Projects | Colorado Cave Survey

Recent Colorado Cave Survey Activity and Projects (as well as not so recent…)

Memorandum of Understanding with the Forest Service (2009)

The Colorado Cave Survey has long been an advocate for cave conservation and cave access on public lands in Colorado. This is particularly true in the White River National Forest which contains many of Colorados premier caves. The CCS and WRNF have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which commits both entities to cooperate on issues affecting caves and karst within the boundaries of the forest.

Clear Creek Canyon Caves Study Project (2008/Ongoing)

Individuals from the Colorado Cave Survey are working with Jefferson County Open Space to explore, study and help JCOS manage the caves of Clear Creek Canyon. Well-known caves in the area include Fault, Bear/Tower, as well as the remarkable CJ’s Cavern. A new map of CJs was drawn up by cartographer Derek Wolfe and a copy provided to Jefferson County Open Space. Photo documentation and possible restoration of CJs are being considered. For more information please contact Andrea Croskrey (Chair; quartzite13-at-hotmail-dot-com), Dan Castellari (cavesr4all-at-yahoo-dot-com), or Dave Lambert (dlambert-at-ngs-dot-org).

Sulfur Cave Project (2007)

Rick Rhinehart coordinated a project to investigate Sulphur Cave, outside of Steamboat Springs. Although the caves existance was documented as early as 1843, little was known about it due to deadly concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide gases in the cave atmosphere. A team of caver experts from universities and the local caving community undertook an investigation with the aid of modern safety equipment. Preliminary results suggest that this sulfur-based cave ecosystem may be as interesting as the legendary Villa Luz in Mexico. The research project continues, but is no longer formally associated with the CCS.

Redstone Mines and Caves Survey (2006)

The Colorado Cave Survey worked with the United States Forest Service, Pitkin County, the State of Colorado, and the holder of unpatented mining claims to document aspects of a mine and associated natural cave passages in Pitkin County. The CCS strove to supply impartial expertise despite conflicts between stakeholders. Geothermal aspects of the site make it prime habitat for a maternity colony of threatened Townsends big-eared bats. In the end, all parties involved united to protect unique habitat for the bats. The site is now protected by bat gates to prevent disturbance of the colony and the mine portals have been stabilized against collapse.

Red Mountain Ranch Park Gypsum Karst (2006)

Red Mountain Ranch Park is a new acquisition by the Larimer County Parks and Open Lands (LCPOL). Gypsum karst was recognized to exist in the area of park at least as early as the 1950s, thanks to observations by Donald Davis. The Colorado Cave survey worked with LCPOL to investigate the gypsum karst. A map of Whitewater Cave was produced by cartographer Chris Andrews and provided to LCPOL.

LaSunder Cave Management (2006)

The Cave Survey became involved with LaSunder Cave in the mid-1980s, working with the BLM to install a gate in the entrance. After significant effort (over many, many years), an official cave management plan was recently completed (Octoer 2006). The cave is once again open for limited visitation. For more information, please visit LaSunder Cave website.

Colorado Cave Survey Database (2005)

The Colorado Cave Survey has begun the process of establishing a database with which to document cave survey activity in Colorado. This project is primarily intended to provide a central repository of survey information, so that cavers can determine who is working in a given cave, thus reducing the probability of re-survey and potentially alleviating unnecessary impact. The CCS Survey Database not intended to be as broad is scope as some state cave surveys: no cave location data will be collected (beyond county or region), and no sensitive information is requested. Rather, cavers who have surveyed or are presently surveying in any Colorado cave are requested to submit the following:

Name(s) of Surveyor(s)

Name of Cave

County Name

Survey Dates

Short Description of their work – is it ongoing, what is the quality of the survey, etc.

Cavers can offer more information as desired. Please send survey data to Stuart Marlatt at Stuart_Marlatt-at-comcast-dot-net

Colorado Cave Ownership Database (2005)

Although the majority of the caves in Colorado are on Federal lands, there has been considerable confusion over the years regarding who exactly owns which caves. (A good example is Cave of the Clouds, which has been assumed to reside on USFS, BLM, private, or City of Glenwood Springs lands). To help rectify this situation, a Colorado Cave Ownership database is being established. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please provide the following:

Name of Cave

County Name

Ownership (USFS, private, etc.)

Documentation or explanation

Please send information to Rick Rhinehart at rrhineh1-at-ix-dot-netcom-dot-com.

LaSunder Clean-Up (2005)

The Glenwood Springs BLM office asked for volunteers to hike in and remove bags of cement from LaSunder Cave. These are left-overs from the gating effort several years ago. Donald Davis has been coordinating the clean-up effort:

June 9, 2005: Donald Davis, Matt Simpson, Jeff Welch, Steve Labowskie, Curtis Pattillo, Joel Tracy, Charles Zelenka.

July 16, 2005:trip by Donald Davis, Ed LaRock, Eric Wilson, Matt Crass, Dennis Hoburg, John Creager.

Donald estimates that at least two more trips will be required to complete this project.

Fly and Marble Caves (2005)

Fly and Marble Caves had been open to public access until a change in ownership in 1999 resulted in the caves being closed for several years. Recently, however, efforts by the Cave Survey (spearheaded by Rick Rhinehart) have resulted renewed access to these historic caves. For more information regarding visitation, please see the Fly and Marble Caves website.

Cave Creek Cavern Management Plan (1998/2001)

Cave Creek Cavern, in Pike National Forest, was discovered by mining activity and is entered via the original mine adit. The entrance to this tunnel collapsed sometime during the late 1980’s and was re-openned by cavers in the early 1990’s. This tunnel, however, may be in danger of being premenantly sealed as a target of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, as part of their continuing program aimed at closing abandoned mines. In response to a request from the Fairplay Ranger Office, the Colorado Cave Survey submitted a proposal to stabilize the cave entrance by installation of a steel culvert and to negotiate a management plan. Since this proposal was submitted in early 1998, however, personnel changes in the Fairplay office have relegated this concern to a low-priority issue. The Cave Survey is continuing to work with the Fairplay office to ensure that the Cave will not be closed.During a visit in early June, 2001, Fred Luizer found that the entrance had been filled with by a small collapse; a dig trip on 30 June 2001 cleared the entrance and stabilized it to some extent, but the descending passage below the entrance remains blocked at this time. (For a full report, see Rick’s discussion ).

Lime Creek Timber Harvest (1995)

In 1995, the Sopris District Ranger Office of the United States Forest Service announced its intention to conduct a wide-ranging timber sale, encompassing a number of areas in the Eagle/Frying Pan watershed. Of particular concern were several targetted harvest areas on the eastern rim of Lime Creek. The Cave Survey worked with the Sopris Office to identify threatened caves and to establish harvest parameters which would safe-guard the cave and karst resources in this area. These safe-guards included modifications of the harvest plans (changes from local clear-cuts to selective timbering), the deliniation of buffer zones around caves and drainage regions, and rules regarding slash disposal. While the timber harvest was originally scheduled to begin in 1998, no harvest has begun to date.

Burnt-Mountain Quarry (1992)

In 1992, the Cave Survey worked with Sopris District Ranger Office after plans for a small gravel quarry showed the potential for adverse impacts to Corkscrew and Powerline Caves. Acting on advise from the Survey, the quarry location was moved to a point well removed from any karst features (actually completely off the limestone).