Region 2 of the US Forest Service (which includes all of Colorado) has issued an updated order R2-2021-02 concerning prohibitions and restrictions on cave access. This mostly concerns seasonal cave closures to protect bats from spread of WNS. The text of the order is also available from the USFS web site.
The White River National Forest has announced that it has acquired the 488 acre Sweetwater Lake Ranch. The Colorado Cave Survey is working with the Forest Service to better understand and document the history and science of this area.
An updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Colorado Cave Survey and the White River National Forest. This document states the shared goals of the two organizations and outlines a basis for continued cooperative work together.
The White River National Forest (WRNF) has installed a gate on the Coffee Pot Road at the Forest Service boundary just below Willow Peak. The road, which is often used by cavers for access to many White River Plateau caves, will open on June 1 for travel as far as Crane Flats. Travel beyond Crane … [Read more…]
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…]