow of GSA, ciate Vice President of Research and the National Speleological Society, Economic Development. He is re- and the Cave Research Foundation. sponsible for administrative affairs including budget preparation, fiscal and project management, proposal Member since October 2011; Bache- development and contract negotiation, lor’s Degree and PhD in Chemistry. and provides oversight for those ac-

karst resources, geology, and geomor- and a commercial pilot license. phology. Jim works in Carlsbad for the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as the Senior Cave and Karst Member from 2000-2002; 2006 to Resources Specialist with the Wash- present. Bachelor’s Degree in Geog- ington Office. He serves as BLM raphy. Dale served as the Cave Spe- New Mexico State Cave Coordinator cialist for Carlsbad Caverns National and Senior Cave and Karst Specialist Park from July 1991 through June Dr. Veni is an internationally for the BLM Pecos District and the 2012, becoming the National Cave recognized cave and karst hydrogeol- Carlsbad Office. His primary respon- and Karst Program Coordinator for ogist. Prior to NCKRI, he owned and sibilities: establish policy and provide the National Park Service within the served as principal investigator of guidance on cave/karst resource man- Geologic Resource Division begin- George Veni and Associates for over agement to all BLM offices, serve as ning in July 2012. 20 years. He has conducted karst re- the international point of contact for search throughout the United States all cave/karst related issues and re- and in several other countries. His quests for assistance, develop and administrative work includes serving conduct training for cave/karst re- Member since May 2010, Executive as the Executive Secretary of the Na- sources, and develop best manage- Committee Member-at-Large since tional Speleological Society’s Section ment practices for land use in karst. 2012; Bachelor’s and Master’s De- of Cave Geology and Geography for grees in Agricultural and Applied 11 years, President of the Texas Spe- Economics from Virginia Tech; Juris leological Survey for 13 years, Ad- Member since 2007; Bachelor’s in Doctor from the University of Virgin- junct Secretary of the International Industrial Engineering; Bachelor’s in ia School of Law; Jesse is the Lead Union of Speleology (UIS) from 2002 Geology; Master’s in Geophysics; Land Use Attorney at the Land Use -2009, and UIS Vice President of PhD in Hydrology. Ron is a hydroge- and Sustainable Development Law Administration since 2009. He has ologist with the Southwest Research Clinic, West Virginia University. served as a committee member of Institute, San Antonio, Texas, where geological, geographical, and biologi- much of his work focuses on karst cal dissertations at The University of aquifers. Texas and Harokopio University Member since 2004; Bachelor’s De- (Greece), and taught karst geoscienc- gree in Geology and a Master’s De- es courses for Western Kentucky Uni- gree in Geography. Geary is the Chief versity for 12 years. He has published Member since May 2012; Master’s Technical Officer of the Edwards and presented over 190 papers and Degree in Business Administration. Aquifer Authority in San Antonio, five books, on hydrogeology, biology, Dave has spent over 3 decades found- Texas, and directs the Aquifer Sci- and environmental management in ing, building, and operating success- ence Research Program. The Edwards karst. ful entrepreneurial companies and Aquifer is a major karst aquifer that guiding non-profit organizations. As a provides water to more than 1.7 mil- principal and chief officer, he has lion people in south-central Texas. managed two public offerings and served as president, executive VP, board member, secretary, treasurer Member since June 2009, Bachelor’s and chief financial officer of Degree in Geology from George Ma- NASDAQ traded public companies. son University, Master’s in Geology He was an advisor during the found- from Virginia Tech. He has worked ing and early years of NCKRI. Dave for the US Geological Survey is a Fellow of the National Speleolog- (USGS) in Reston, Virginia, since ical Society (NSS), has served on its 1988; represents USGS on the Board, and co-chaired and chaired its NCKRI Board. A research geologist, 1996 and 2011 conventions. He has he is Chief of the USGS KARST Pro- been actively involved in cave and ject, which includes hydrogeologic karst research and exploration in the studies and geologic mapping in the Missouri Ozarks and Shenandoah US and internationally, including Na- Valley of the Virginias, and work on tional Geographic and NSS sponsored the new national karst map in cooper- projects. He holds issued and pending ation with NCKRI and the National United States and international patents Speleological Society.

Dr. Boston teaches classes in cave Ms. Langowski joined NCKRI in Ms. Joop began working for and karst science, geomicrobiology, August 2012. She began her profession- NCKRI in June 2009 and brought a astrobiology, and global systems, and al career as an archaeologist studying wealth of teaching experience, both supervises graduate students studying human adaptations during the Pleisto- formal and informal. While most of this those topics at New Mexico Tech. She cene period in Europe. Her PhD re- experience was gained in Kentucky and received a National Research Council search took her to Ukraine, where she Tennessee classrooms teaching at many Postdoctoral Fellowship at NASA- spent two years on excavation projects levels, she also worked with cave and Langley Research Center and has held in Crimean caves with the National karst education programs with the Na- positions at the National Center for At- Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. tional Park Service, American Cave mospheric Research, University of Col- Prior to joining NCKRI, Ms. Lan- Conservation Association, and Western orado, University of New Mexico. She gowski served as a principal investiga- Kentucky University. Ms. Joop holds a founded her own non-profit research tor at the US Army Corps of Engineers Master’s Degree in Education, with a institute (Complex Systems Research Construction Engineering Research focus on science and history, and she Inc.) and operated it for 14 years before Laboratory as a Cultural Resources Pro- has served as the Education Division joining NCKRI in 2002. gram Manager at Fort Campbell, Ken- Chief of the National Speleological Dr. Boston is a Fellow of the tucky. Her successful record of obtain- Society. She is an active and experi- NASA Institute for Advanced Con- ing funding for research, preservation, enced cave explorer and surveyor on cepts, Past President of the Association and collections management activities multiple and diverse projects. of Mars Explorers, and Senior Editor of in an environment of increasing compe- Ms. Joop brings a broad and crea- the journal Astrobiology. She is a mem- tition for limited funds is testimony to tive set of talents to NCKRI, with a ber of NASA’s Advisory Council Com- her dedication to ensuring that precious Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre, and mittee on Planetary Protection, a mem- natural and cultural resources are pro- through a decade of theatrical and tele- ber of the National Academy of Scienc- tected, understood, and enjoyed. vision production experiences with es COMPLEX committee, and past Ms. Langowski has held chair and Kentucky Educational Television, the advisory board member for the Journal board positions for several organiza- state of Florida, Discovery Channel, of Cave & Karst Studies. tions, including the Military Family and more. Since joining NCKRI, she Member Scholarship Fund and the now serves on education and cave and Community Assistance Program of the karst management committees for Fort Leavenworth Spouses’ Club. She is Carlsbad Municipal Schools and the US an active member of the Carlsbad Forest Service, and conducts cave and Chamber of Commerce and also a karst education programs nationally. In member of national level organizations addition to her education projects at such as the Association of Fundraising NCKRI, she also serves as NCKRI’s Professionals, and its New Mexico webmaster. Chapter, and the National Speleological Society.

standing and Utilizing Geology, Hydrology, and Environmental Dr. Land is a karst hydrogeolo- Debbie joined NCKRI in January Concern for Groundwater Re- gist with the New Mexico Bureau of 2008 to organize and lead its adminis- sources in a Place of Critical Soci- Geology & Mineral Resources trative activities after working as a oeconomics, Law, and Politics. Dr. (NMBGMR). He serves as the Bu- secretary in the Truth or Consequenc- John Sharp, Distinguished Lecture reau’s liaison with NCKRI and as es Municipal School District for over Series, Edwards Aquifer Authority, NCKRI’s lead geophysical investiga- 11 years. She received her Associ- June 2013, San Antonio, Texas. tor. Prior to his career as a hydrogeol- ate’s Degree in Secretarial Admin-  Managing the Capital Campaign. ogist, Dr. Land spent eight years in istration from New Mexico State Uni- Indiana University School of Phi- the petroleum industry exploring for versity at Carlsbad, and has over 26 lanthropy, June 2013, Minneapolis, new oil reserves in the Mid-Continent years experience as a secretary and Minnesota. and Rocky Mountain regions of the administrative assistant. Debbie main- U.S., and offshore West Africa. He tains NCKRI’s document and finan- received his PhD from the University cial records, and serves as interim of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where publisher for NCKRI, producing the his doctoral research included sub- annual report series and other materi- mersible investigations of submarine als.  Land L. Evaporite karst in the Per- sinkholes in the Straits of Florida. mian Basin region of west Texas Before coming to work for NCKRI and southeastern New Mexico: The and NMBGMR in 2002, Dr. Land human impact. In: Land L, Doctor spent two years with the North Caro- DH, Stephenson JB, editors. Na- lina Division of Water Resources tional cave and Karst Research In- conducting geophysical surveys of stitute Symposium 2. Proceedings th aquifers beneath the coastal plain of of the 13 Multidisciplinary Con- North Carolina. ference on Sinkholes and the Engi- Dr. Land’s current research most- neering and Environmental Impact ly focuses on regional investigations of Karst; 2013 May 6-10; Carlsbad, of karstic aquifers and associated phe- (NM): National Cave and Karst nomena in southern New Mexico, but Research Institute; 2013. p. 113- have extended as far as Guatemala on 121. NCKRI projects. He has served on  Land L, Timmons, S. 2012. Re- several graduate student committees gional investigation of groundwater at New Mexico Tech (NMT), and is residence time using multiple trac- an adjunct faculty member in the ers: southern Sacramento Moun- NMT Department of Earth and Envi- tains, New Mexico, USA. GSA ronmental Sciences. He is a Past- Abstracts with Programs. President of the New Mexico Geolog-  Veni G. Government Canyon State ical Society (NMGS), and served for Natural Area: an emerging model five years on the NMGS Executive NCKRI staff polish and expand for karst management. In: Land L., Committee. their skills whenever possible. Formal Doctor. DH, and Stephenson, JB, training attended by one or more staff editors. National Cave and Karst members in the past year includes: Research Institute Symposium 2.  National Association for Interpreta- Proceedings of the 13th Multidisci- tion Certified Trainer Course. plinary Conference on Sinkholes  National Association for Interpreta- and the Engineering and Environ- tion Certified Interpretive Guide. mental Impacts on Karst; 2013 May  Youth Conservation Corps Grant 6-10; Carlsbad, (NM): National Writing Seminar. Cave and Karst Research Institute;  The Role of Southeast New Mexico 2013. p. 433-440. in the Global Economy.  Use of Geophysics to Detect Solu- tional Features in Karst. National  Land L, Doctor DH, Stephenson Speleological Society webinar by JB, Editors. National Cave and Ron Green, March 2013. Karst Research Institute Symposi-  Groundwater—Texas Style: Under- um 2. Proceedings of the Thirteenth

Multidisciplinary Conference on resistivity surveys of anthropogenic  Land L, Veni G. 2012. Electrical Sinkholes and the Engineering and karst phenomena, southeastern New resistivity survey of Intrepid Potash Environmental Impact of Karst, Mexico. New Mexico Geology 34 injection well site: Eddy County, Carlsbad, New Mexico: 2013. 113- (4):117-125. New Mexico. NCKRI Report of 121p.  Spilde, M.N., Melim, L.A., North- Investigations 3, 9 pp. up, D.E., Boston, P.J. 2013. An- thropogenic lead as a tracer of rock  Land, L. Geophysical prospecting varnish growth: Implications for Dr. Lewis Land: for new cave passages: Fort Stanton rates of formation. Geology 41  Reviewed a karst hydrogeology Cave, New Mexico, USA. Car- (2):263-266. manuscript for the Hydrogeology bonates and Evaporites 2012;27 Journal and an evaporite karst hy- (2):97-102. drogeology paper for the Journal of  Land L. 2013. Geophysical records  Johnson S, Schindel G, Veni G, Cave and Karst Studies . of anthropogenic sinkhole for- Hauwert N, Hunt B, Smith B, Gary Dr. George Veni: mation in the Delaware Basin re- M. 2012. Tracing groundwater  Reviewed two karst hydrogeology gion, southeast New Mexico and flowpaths in the vicinity of San papers for Acta Carsologica and west Texas, USA. Carbonates and Marcos Springs, Texas. Edwards Journal of Hydrology, and a karst Evaporites 2013;28(1-2):183-190. Aquifer Authority Report No. 12- geophysics paper for the South Tex-  Land L, Veni G. 2012. Electrical 01, 147 p. as Geological Society Bulletin.

National Park Service State of New Mexico COMBINED FY 11-12 FY 12-13 FY 11-12 FY 12-13 FY 11-12 FY 12-13 Combined Combined Actuals Actuals Actuals Actuals Actuals Actuals Beginning Fund Balance 508,392 277,681 508,392 277,681 Revenues State Appropriation 0 0 377,704 377,700 377,704 377,700 Federal Appropriation 323,000 309,201 0 0 323,000 309,201 TOTAL REVENUES & FUND BALANCES 323,000 323,000 886,096 655,381 1,209,096 964,582

Expenses Personnel Staff Salaries & Student Wages 177,570 171,803 236,507 212,632 414,077 384,435 Fringe Benefits 60,092 58,374 62,719 62,334 122,811 120,708 Total Personnel 237,662 230,177 299,226 274,966 536,888 505,143

Operating Rent, Utilities, Telephone 0 73,926 50,185 73,926 50,185 Supplies & Other 18,968 27,447 40,215 16,922 59,183 44,369 Exhibit Design 0 0 153,268 32,250 153,268 32,250 Travel 13,073 7,572 14,338 9,017 27,411 16,589 Contractor Services 4,133 2,540 7,442 14,487 11,575 17,027 Property & Equipment 7,069 7,069 0 NMT Administrative Support 0 0 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 NMT "Indirect" from NPS Budget (8%) 22,071 21,465 0 0 22,071 21,465 NPS "Indirect" to GRD at 6% on NPS appropriation 20,000 20,000 0 0 20,000 20,000 Total Operating 85,314 79,024 309,189 142,861 394,503 221,885 TOTAL FUNDS EXPENDED 322,976 309,201 608,415 417,827 931,391 727,028 Ending Fund Balance 24 13,799 277,681 237,554 277,705 237,554