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 IKC-Related Activities
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The IKC sponsors and/or participates in a number of activities:
  • The IKC's award-winning quarterly newsletter, the IKC Update, provides news on activities that impact karst in Indiana and across the United States.
  • The IKC provides consultation with cave landowners and negotiates permit systems so cave access is maintained. The IKC also targets candidates for later purchase in cooperation with other environmental organizations.
  • The IKC hosted and organized the 1995 National Cave Management Symposium at Spring Mill State Park. The Proceedings of the 1995 NCMS may be purchased for only $10 from the NSS Bookstore.
  • With the Indiana Cave Survey, the IKC sponsors the Indiana Cave Symposium; an opportunity for local cavers to share their projects with others.
  • The IKC enjoys a cooperative relationship with several state and federal agencies. This working relationship with the public sector allows the IKC to influence management plans and decision-making for Indiana karstlands.
  • The IKC participates in a biennial census of the federally-endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). Temperature monitoring devices are installed in the larger Indiana bat hibernacula to correlate temperatures to populations.
  • The IKC also manages a cave containing the threatened troglobitic, blind crayfish Orconectes inermis inermis. Its population is monitored on a periodic basis. (5.1k JPEG)
  • Under-Earth Day, which occurs in mid-April each year, is an IKC-sponsored annual cleanup of Sullivan Cave in Lawrence county, Indiana. The IKC sponsors several other cleanup activities and cave workdays over the courseof the year.
  • The IKC reprints scholarly and historical publications relating to caves and karst in Indiana. Posters, flyers, and other educational materials are also distributed to interested parties. These reprints, flyers and posters are provided free to IKC members.
  • The IKC will provide, free of charge, karst-related slide presentations and question-and-answer sessions for interested groups.
  • The IKC engages in cave gating projects, where absolutely necessary. Cave gating is reserved for situations such as protection of cave biology, where graffiti or speleothem damage is occurring at an alarming rate, or where the landowner insists on a gate as a prerequisite for continued access. Gates are designed to avoid restricting the passage of air, cave life and organic matter.
  • The IKC responds to industrial or residential developments or other activities that may endanger caves.

These are only examples of the work the IKC has performed since 1986. We're very proud of our history; and the grassroots activism of our membership remains our strength. To get a better idea of what the IKC does, please examine our slide show.

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