Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  VIRGINIA CAVE OWNERS’ NEWSLETTER Table of Contents

April 2012 A publication of the Virginia Cave Board, Department of Conservation and Recreation No. 24, April 2012 1 Letter From the Former Chairman 1 Chairman's Column 2 Determining the Age of a Cave Hike the Karst Trail! 4 An Update on White-Nose Syndrome in Virginia Getting out and or getting “in”—into a show 4 Dr. David S. Blehert Talks About White-Nose Syndrome cave or cave exhibit—is the underlying idea 6 Coming Soon: Karst Trail Website! behind this year’s theme for the annual cel- 6 How Karst Shaped the Civil War in Virginia ebration of Virginia Cave Week. This year 8 Virginia Cave Board Policy on Algae Abatement Cave Week is April 22–28, 2012. Dixie Caverns, , and are all offering Cave Thanks to contributors: Babs Bodin, Dr. Dan Week discounts again this year. Ask for your Doctor, Thomas Lera, Judy Molnar, Wil Orndorff, and Cave Week discount when buying tour tick- Meredith Hall Weberg ets. Get out or IN and learn about caves and karst in the Commonwealth! Letter From the Former Chairman by Thomas Lera This is my last column, as I have come of having a strong board chairman, as it achieving consensus and unity, motivate to the end of my five and a half years is the most strategic in the organization. them to carry out their projects, and stay service as Chairman of the Virginia We are fortunate to have Meredith Hall informed on issues relating to the caves Cave Board. It has been both a pleasure Weberg as the new Virginia Cave Board and karst. and a privilege to serve in this office and chairman. She is a true friend and I will This is your Board and I hope you all to have met many of you at national, work with her to achieve her goals for continue to support it and Meredith in regional, and local events. I know there the Virginia Cave Board. the future as strongly as you did me in is still enormous goodwill and support I know she will work closely with the the past. I look forward to serving on the out there for the Board to both represent State, National, regional, and local board and working with you all for many you and lobby the State on your behalf. associations and groups, chair board more years. I will not bore you with our meetings, and act as a spokesperson accomplishments over the last five for the VCB to the community. Meredith years. Rather I will stress the importance will also guide fellow Board members in

Chairman’s Column the rest of the Board thinks I will do a good job. I will do my best. by Meredith Hall Weberg I was rather surprised to be asked to Already I have run a couple of meet- Tom was too kind in his last column; I “run” for Virginia Cave Board (VCB) ings and written a couple of letters on hope I can live up to his glowing words. chairman, but also very honored that behalf of the VCB, one hard and one Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  easy. The hard letter was written by two VCB is, after all, dedicated to Virgin- What I’m trying to say is that the Vir- of our Board member scientists and ia’s cave landowners. Please contact ginia Cave Board exists to serve you, was one of the more difficult things I’ve us if you have questions, want informa- Virginia’s owners of caves. Please let ever edited. You must keep your reader tion, or need our help with anything. We us know how we can help. in mind when writing and I could not are here to help you take care of your understand some of how they phrased cave(s). (The small graphic next to the article things. I think it turned out well because I hope you enjoy reading the articles title is the cave map symbol for I had a lot of help; in fact, the gist of that in this issue of the Virginia Cave Own- columns, speleothems that are formed letter is now VCB’s policy on cleaning ers’ Newsletter. I enjoyed editing them. when a stalactite grows down and a “lampenflora” (algae!) from show caves You see, I am also the editor for VCB. I stalagmite grows up, and they meet in and is included elsewhere in this issue. would love to hear from you in that ca- the middle.) The easy letter was a “thank-you” to the pacity as well, especially with sugges- Blue Ridge Grotto, a cave club based tions for articles or if you want to write in the Roanoke area, for its donation to an article yourselves! Maybe one of you VCB for our good work of helping YOU cave owners out there has a unique sto- with your stewardship of our Common- ry or situation related to owning a cave wealth’s caves. that you want to share with others. Determining the Age of a Cave By Dr. Dan Doctor, Virginia Cave Board

“How old is the cave?” This question younger than about 200 million years. This is a stalag- often comes to the mind of the curious But how old is the space itself? The mite from Grand cave visitor. It is not a simple question best we can do is determine a minimum Caverns. This to answer, because caves can form age of a cave by determining the age photo shows over time spans of thousands, some- of items within it. These items can in- the stalagmite times millions of years. What makes the clude human artifacts, animal bones or sliced in half, question even more difficult to answer is other remains, and mineral or sediment illustrating the the fact that it is impossible to provide a deposits that lend themselves to dat- growth layer- date on what is no longer there; a cave, ing by geochemical methods. When we ing. The top after all, is mostly empty space. A slight- are lucky enough to find such items in has been dated ly easier question to answer is, “What is a cave, undisturbed and in their original to be 12,800 the age range of this cave?” By dating place of rest or deposition, we can be- (+/- 100) years the materials we find in caves, we can gin to piece together the history of the old and the bot- say with confidence that the cave is at cave. Although human and animal arti- tom is 66,500 least as old as the things found within facts are very useful, they usually only (+/- 500) years it and must be younger than rocks that provide information on the most recent old. (dating by contain it. period of the cave’s history, the time Dr. Yongli Gao, In Virginia, most caves are formed since the cave was open at the surface East Tennes- within limestones that were deposited and accessible to entry. To go further see State Uni- as marine sediment during the Paleozo- back into geologic time, geochemical versity) ic era of geologic time, between about age-dating of mineral deposits is nec- 570 and 350 million years ago. Fos- essary. sils and radiometrically dated volcanic ash beds sandwiched among the lime- DATING SPELEOTHEMS the weight of a person is measured in stone layers provide direct evidence In order to directly measure the age of pounds or kilograms, the weight of an of the age of the rock layers, or strata. a speleothem (stalagmite, stalactite, atom is the total sum of proton and neu- The sedimentary rock strata were later or other mineral formation in a cave), trons in its nucleus, and this number is deformed during the building of Appa- geologists measure concentrations of the atomic mass. For example, an atom lachian Mountains, which occurred ap- radioactive elements and their decay of uranium-238 (or 238U) has an atomic proximately between 320 to 220 million product isotopes that are part of the mass of 238, with 92 protons (which years ago. Nearly all caves in Virginia chemical makeup of the mineral itself. defines the atom as uranium) and 146 show passages that follow fractures and Isotopes are atoms of a particular ele- neutrons. If the nucleus of an atom is folds that formed in response to the de- ment that, because of different numbers unstable, it will spontaneously give off formation associated with the mountain of neutrons in their nucleus, have differ- some particle or amount of energy. This building, thus the caves are very likely ent atomic weights, or masses. Just like process is called radioactive decay. Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012 

When radioactive decay of an atom oc- curs, the initial atom does not simply disappear; rather, it changes into an- other isotope of that element, or into an isotope of another element. As decay product isotopes build up in a mineral over time, the amount pro- duced provides a record of how much time has passed. This is because radio- active elements decay over well-defined periods of time. The rate of radioactive decay is measured in half-lives, or the amount of time needed for half of the ra- dioactive substance to decay away. The longer the half-life, the greater the age of the material that can be dated. For example, the radioactive isotope of car- bon, carbon-14, has a half-life of 5270 years, and is useful for dating materials less than about 42,000 years old. Ma- terials older than 42,000 years do not have enough carbon-14 remaining in order to provide a reliable age because it has decayed away over more than This photo is of the stalagmite as we found it, naturally toppled over, with new eight half-lives, at which time less than growth of a "fried egg" stalagmite in the spot it previously grew from. Taylor 8 0.39% (=0.5 ) of the original amount of Burnham, a geology graduate student from East Tennessee State University, is carbon-14 will remain. shown. Although carbon-14 can be used to date relatively young speleothems, uranium is a radioactive element that is well-suited for dating older ones. Because uranium is soluble in water, it is incorporated into new minerals layer upon layer of calcite mineral precipitated from water dripping into the that grow out of the water that enters added over long periods of time. These cave, it contains a geochemical record a cave. The decay product of uranium layers represent growth bands like tree of the composition of that water and in that is used to provide an age of the rings and can sometimes show annual some cases can contain microscopic mineral deposit is the element thorium. bands; however, the individual layers bubbles, or fluid inclusions, of the water Fortunately, thorium does not easily dis- more often represent hundreds or even itself. By determining the geochemical solve in water, so that there is almost no thousands of years. The rate of growth composition of the water from which thorium in new layers of mineral growth. of a stalagmite can be determined by a speleothem grew, geologists can This allows very accurate age-dating of dating a large number of individual lay- surmise whether the past climate was speleothems using the ratio of uranium ers along the central growth axis and warmer or colder and wetter or drier to thorium present in the mineral. When interpolating the distance between the than that of today. Correlating such de- the mineral initially crystallizes, it incor- ages. In this way, we are able to deter- tailed records of past climate among porates uranium but virtually no thorium. mine if a stalagmite has been growing several caves in different regions, as As time passes, uranium decays and particularly slowly or particularly quickly well as with records obtained from po- thorium accumulates according to the in different intervals. Periods of time lar ice cores on land and deep ocean balance of the decay rates of the radio- when the stalagmite may have stopped sediments, geologists reconstruct the active isotopes. The key in this process growing altogether are also apparent. changing climate of the Earth over hun- is the 75,380 year half-life of thorium- Such changes in stalagmite growth dreds of thousands of years with great 230, which is itself radioactive, allowing rates provide clues to the changes that accuracy. With this information, climate for dating of deposits that are less than may have taken place in the climate scientists are able to test computer approximately 600,000 years old. above the cave over time, with wet pe- models used to forecast future scenari- riods generally representing periods of os of climate change against predictions CLIMATE INFORMATION FROM more rapid speleothem growth. of past climates known from geologic SPELEOTHEMS But speleothems can provide much data, partly obtained from caves. Stalagmites that are shaped like broom- more detailed information about past sticks are generally slow-growing, with climates. Because the calcite mineral is Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  An Update on White-Nose Syndrome in Virginia By Wil Orndorff, DCR Karst Protection Coordinator March 7, 2012 The winter of 2011–2 marked the fourth vation rates. Although heavily impacted fallen 70 percent, 90 percent, and 80 year that bats hibernating in Virginia’s in the northeast, populations of the fed- percent respectively since 2009 (see caves have been under attack from erally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis figure). Declines in hibernating little white-nose syndrome (WNS), a dis- sodalis) in Virginia have to date expe- brown bat populations where WNS has ease characterized by a white fungus rienced little apparent mortality from been documented for more than one on wings and/or muzzles of many af- WNS. The federally endangered gray year generally exceeded 90 percent fected bats and resulting in death rates bat (Myotis grisescens), though closely over the same period. Populations of hi- of up to 90 percent in some affected bat related to the little brown bat, does not bernating tricolored bats show a highly species. Research published in the last appear to be affected by WNS, nor do variable degree of decline, with highest year has verified that the fungus is the the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) or declines observed in caves with large sole cause of WNS. The last two issues the federally endangered Virginia big- little brown bat populations. Hibernation of the Virginia Cave Owners’ Newsletter eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii counts (Jan–Feb, 2011) of Indiana bats (Summer 2009 and Winter 2010) pro- virginianus). WNS has not observed to in several WNS-positive caves were vided information on WNS and what ac- affect tree bat species. consistent with pre-WNS level, and fun- tions cavers and cave owners might be In January 2012 at the Northeast Bat gus has only been observed on Indiana able to take in order to slow its spread Working Group meeting in Pittsburgh, bats in a single Virginia cave. Indiana or lesson its effects. Rick Reynolds of the Virginia Depart- bats have also appeared in a handful Fortunately, not all cave bat species ment of Game and Inland Fisheries of Virginia caves where they had not are equally affected by WNS. Most (DGIF) presented a summary of collab- previously been documented, and in mortality to date in Virginia has been orative efforts with the Virginia Natural higher than normal numbers in some among little brown bats (Myotis lucifu- Heritage Program, Radford University, caves from which they’ve traditionally gus), tricolored bats (Perimyotis sub- and National Speleological Society vol- been known. Finally, bat biologists in flavus), and northern long-eared bats unteers to study the impacts of WNS on Virginia have banded over 1,600 gray (Myotis septentrionalis). Unfortunately, Virginia’s bat populations. To date, ap- bats, a species that is closely related to little brown and tricolored bats are the proximately 4,000 bats of three WNS- many WNS-susceptible species. Pres- two most common cave bat species in susceptible species have been banded ence of Geomyces destructans on gray Virginia, so high mortality among these to track movement, survivorship, and bats was first documented in 2010 in species has greatly reduced the total disease progression (little browns ~ Missouri, but associated pathology has number of bats present in most caves. 2600, northern long-eared ~ 400, and yet to be observed. Death rates among WNS-susceptible tricolored bats ~ 850). Fall swarm cap- eastern small-footed bats (Myotis liebii) ture rates for these species at entranc- are hard to estimate due to low obser- es to known affected hibernacula have Dr. David S. Blehert Talks About White-Nose Syndrome By Meredith Hall Weberg (from notes), Virginia Cave Board

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geared towards an audience of non- immunosuppression” that occur when hosted one of its own employees, Dr. cavers and non-scientists. bats hibernate. Dr. Blehert explained in David S. Blehert, a microbiologist at the Dr. Blehert began by introducing bats, very simple terms how the fungus caus- USGS National Wildlife Health Center in which are the only mammals capable ing WNS, Geomyces destructans (G.d.) Madison, Wisconsin, to present a pro- of “self-powered flight.” Although noc- affects the health of bats primarily by gram on white-nose syndrome (WNS) turnal and producing only one young a invading the wing membrane and dis- on March 7, 2012. A number of cavers year, bats are the second largest group rupting important physiology. One of the attended, including Ellie Florence, Bob of mammals—there are about 1,100 bat slides showed the critical functions of a Hoke, Cheryl Jones, Barbara Moss, species out of about 5,500 mammals. bat’s wings, other than flight: heat dis- Gary Moss, John Pearson, Susan (Rats are the largest group!) sipation, water control, gas exchange, Posey, Steve Stokowsky, Chris Swezey, White-nose syndrome is considered and blood pressure regulation. Dr Ble- Susi Weston, and me. Although very in- an “emerging fungal disease of bats” hert explained that, despite its name, formative and detailed, the lecture was and occurs during the periods of “natural WNS’s “greatest damage is to wings.” Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012 

G. destructans has been found in the cause of WNS: large populations generations ago and soil of caves with WNS-infected bat pop- 1. G.d. must be found in abundance in those that remain have a genetic resis- ulations and can remain dormant if con- all organisms suffering from the disease tance. European bats are larger than ditions are not quite right for it to propa- but should not be found in healthy or- those in North America—perhaps this gate. A cold-loving fungus, it thrives in ganisms. has provided protection. Our smallest temperatures between 40–59oF. There 2. The fungus must be isolated from a bats have the highest mortality rates. is no cure for fungal infections, which I diseased organism and grown in pure However there is hope for bat sur- didn’t know; you can treat them—think culture. vival. Another study woke up sick bats of athlete’s foot—but you cannot fully 3. The cultured fungus should cause and provided food, water, and warmth. get rid of them. I think this is because of disease when introduced into a healthy These bats made a full recovery, one their ability to remain dormant for long organism. reason being that bats can grow new periods of time. Dr. Blehert called this 4. The microorganism must be re-iso- wing skin, thus repairing the damage. a “second life phase” and a bat is a “hi- lated from the inoculated, diseased ex- Bats are not considered migratory bernating jar of fungus food.” perimental host and identified as being mammals, but do move up to 200 miles WNS is caused by the fungus Geo- identical to the original, specific caus- between summer and fall homes. As we myces destructans, which Dr. Blehert ative agent. know, they are predators of insects “that named. It turns out that this fungus also These tests proved Geomyces de- cause vector-borne disease and impact exists in Europe and probably had a structans causes WNS. crop and forest health.” Mortality from “single point introduction to the United Other research confirmed transmis- WNS in some areas “has been docu- States.” It was discovered in New York sion of G.d from bat to bat. This same mented up to 100 percent.” The aver- by biologists in the winter of 2006–2007, study would seem to prove that trans- age decline is 80 percent. but had been photographed a year ear- mission by air was not possible, though Dr. Blehert said that decontamination lier by a caver. By the winter of 2008– Dr. Blehert believes that this might have of clothing and articles used in caves is 2009, WNS had been found in Virginia, been due to forced air circulation around “something that should be encouraged.” about 9,000 kilometers from its epicen- the bat cages and that further research We met him after the talk and told him ter. It has spread continually each year, is necessary. we decon as best we can and he agreed although more slowly, and though the By the nature of fungi, including be- it is difficult even for researchers to de- maps show Oklahoma and Missouri as ing hearty and resilient, the possibility con in the field. possibly having WNS, DNA tests prove exists that humans may carry G.d. from it is “not yet confirmed” in those states. cave to cave via clothes or boots. This Author’s note: Thanks to Cheryl Jones There are fewer caves infected west of concern was the impetus behind the for fact checking and heavy editing! the Appalachian Mountains than along widespread moratorium on recreational this line of East Coast mountains. caving a couple of years ago and the Some WNS Links: Six species of bats have been hard development of decontamination pro- USGS National Wildlife Health Center hit: little brown, big brown, northern cedures for clothes and gear used in in Madison, Wisconsin: long-eared, eastern small-footed, tricol- caves. http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_in- ored (formerly known as Pipistrelles), Dr. Blehert talked about the study formation/white-nose_syndrome/ and Indiana, which is an endangered that was based on 550 samples of soils species. taken from 120 caves by both biolo- U.S. Fish and Wildlife White-nose By 2008, Dr. Blehert’s lab in Wiscon- gists and cavers. The study was “able Syndrome page: sin was involved “in earnest” with WNS to culture viral fungus from the soil” and http://whitenosesyndrome.org research. Dr. Melissa Behr, formerly of observe their DNA. Scientists then rep- the New York Department of Health and licated the fungus based on the DNA, National Speleological Society White- now with the Wisconsin USGS lab, col- infected some healthy bats with it, col- nose Syndrome page: lected samples of the fungus from bats lected fungus from the bats, and deter- http://caves.org/WNS/index.htm in caves; the “hooked spores” of G.d. mined that this was the same G.d. Out seen in her photographs were the first of 24 soil samples, 11 different species Virginia Cave Board Main Web page time this shape had been found in a fun- of Geomyces were identified. with links to WNS policy: gus and clearly differentiated it from the By looking back at past records and http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_her- many other, common Geomyces spe- photos, scientists learned that WNS had itage/cavehome.shtml cies. Scientists have learned that G.d. been observed in Germany in the early has an upper temperature limit of about 1980s and has now been identified in 12 Geomyces destructans and Fungal 66 degrees; it requires cold dampness European countries. Scientists can only Diseases: for growth. “Geomyces destructans” ba- theorize why European bats seem unaf- Presented by Dr David Blehert sically means “destroying soil fungus” in fected by G.d., and why the bats are not WNS Webinar Series Latin. dying there as they are in eastern North http://tinyurl.com/7qgjqr9 Dr. Blehert discussed Koch’s Postu- America. Bat populations are smaller lates and the importance of that process and more disbursed in Europe than to determining that G.d. was indeed the in this continent. Perhaps WNS killed Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  Coming Soon: Karst Trail Website! by Babs Bodin, Virginia Cave Board karst trail as his Eagle Scout project, The Virginia Cave and Karst Trail (VCKT) cess of completion. The walking trail at Eric replied that his son wanted to do will go online in the near future! A project Hupp’s Hill (Strasburg), which contains something educational that would ben- undertaken by the Virginia Cave Board, permanent interpretive signage, is being efit the entire community. Obviously, as the VCKT was mandated by the Virginia maintained, while a trail segment at the part of a statewide program to educate Outdoors Plan. In lieu of printing costly Germanic Heritage Foundation (Tom’s our citizens about karst resources, Ear- paper brochures that would require Brook) is being studied. The Museum le’s efforts will reach a much wider audi- constant revision when additional trail of the (Winchester) ence than maybe even he envisioned. segments were built, the Board instead is incorporating karst elements into its An exciting project that is making excel- decided to use the more green alterna- Wood Walk, which is being designed to lent progress is the almost-35-mile driv- tive of furnishing karst enthusiasts with include several gardens that will take ing trail dubbed the Cowpasture River easily downloadable driving and hiking visitors on a visual timeline from the Karst Trail (western Highland County). directions to the Commonwealth’s karst early 1600s through 1900. Trail designer Rick Lambert has identi- features. The Board is currently search- The trail segment at fied nine stops along the scenic route ing for a URL address before designing is essentially finished, requiring only and is working with geologists to devel- the website. a little more interpretive signage. It in- op the interpretive text for the signage A crucial component of website design cludes a kiosk built by Eric and Earle that will be erected at each stop. Karst entails developing a distinctive VCKT Berge that provides an interpretive map features at these stops include springs logo. To this end, the Education and of the karst features found on the walk- and sinkholes at the base of Sittlington Outreach Committee has asked several ing trail. Residents of Nokesville, the Hill and in the Bullpasture River Gorge, artists to submit easily recognizable father and son duo worked closely with as well as Marcellus shale and a sink- drawings incorporating stylized graphic the Front Royal Grotto to lay out the ing stream along the Cowpasture River depictions of karst elements, such as walking trail’s path, then son Earle com- Road. To better view these karst fea- mountains, streams, caves, sinkholes, pleted his Eagle Scout project on the tures, Rick is working with the Virginia and hikers, within a Virginia map out- site. Earle, from all accounts an extraor- Department of Transportation to estab- line. Once finalized, the logo will serve dinary young man, showed exemplary lish pull-offs and parking areas. as a marketing brand, not only on the leadership skills in soliciting donated Certainly, the Virginia Cave and Karst website, but also on all Virginia Cave building materials from a local supply Trail website will prove invaluable in and Karst Trail signage and even let- store and then directing and supervising getting visitors to these and later other terhead. the scouts and grotto members who ac- rich karst resources. At present, the VCKT has several trail tually constructed the trail. When asked segments either finished or in the pro- why Earle had wanted to undertake the How Karst Shaped the Civil War in Virginia By Judy Molnar, Virginia Cave Board Last year Virginians commemorated ley became the “breadbasket of the der, more than any other Confederate the 150th anniversary of the beginning Confederacy.” state. of the Civil War, but how many resi- This same climate, vegetation, and Any elevation was strategic. High dents realize how much the geology of geology also allowed Virginia to be- ground affords the army that holds it an the state’s Valley and Ridge province come the major mineral-producing almost clear view of troop movements contributed to shape the events of that Confederate state during the Civil War. or a clear field of fire against oppos- conflict? The Old Dominion manufactured 40 ing troops down slope. Generals Jack- Let’s begin with the province’s geol- percent of the South's iron to October son in 1862 and Sheridan in 1864 both ogy. Valley and Ridge rocks are mainly 1864. The mines at Austinville in Wythe used Hupp’s Hill as campsite, observa- limestone, sandstone, dolomite, and County provided virtually all of the lead tion post, staging area, and battlefield. shale. Limestone soils are neutral in produced in the South, while Saltville Signal Knob, on the north tip of Mas- pH and rich in minerals, highly produc- ultimately provided two-thirds of the to- sanutten mountain, offered views of tive for pasture, wheat, corn, fruits, and tal southern supply of salt. During the three Valley counties. Signal flags at the other crops. Given these reasonably war, more than 88 Virginia caves and Knob sent Confederate dispatches from fertile soils, a humid climate, and a long other niter sources produced over half a Strasburg to successive stations down growing season, the Shenandoah Val- million pounds of saltpeter for gunpow- the mountain to the New Market tele- Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  graph station and messages reached make transport of men, heavy artillery, References: Richmond within an hour. and supplies any easier. Relatively The Great Valley Road of Virginia: Caves and other low spots were also small Confederate forces could cut Shenandoah Landscapes from Prehis- militarily useful. Caves were easy to de- supply lines at will and starve a large tory to the Present. 2010. Warren R. fend and hard to capture, so they served army into submission. Narrow gaps Hofstra and Karl Riaitz, eds. U of Va as temporary holding cells for prison- through the mountains could become Press ers, field hospitals, refuges by strag- dangerous death traps. Since the Val- glers hiding from enemy patrols, and ley Pike, which ran through the center The Hupp’s Hill Civil War/Karst Inter- shelters for deserters from both sides. of the Shenandoah Valley, was the one pretive Walking Trail signage, courtesy Caverns also afforded some recreation all-weather road for travel, both armies of Babs Bodin and respite from the heat. The signa- depended on it for transport. tures of hundreds of soldiers (from both The narrow valleys formed by 50-mile- Tourist pamphlets about the Shenan- sides) camped in and near caverns are long Massanutten Mountain and the two doah Valley’s 1862 & 1864 Civil War preserved on the walls and formations forks of the Shenandoah River chan- Campaigns. of several of Virginia’s tourist and wild neled troop movements and influenced caves. military strategy. In 1862 two separate Several articles from Underground in Sinkholes were used as munitions sets of Union troops moved south on ei- the Appalachians: A Guidebook for the dumps or lifesaving shelter during bat- ther side of Massanutten attempting to 1995 NSS Convention, edited by Carol tles. Union Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes crush the Confederates in a trap. Gen- Zokaites, National Speleological Soci- related an incident during the Battle of eral “Stonewall” Jackson’s men raced ety, Huntsville, Alabama. New River Bridge: “There was a large to the southern tip of the mountain and lime stone sink hole, in which I ordered successfully fought back-to-back bat- Saltpetre Caves and Virginia History, a the men to lie down. All obeyed prompt- tles at Cross Keys and Port Republic pamphlet published by Burton Faust as ly except one dismounted cavalryman to prevent the Federal troops from unit- a 1964 reprint from Caves of Virginia by who in a pert and saucy way turned to ing. Jackson also used Massanutten to Henry H. Douglas, p 47, 50. me and said, ‘Why don't you get off your screen his movements northward so horse and hide too?’ On my repeating he could attack a small Union garrison “Geology And History Of Confederate the order, the cavalryman replied, ‘I'll at Front Royal. General Lee’s Army of Saltpeter Cave Operations In Western get down when you do.’ Just as I was Northern Virginia used the Valley for Virginia” by Robert C. Whisonant, 2001 insisting on his obeying the order a shell supplies and as a primary highway that Virginia Minerals Vol 47 #4 November burst near us—the cavalryman was fa- screened his troops moving north to https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DMR3/ tally and shockingly wounded and was Gettysburg. But the Union also learned dmrpdfs/vamin/VAMIN_VOL47_NO04. then discovered to be a woman. She to use the Valley’s geology to their ad- pdf died almost instantly.” vantage. General George Crook used The province’s general topography Hupp’s Hill to hide his army’s advance Civil War Mineral Series by Robert C. gave a tactical advantage to the South to the foot of Little North Mountain in the Wisonant: during the Civil War. Glance at a sat- fall of 1864. The next day Crook’s men Lead: https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/ ellite map of the Shenandoah Valley surprised General Jubal Early’s Con- DMR3/dmrpdfs/vamin/VAMIN_VOL42_ and you’ll notice that its ridges and federate troops at the Battle of Fisher’s NO02.pdf valleys trend northeast to southwest. Hill, then proceeded to burn their way Salt: https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/ This orientation allowed any Confeder- through the Valley. Once Union General DMR3/dmrpdfs/vamin/VAMIN_VOL42_ ate army moving north in the Valley to Sheridan won the battle of Cedar Creek NO03.pdf draw closer to Washington D.C., while in 1864, he ended Confederate control New River Bridge battle: https://www. a Union army moving south would draw over the Valley. Once the Valley was dmme.virginia.gov/DMR3/dmrpdfs/va- away from Richmond. If Union armies lost, the war was lost. min/VAMIN_VOL43_NO04.pdf were to attack the region from the west The Ridge and Valley karst land- Iron: https://www.dmme.virginia.gov/ or the east, they were forced to move scape provisioned the South with food DMR3/dmrpdfs/vamin/VAMIN_VOL44_ through treacherous steep ridges, nar- and strategic minerals. Its topography NO04.pdf row valleys, numerous streams, and served as the backdrop to the War’s poor roads. This geology made it vir- battles and was vital to military strategy tually impossible to supply a sizeable and the movements of goods, refugees, army, and snow or torrential rains didn’t and troops throughout the Civil War.

We’re on the Web! Visit us at: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/dnh/cavehome1 Virginia Cave Owners' Newsletter April 2012  Virginia Cave Board Policy on Algae Abatement December 18, 2011

The Virginia Cave Board is concerned lampenflora, it is not recommended be- supply has chlorine added, you may with maintaining the natural condition of cause it releases toxic chlorine gas and let your “rinse water” sit out for several speleothems within caves to the great- possibly carcinogenic chlorinated com- hours. This has the same effect as boil- est extent possible and recognizes that pounds, and it may kill the native cave ing in that it allows the release of any this can be a challenge to cave man- biota. chlorine. agement, especially within caves that • The current best practice is to use a VAR cavers use hydrogen peroxide have lighting systems installed. Artifi- spray bottle to apply a 15 percent so- in a 15 percent solution sprayed on cial lighting within caves promotes the lution of hydrogen peroxide to affected speleothems. They let it sit for 20 to 30 growth of algae, moss, ferns, and other formations. This is much more envi- minutes, then rinse with water. If need photosynthetic organisms, collectively ronmentally friendly. If feasible, the be, they then use nylon-bristle brushes called “lampenflora.” The Cave Board washing solution and resulting detritus to gently clean off any remaining algae. has looked into the Virginia Region cav- should be contained and removed. The They clean up whatever runoff occurs ers’ methods of algae abatement and main drawback to the use of hydrogen from this process. This is done after consider them to be right in line with peroxide is that it is acidic (pH 4) and they determine that cleaning with wa- current best practices. may be slightly corrosive to formations ter only will not be sufficient. On areas From a biological point of view, the and limestone. where decades of gravel dust has built less cleaning of speleothems the better. • Mechanical removal should be mini- up, they use water and nylon-bristle However, removing existing lampen- mized, but if necessary, it should be brushes to gently clean the formations. flora is a desirable goal of good cave done cautiously with soft, nylon-bristle The Cave Board hopes that you will management. To this end, the Virginia brushes. Mechanical removal with water seriously consider our recommenda- Cave Board makes the following rec- and brushes is not sustainable because tions. We would be pleased to discuss ommendations: fragile formations may be destroyed. this matter with you further. • Do not use bleach to clean formations. • Rinsing with cooled, boiled tap wa- While a 5 percent bleach solution kills ter is also recommended. If your water

Department of Conservation and Rec- For additional information please contact the Virginia Department of Con- reation, Division of Natural Heritage servation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, 217 Governor 217 Governor Street, 3rd Floor Street,3rd Floor, Richmond, VA 23219 or one of the members of the Virginia Richmond VA 23219-2010 Cave Board. RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Ms. Barbara Bodin Mr. Thomas Lera 218 Tudor Drive 7733 Inversham Drive, No. 167 Winchester, VA 22603 Falls Church, VA 22042

Dr. David Culver Mr. Steve Lindeman 427 Foxridge Drive The Nature Conservancy Leesburg, VA 20175 Holly Knob 6630 Hayters Gap Road Dr. Daniel H. Doctor Saltville, VA 24370 U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Ms. Judy Molnar Reston, VA 20192 Virginia Living Museum 524 J. Clyde Morris Boulevard Mr. Andrew Harrison, PG Newport News, VA 23601 3513 Grandview Drive Richmond, VA 23225 Mr. David R. Socky 6572 Woodbrook Drive SW Dr. John R. Holsinger Roanoke, VA 24018-5402 Dept. of Biological Sciences Old Dominion University Ms. Meredith Weberg Norfolk, VA 23529 8061 Kittiwake Court Springfield, VA 22153