The Colorado Cave Survey is an elected body of cavers who serve as a liaison to maintain an open and cooperative relationship between the Colorado caving community and federal, state, and private land management agencies who own and/or manage many of Colorado’s caves. The Survey has worked to secure protection for caves and karst in areas threatened by timber harvests, mines, quarries, and road development, and has actively campaigned to maintain access to Colorado’s caving resources.
A major function of the Colorado Cave Survey is the administration of controlled-access caves. At present, these include Groaning Cave and LaSunder Cave in Garfield County, and Fly and Marble Caves, in Fremont County. For more information regarding the management of these caves, please consult the Managed-Access Section or visit the the respective pages for these caves. The Survey also maintains a list of Closed & Restricted Access Caves.
The Colorado Cave Survey differs in scope and function from many other state cave surveys affiliated with the National Speleological Society. Although the Colorado Cave Survey does maintain some files on caves in the state, the Survey has not served historically as a central repository of information on the caves of Colorado, nor has the Survey historically collected survey data from cave mapping projects.
A more detailed description of the Colorado Cave Survey may be gleaned from its Constitution and Bylaws and from its Philosophy and Operations. The Colorado Cave Survey Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy applies to all CCS meetings and online postings. See also the History of the Colorado Cave Survey section (under construction). A list of current officers and representatives is given here.
White Nose Syndrome unfortunately has now been reported positively in Colorado bats, and the impacts of this devastating disease are beginning to be felt in the state. For more information, including the most recent protocols for cleaning and decontaminating cave gear and clothing, please see the White Nose Syndrome page.
Notices/Alerts
-
Colorado Cave Survey meeting January 31, 2024
The next Colorado Cave Survey general meeting will be at 7:30 pm on Wednesday January 31, 2024. It will be a virtual meeting using Google Meet. A meeting link can be obtained from any CCS representative. Update: Minutes from this meeting are now posted.
-
New MOU with WRNF concerning caves and rock climbing in Deep Creek
A new memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed by the White River National Forest, the Colorado Cave Survey, and The Access Fund (an organization representing rock climbers nationwide). This concerns actions for managing potential conflicts between climbers and cave resource protection in the Deep Creek Area.
-
Colorado Cave Survey meeting Nov. 15, 2023
The next Colorado Cave Survey general meeting will be at 7 pm on Wednesday November 15, 2023. It will be a virtual meeting using Google Meet. A meeting link can be obtained from any CCS representative. Update: Minutes for this meeting are available here.
-
Colorado Cave Survey meeting Jan. 26, 2023
The next Colorado Cave Survey general meeting will be at 7 pm on Thursday January 26, 2023. It will be a virtual meeting using Google Meet. A meeting link can be obtained from any CCS representative.
-
Colorado Cave Survey meeting Nov. 7, 2022
The next Colorado Cave Survey general meeting will be at 7 pm on Monday November 7, 2022. It will be a virtual meeting using Google Meet. A meeting link can be obtained from any CCS representative. Update: Minutes are available here
-
Pd found on bat in Colorado
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that a bat at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in Otero County outside of La Junta, Colorado has test positive for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats. The positive skin swab sample was collected on June 1 from a Yuma bat … [Read more…]