Conservation Award

NSS Conversation Award

At the 2005 National Speleological Society (NSS) Convention, the Conservation and Management Section presented its annual Grotto Conservation Award to the Timpanogos Grotto for its significant contribution towards conservation or management of cave or karst resources recognizing it as one of the best and most effective grottos in the NSS. This award recognizes contemporary (within the last five years) grotto achievements. The award consists of a certificate, $100 check, and the Grotto's name on the Grotto Conservation Award plaque in the NSS office.

Timpanogos Grotto received the Conservation Award for its achievements in these following projects:

Dale Green accepting the Conservation Award

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Bloomington Cave Graffiti Removal Project

Kyle Voyles of the St. George BLM Office

Jon Jasper of the Timpanogos Grotto

Fifty years of neglect has left Bloomington Cave outside of St. George, Utah to be heavily coated with graffiti. In an effort to restore the cave's esthetic and recreational value, 48 volunteers from mostly the Timpanogos Grotto worked 7 weekends (from Jan 2005 to April 2005) sandblasting off the graffiti. Amazingly cavers contributed approximate 90% of the project's total cost. The equipment, such as the air compressor, generator, miles of hose and electrical cords, lights, and repairs, were estimated donation of $65,000! The volunteers donated over 1,000 hours or estimate value of $18,000! In the end, the total project costs are estimated at $85,000!

Scout, Jon Albrethsen, removing graffiti with sandblasting gun

Currently a Cave Management Plan is being written to outline the future management actions for the cave. An interpretive sign is being designed to include a detailed cave map and information on proper caving and conservation techniques to educate visitors. If vandalism and rescues continues to occur, the plan includes the possibility of gating the cave. The plan may also include delineated parking, installing restrooms, and improvements to the cave trails.

The Bloomington Cave Graffiti Removal Project is great example of how volunteer efforts are creating the necessary changes to restore and protect resources of Bloomington Cave.

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Chuck teaching safe caving to Scouts

Cave Safely, Cave Softly: Training Program for Youth Groups

Chuck Acklin, member of Timpanogos Grotto and the NSS Liaison to Youth Groups

Many serious cave explorers want nothing to do with youth organizations. Primarily, Boy Scout groups are blamed for irresponsible cave exploration. In reality the problem lies with the adult leaders, who blatantly disregard youth safety, youth organization policies, and cave resources. This situation creates concern within cave exploring groups, youth organizations, and search and rescue groups. The Boy Scouts of America and other youth organizations are actually "the good guys," with policies and procedures that require safe and responsible caving practices and behavior. Something is needed to get the cave exploring community involved in preparing future leaders and members for our associations, societies, and grottos, to assure that youth group policies and procedures are followed, and to preserve our cave resources.

The Safe Caving Pilot Project, also known as Cave Safely, Cave Softly, provides structure and suggestions for safe cave exploration, cave conservation, and preservation. A safe caving pilot project being developed in Utah has attracted the interest and support of the American Cave Conservation Association, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Great Basin National Park, and the Utah School Land Trust. The project generated a program over of the spring and summer 2004 and a useful tested process to orient adult youth leaders and train youth group members in safe caving practices cave conservation and cave resource preservation. It will provide a template for NSS grottos, BSA councils, and cave owners to use for training to reduce the risk of cave accidents.

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Utah Museum of Natural History's Caving Exhibit

Partnership lead by Cami Pulham, Brandon Kowallis, and Jon Jasper of the Timpanogos Grotto

Partnered with the Utah Museum of Natural History, two caving exhibits The Dark Zone and Caves: A Fragile Wilderness were open from May 28 through Oct 2 (the Dark Zone was extended to Dec 31) to educate the people of Utah the importance of their surrounding cave resources. The Dark Zone: Discovering Utah's Caves is exhibit created by the museum and their partnerships that provides four interpretive experiences including: Entrances, Discovery and Exploration, The Natural History of Caves, and Cave Safety. Each area illuminated and expanded the understanding of caves, their beauty, and mystery. And the Caves: A Fragile Wilderness is a traveling photo exhibit from the Smithsonian and the NSS.

Cami and her museum twin

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Removing Lint from Lehman Cave

Lehman Cave Lint Camps

Dale Green of the Salt Lake Grotto

Jon Jasper of the Timpanogos Grotto

The Utah grottos used to conduct Lint Camps every other year at Lehman Cave in Great Basin National Park. The removal of the lint had many purposes: to removed unsightly accumulations of lint, to remove foreign energy sources, and to prevent desiccation of cave formations. The Lint Camps would keep about 12 to 20 cavers busy for a least 2 full days. The group would often remove up to 20 to 40 lbs of lint and foreign debris. The grottos' last Lint Camp was in Spring 2001 when the park decided to hold off on the Lint Camps, until a comprehensive biologic survey of Lehman Cave was completed.

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Cave Gating

Dale Green of the Salt Lake Grotto

Jon Jasper of the Timpanogos Grotto

Kyle Voyles of the Color Country Grotto

Over the last five years, the Timpanogos Grotto has been a major participant of 2 gate installations and 1 gate repair. The most recent gate was installed on Crystal Cave in November 2005. This gate was designed and constructed by Timpanogos Grotto and Salt Lake Grotto members in heavy cooperation with the governing Salt Lake BLM Office. This gate was needed to protect the cave's formations and the growing population of Townsend Big-eared Bats. The Spanish Moss Cave Gate badly needed repair in spring of 2003 because of the hillside eroding away around the gate. About 7 to 9 Timpanogos Grotto members hiked up 5, 80-lbs bags of concrete and water to repair the gate that protected the cave fragile formations in a heavily-used canyon. The Ringtail Caverns gate was installed in November 2000 to protect its unique gypsum formations. The gate was designed by Kyle Voyles of the Color Country and later installed by Kyle Voyles and Jon Jasper of the Timpanogos Grotto. Timpanogos Grotto also expects to be involved in gating of 2 other caves in the coming year.

Cami Pulham at the Crystal Cave gate

Return to the Timpanogos Grotto Website

Maintained by Jon Jasper - last updated December 24, 2005