Another state adjoining Colorado has now reported the confirmed presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes the White Nose Syndrome disease that is wiping out bat populations across the US. The BLM reports finding Pd on bats and cave walls in two caves in eastern New Mexico. So far, Pd and WNS still … [Read more…]
The next Colorado Cave Survey meeting will be Wednesday, January 27, 2021, starting at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held online using Google Meet. A link for joining the meeting has been posted to the CCS mailing list, or ask the CCS officers or your grotto representatives for more information if needed.
The national White Nose Syndrome Response Team has updated their guidelines for WNS decontamination procedures. Cavers should follow these new decontamination procedures whenever visiting any Colorado caves. More information about WNS can be found at the WNS Response Team web pages. WNS, and the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that causes it, still have not been … [Read more…]
The Grizzly Creek fire has been largely contained now. Firefighters were able to stop it from crossing the Coffee Pot road again, and Deep Creek canyon was successfully protected. The Forest Service and BLM have reopened Coffee Pot road beginning Saturday September 12. The area to the south of the Coffee Pot road is still … [Read more…]
The Grizzly Creek Fire near Glenwood Canyon started along Interstate 70 on August 10th, and rapidly spread on both sides of the canyon and on the plateaus above. As of August 18th, the fire was estimated to have burned about 25000 acres. It has shut Interstate 70 indefinitely as well as closing many Forest Service … [Read more…]
For anyone going to Fulford Cave or the nearby area this summer, the usual access road (East Brush Creek Road, FSR 415.1) will be closed from 5 August to 7 September to replace a culvert. For more information and a map, see the White River National Forest web page. Updated 29 September: The culvert work … [Read more…]
As of June 1, 2020, the temporary COVID-19 related closures of caves on the White River National Forest have been ended. Permits are still required for all cave visits on any Region 2 national forests, using the same permitting process as in previous years. For more information see the WRNF caver information web page.
The White River National Forest has closed many of its public facilities, including most campgrounds because of the risk of spreading COVID-19. Most trails remain open, but no cave permits will be processed until at least May 31st.
The National Speleological Society has announced that the 2020 NSS convention in West Virginia has been canceled because of the risks of spreading COVID-19. The NSS has also requested that local grotto as well as regional meetings be canceled for now. Many grottos have successfully moved to online meetings instead. Geary Schindel, the president of … [Read more…]
The Colorado Cave Survey, as well as most of the individual NSS grottos in Colorado, have joined Glenwood Springs Citizens’ Alliance as sponsors to oppose the proposed expansion of the Rocky Mountain Resources quarry above Glenwood Srpings. We believe this quarry expansion poses severe hazards to caves and karst in the area, as well as … [Read more…]