Welcome Welcome to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and about caves, cave management, and cave con- the 14th National Cave and Karst Management servation. Equally important is the opportunity Symposium hosted by the Southeastern Cave to meet new people and network with indi- Conservancy. This is the last symposium of the viduals and organizations sharing the same in- millennium. In anticipation of both old and terests. new management issues that face professionals Please take the time to meet the members of in the next century, we have brought to to- the Southeastern Cave Conservancy and the gether this year an impressive variety of knowl- members of the symposium staff. Our enthusi- edge and expertise in the business of studying, asm will be evident. If there is anything that we managing, and conserving the cave resource. may do to make your stay more comfortable, The limestones surrounding Chattanooga or help you in any way, please let us know. have excellent positive and negative examples Again, thank you for coming and have a great of management issues affecting caves and karst. time this week. We invite you to take advantage of the variety of topics this year and to participate in the Mark Wolinsky, Chairman workshops and field trips. The symposium of- Geary Schindel. Co-Chairman fers you a tremendous opportunity to learn Greetings On behalf of the Southeastern Cave Conser- we work with cities, industry, politicians, and vancy, welcome to Chattanooga and the 1999 residents to ensure that their growth and de- National Cave and Karst Management Sympo- velopment activities consider the facts of life in sium. Many members of the Conservancy have one of North America’s major karst regions? worked long and hard to prepare for your Caves are everywhere here. They are in back arrival and to ensure that you have a memora- yards, pastures, parking lots, and on the side of ble and rewarding experience this week. We the road. They are under city buildings, are pleased to be your hosts, and will be glad schools, houses, roads, and freeways. Everyone to do whatever we can to assist during your knows they are there, but few know much stay. If there is anything you need, please don’t about them. Therein lies our mission, I think. hesitate to ask one of the symposium staff or We must work to raise awareness of the value Conservancy members. and significance of caves and karst to ensure The region around Chattanooga is com- that growth, opportunity, and development do monly and affectionately known to local cavers not come at the expense of fragile ecosystems, as “TAG” — the acronym for Tennessee, Ala- historic sites, and underground wilderness. bama, and Georgia, whose state borders meet By hosting this Symposium, the Southeast- at a common point a few miles west of the city. ern Cave Conservancy hopes to promote better There are more than 12,000 known caves in understanding of and appreciation for cave and this region, and most of them are located karst management, conservation, protection, within a 100-mile radius of that point, as are and research. We thank you for joining us and cities including Huntsville, Chattanooga, Nash- for your participation, and we welcome you to ville, Knoxville, Birmingham, and Atlanta. This the place we love — the place where we live — not only accounts for the region’s popularity TAG. among cavers, but also illustrates the chal- lenges facing all of us who care about caves, Bill Putnam, Chairman, their contents, and their inhabitants. How will Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. 1999 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 5 Theme The theme of this symposium is “Living with resources in that environment. The primary Caves and Karst.” Many cities in the Tennessee impacts on karst resources in the region result Valley Region will pass into the next millen- from timber harvesting, septic tank degrada- nium with enormous planning problems in a tion, petroleum pipeline ruptures, non-point- karst region that has seen accelerated rates of source pollution, and industrial discharge. residential, commercial, and industrial devel- Rapid population growth and residential devel- opment. In increasing numbers, municipalities opment in the cave-rich area are also issues. are forced to consider the effects of karst and Increases in recreational caving, timber har- its fast-moving groundwater in their planning vesting, and residential development are creat- and development. Similar situations exist in ing widespread pressure on cave fauna and many other karst regions across North America. associated habitat. Similar concerns apply to In this symposium we will highlight impacts the many caves containing significant cultural and threats to caves and karst in metropolitan and scientific resources. By focusing on these areas, consider implications of caves and karst issues, we hope to foster a better under- for land use planning and development, and standing of the challenges of responsible devel- examine strategies and techniques for conser- opment and growth in karst regions. vation and management of caves and karst 6 1999 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium Description of a Protocol for Monitoring the Population Status of the Tumbling Creek Cavesnail (Hydrobiidaie: Antrobia culveri) David Ashley Department of Biology Missouri Westem State College Paul McKenzie Ecological Services U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pam Haverland Midwest Science Center National Biological Service Tom Aley Ozark Underground Laboratory Poster Session The Tumbling Creek Cavesnail was described in 1971 based on specimens recovered from Tumbling Creek Cave (in Taney County, Missouri). It appears the number of Antrobia culveri in Tumbling Creek Cave has decreased substantially in the last 20 years but no quantitative data support this impression. A stratified sampling scheme was developed to monitor the population of this snail, which is endemic to Tumbling Creek Cave. Perma- nent markers divide an accessible stretch of Tumbling Creek Cave into seven variable-length sections of alternating “favorable” and “marginal” habitat. Favorable habitat is characterized as riffle habitat with gravel to large rocks and medium to fast stream flow. Marginal habitat is characterized as large pool (deeper than 0.6 meter) and minimal flow, or riffle habitat with a solid rock bottom. A PVC frame (0.09 meter square) is used as a sampling square. Rocks within a square are examined and the number of snails observed is recorded. The number of plots in each section constitutes approximately 3% or 1% of substrate area (for favorable and marginal habitats, respectively) within that section. Comparisons (between habitats, seasons, or years) can be made. 1999 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium 7 Planning for the Impact of Convention Caving Ann Bosted Cave Research Foundation Menlo Park, California Abstract Annual NSS National Conventions are attracting larger attendance and it is estimated that 50% to 75% of cavers attending expect to go underground at least once during the five-day event. Often convention sites are chosen for the facilities with little attention being paid to the capacity of the caves in the area. Convention organizers may put pressure on cave managers to relax visitation limits in order to accommodate the increased demand. Those that do so may later regret their hospitable gestures when the caves are degraded. Should cave managers and cavers be allowed or encouraged to voice their concerns about the potential impact of a proposed convention on caves in the area? What would be the best way to evaluate the impact of a proposed convention? What are the pros and cons of limiting convention caving? What is the responsibility of the NSS in making these decisions? These questions will be discussed in relation to past and future planned conventions. 8 1999 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Initiating Steps for Preserving West Virginia’s Cave and Karst Terrain Jeff Bray West Virginia Cave Conservancy 820 Meerkat Lane Christiansburg, VA 24073 (540) 382-1319 [email protected] Abstract Nationwide, caves and karst terrains face serious threats from a multitude of social and economic forces such as construction activities. At the same time many have felt a strong need for greater education and outreach efforts regarding karst regions for protecting these rare and fragile environments from being obliterated. In a manner similar to other cave and karst bearing regions, West Virginia continues to recognize challenges and evolve feasible solutions for protecting its caves and karst resources. Moreover, any such forward-looking strategies must involve a proactive, rather than a reactive stance in planning. However, until recently, there was lack of a formalized, concerted, viable group dedicated to the mission of preserving the state’s karst regions. This presentation offers an overview of the West Virginia Cave Conservancy, a federally-recognized, 501(c)(3) status organization pres- ently working with communities in West Virginia to pursue its preservation and management missions. The Conservancy is doing this by working to purchase or lease caves (such as Rapps Cave, a significant archaeological site that was recently leased to the West Virginia Cave Conservancy). The Conservancy also works with cave owners to create management plans that will allow access to such areas while protecting the landowners. This presentation outlines the stages involved in the evolution of the West Virginia Cave Conservancy as a recent organization and emphasizes specific cave and karst-related goals and objectives that are central to its mission. Introduction History West Virginia is having problems similar to The West Virginia Cave Conservancy was cre- those of many other states in reference to its ated with a four-part mission statement. First was caves. They are becoming more difficult to to protect the cave and karst resources in the protect and harder to gain access to. Out of state through education and resource manage- over 3,800 caves in West Virginia, only 107 are ment.