IKC UPDATE No 117 PAGE 2 JUNE 2015 INDIANA KARST CONSERVANCY, INC PO Box 2401, Indianapolis, IN 46206-2401 ikc.caves.org Affiliated with the National Speleological Society The Indiana Karst Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of caves and karst features in Indiana and other areas of the world. The Conservancy encourages research and promotes education related to karst and its proper, environmentally compatible use. EXECUTIVE BOARD COMMITTEES / CHAIRPERSON GROTTOS & LIAISONS President Education/Outreach Bloomington Indiana Grotto* Vacant Dave Everton Jerry Lewis (2016) (812) 272-2300 (812) 967-7592 Web Technologies [email protected] Bruce Bowman Central Indiana Grotto* (see E-Board list) Keith Dunlap Secretary (317) 882-5420 Sue Vernier (2016) IKC Update Editor/Publisher (812) 385-5058 Dayton Underground Grotto Keith Dunlap Mike Hood [email protected] (see E-Board list) (937) 252-2978 Treasurer Hoosier National Forest Eastern Indiana Grotto Keith Dunlap (2016) Jerry Lewis Brian Leavell (317) 882-5420 (see E-board list) (765) 552-7619 [email protected] Buddha Property Manager Evansville Metro Grotto* Steve Weinzapfel Directors George Cesnik (812) 339-2143 (812) 4630-7995 Joy Baiz (2018) [email protected] (574) 286-9404 Harrison-Crawford Grotto [email protected] Orangeville Rise Property Manager Dave Black Steve Lockwood (812) 951-3886 Bruce Bowman (2017) (812) 944-8097 (317) 539-2753 Louisville Grotto* [email protected] Susan Wilkinson [email protected] (317) 910-8023 Robinson Ladder Property Manager Dave Haun (2018) John Benton Near Normal Grotto* (317) 517-0795 (812) 389-2248 Ralph Sawyer [email protected] [email protected] (309) 822-0109 Everett Pulliam (2016) Shawnee Property Manager Northern Indiana Grotto* Jerry Lewis Jennifer Pelter (317) 745-7816 (see E-board list) (260) 456-3374 [email protected] Sullivan Property Manager St Joseph Valley Grotto* Bob Sergesketter (2017) Keith Dunlap Joy Baiz (812) 482-5517 (see E-Board list) (574) 286-9404 [email protected] Sub-Urban Chicago Grotto Wayne Property Manager Gary Gibula Bruce Silvers (2016) Robert Sollman (630) 791-8020 (260) 456-8562 (812) 753-4953 [email protected] [email protected] Windy City Grotto Jack Wood Kevin Smith (2018) Indian Creek CE Monitor (773) 728-9773 (317) 856-0500 Jamie Winner (see E-board list) [email protected] *grottos with liaison agreements Tom Sollman (2018) (812) 753-4953 MANAGED CAVES / PATRONS Suicide Cave [email protected] Kevin Smith (317) 856-0500 Carla Striegel-Winner (2016) Buddha Cave [email protected] (812) 367-1602 Jeff Cody [email protected] (317) 888-9898 Sullivan Cave [email protected] Anthony Owens (812) 322-7359 Bob Vandeventer (2017) [email protected] (317) 888-4501 Robinson Ladder Cave [email protected] John Benton Upper Twin Cave (830) 305-1026 Dave Everton Richard Vernier (2017) [email protected] (812) 272-2300 (812) 385-5058 [email protected] [email protected] Shiloh Cave Wayne Cave James Adams Dave Everton Jamie Winner (2016) (317) 945-8604 (812) 272-2300 (812) 367-1602 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Cover: Cave cricket (Ceuthophilus stygius) in Maucks Cave, Harrison County, Indiana. Photo by Dave Black, March 2009. JUNE 2015 PAGE 3 IKC UPDATE No 117 IKC QUARTERLY MEETING REMINDER SATURDAY, JUNE 27th, 11:00 AM EST BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA WAYNE CAVE PRESERVE The quarterly meetings are for the Executive Board to conduct business, and for our members and other interested persons to have an open forum to talk about caves and karst conservation and related topics. Past, present, and future IKC projects are discussed to solicit comments and input from our members and the caving community as a whole. The meetings are informal, and everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. The IKC Board wants your input. Preliminary Agenda: Recap of recent work projects and promotion of upcoming projects at our various other preserves; Selection of new Cave Patron for Sullivan Cave; Indiana Cave Symposium recap; DNR cave access update; Financial reports; Land acquisition activities; and more.... Stewardship Activities: There will likely be some work activities at the property before and/or after the meeting including mowing in the camping area, trail clearing, invasive control, trash pickup, wildlife pond repair, etc. If you are so inclined, show up early and pitch in. Directions to the Wayne Cave Preserve: From the intersection of SR 37 and SR 45 in Bloomington, take SR 45 west 1.4 miles to Airport Road. Turn west (right) on Airport Road and continue past the airport to Garrison Chapel Road (approximately 2.7 miles from SR 45). Turn south (left) on Garrison Chapel Road for about 1/4 mile to Gardner Road. Turn west (right) on Gardner Road for approximately 4/10 mile and look for a driveway on the left (marked 8363 on the fence). If the gate is open, proceed up the driveway to the parking area. ACTIVITIES CALENDAR Jun 27 – IKC Quarterly E-Board meeting and workday (see above) Jul 13-17 – NSS Convention (Missouri) Aug 7-9 – Cave Capers (Lawrence County Recreation Park) Sept ?? – IKC Quarterly Board Meeting (date & location to be determined) For more information on the Indiana Karst Conservancy, visit our website at ikc.caves.org or write to our PO box. Member- ship to the IKC is open to anyone or any organization interested in supporting cave and karst conservation. Annual dues are $15. Please see inside the back cover for a membership application form or to make a much-appreciated donation. Donations can also be made by credit card using the donation button located on our website’s home page. The IKC Update, distributed for free, is published quarterly for members and other interested parties. The purpose of this newslet- ter is to keep the membership and caving community informed of IKC activities and other news related to cave/karst conservation. Submission of original or reprinted articles for publication is encouraged. IKC Update (ISSN 1076-3120) copyright © 2015 by the Indiana Karst Conservancy, Inc. Excluding reprinted material and indi- vidually copyrighted articles and artwork, permission is granted to National Speleological Society affiliated organizations to reprint material from this publication, with proper credit given to the author/artist and the IKC Update. Articles do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Indiana Karst Conservancy, the National Speleological Society, or their respective members. IKC UPDATE No 117 PAGE 4 JUNE 2015 RAMBLINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT... Today my thoughts are upon the IKC’s partner- In 2005 the IKC again found itself partnering ship with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and our with TNC in the acquisition of a 40 acre parcel acquisition of significant properties in Indiana’s containing Robinson Ladder Cave, a Priority 3 In- karstlands. I was inspired to make this my Ramble diana bat hibernaculum that extended our property topic du jour by comments made during a presen- holdings into Crawford County. TNC gave the tation at the recent Indiana Cave Symposium con- IKC $30,000 toward the purchase of the $74,000 cerning TNC’s brief stint as caretaker for two of the property. Then in 2010, The Nature Conservancy entrances to the Lost River Cave System. transferred two adjacent tracts which they had It might surprise you to know that of the seven acquired to the IKC to bring the total preserve at IKC properties, four of them were acquired with Robinson Ladder to 73 acres, currently our larg- significant support from The Nature Conservan- est preserve. TNC also contributed $4350 to our cy. The first of these was the Orangeville Rise, Stewardship Fund for the preserve addition, un- the second largest spring in Indiana, which was derstanding the long-term responsibilities and ex- transferred from TNC to the IKC in 1999. That is penses that goes along with land. to say, TNC acquired the property with their funds Our most recent partnership with The Nature and then gave it to the IKC. This is an example Conservancy was the acquisition of the 50-acre of a conservation strategy that TNC frequently tract containing the entrance to Upper Twin Cave employs. Their organization does not neces- that in 2012 became our Shawnee Karst Preserve. sarily want to own a lot of properties, but rather Purchase of this entrance gives the IKC control want to get them out of an entrance to an- of harm’s way and into other of Indiana’s clas- the hands of appropri- sic, the Shawnee Cave ate stewards. This is System that includes a win-win scenario for the Donaldson, Bron- everyone involved. As son, and Twin caves the largest conserva- entrances in the Don- tion organization in the aldson Woods Nature world, TNC has signifi- Preserve within Spring cant liquid financial re- Mill State Park. In ad- serves that can be used dition to the magnifi- to purchase properties. cent cave passages, the However, the long-term management of prop- system is inhabited by one of the largest known erties requires personnel and TNC’s strategy is populations of the Indiana cavefish (Amblyopsis often to spend their funds purchasing properties hoosieri). TNC provided $50,300 toward the ac- and then finding good stewards who will hold the quisition of the Shawnee Karst Preserve, half the reins to provide for their perpetual upkeep. Thus, total cost of the property. the IKC received the Orangeville Rise from TNC Now going back to the concerns voiced dur- and in return we keep an eye on the property, do- ing the presentation on the Lost River Cave at the ing things like picking up trash, maintaining the Indiana Cave Symposium. This is an example property lines, and fielding requests to conduct re- of an acquisition by the Hoosier National Forest search at this important groundwater site.