Association for Mexican Cave Studies

The AMCS, which has existed, mostly informally, since 1963, is dedicated to the exploration, study, and conservation of the caves of Mexico, especially through its program of publications. There is no formal membership list. Anyone who shares the goals and pursues them with proper respect for the caves and people of Mexico may consider himself a member of the AMCS.
The primary activity of the AMCS is the publication and distribution of material on the caves of Mexico.
Contact: AMCS, PO Box 7672, Austin, Texas 78713
Editor: editor@amcs-pubs.org,   Sales: sales@amcs-pubs.org.

Caves of Montana Project

Caves of Montana is a non-profit project of the National Speleological Society dedicated to finding, exploring, and surveying caves in the state of Montana. The goal of the project is to study and help preserve these valuable resources. The project places particular emphasis on documenting all work done so that other individuals and groups may benefit from the findings. Membership is open to anyone interested in making a positive contribution to Montana Caves and there are no dues.
Project Director: Jason Ballensky, email: jason@ballensky.com

Caves of Tabasco Project

This project focuses on the exploration and study of caves in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. In 2006 caves near Puxcatán, Flor del Río, Poana, Agua Blance and Graciano Sánchez were explored and mapped. Tabascan cavers, working with INAH, documented archaeological artifacts in Cueva de San Felipe. The BBC documentary Plant Earth: Caves was also released this year with Cueva de Villa Luz being prominently featured. Scientific investigations continue at Cueva de Villa Luz and Luna Azufre.
Project Director: Dr. Jim Pisarowicz, Wind Cave National Park, RR 1 Box 190, Hot Springs, SD 57747, 605-745-4600, e-mail: pisarowicz@alumni.hamline.edu.
Science Director: Laura Rosales Lagarde, 801 Leroy Place #2421, Socorro, NM 87801, 505-418-5421, e-mail: lagarde@nmt.edu.
Cartography Coordinator: Vickie Siegel, 4811 Duval Street, Austin, TX 78751, e-mail: vickie_siegel@yahoo.com
Mexican Liaison: Roberto Porter: e-mail: robertoporter@hotmail.com

Coldwater Cave Project

Coldwater cavers compiled several hundred feet of detailed resurvey while new survey pushed the total length past 17.2 miles. Additional equipment was deployed in support of ongoing, long term monitoring of water temperature throughout the cave in comparison to its resurgences and potential insurgences to further define the complex relationship between the surface and in-cave hydrology. Restoration was accomplished in a formation area in the upstream section of the cave while a mock rescue, which included local EMS personnel and cavers from Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, was performed in the cave again this year. Following the rescue training, additional rescue equipment, including a rescue litter, was cached on site.
Contact: Mike Lace [mlace@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu]

Hawaii Speleological Survey

This project focuses on the systematic survey, study, and conservation of Hawaii caves and their environments. Survey members have entered into written agreements with federal and Hawaiian government agencies to locate, conduct surveys, and carry out resource inventories in Hawaiian caves. Work in 2006 was carried out for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife, and the U.S. Army for archaeological surveys at the Pohakuloa Training Area. Surveys were also conducted for several private landowners.
In 2006, survey members increased the length of the Kipuka Kanohina Cave system to over 21 miles, increased the length of the Hualalai Ranch cave system to over 17 miles, and added over 10 miles to the total surveyed length of Hawaii lava tubes. HSS members also provided information about cave resources to the State Planning Department, the state Historical Preservation Division, and other State agencies. The Hawaii Speleological Survey maintains a database at the USGS Volcano Observatory, Volcano, Hawaii on more than 1000 Hawaii caves. A 2/3 affirmation of the Executive Committee is required for release of any file data to the public.
Contact: Hazel Medville (E-mail: hazelmedville@verizon.net)

Illinois Speleological Survey

Founded in 1995, the Illinois Speleological Survey's (ISS) primary purpose is to protect, conserve, locate, record, explore, and study the caves and karst resources in the State of Illinois. To work towards these goals the ISS host activities, seminars and lecturers. Furthermore, the ISS manages data (cave locations, maps, and other data) to support cavers and professional researchers equally, as well as providing field opportunities to interested parties with an interest in karst research or conservation. Projects, contacts, membership, and other information about the ISS can be found on our website (linked above).

Isla de Mona Project

The Isla de Mona Project was formed to document the numerous cave and karst features that dot the interior plateau and ring the rugged coastline of this island preserve. Since 1998, the project participants, in cooperation with the DRN of Puerto Rico, have recorded over 63 individual caves (both small and extensive) encompassing over 25 miles of passage through detailed mapping, inventory and photodocumentation, including the largest documented flank margin cave in the world - Systema Faro, at 19 km of total survey. Having completed work on the eastern side of the island in 2004, the Project efforts are now focused on detailed study of the extensive caves on the western side of Isla de Mona.
Project Coordinator - Mike Lace (E-mail: mlace@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu)

Index To Cave Passage Descriptions

Preparation of a computerized index of available cave passage descriptions to be made available to the NSS. So far the database includes more than 22,000 records from 66 titles. It is compiled under FoxPro 2.0. Included in the index are three code categories and eleven sub-categories rating the descriptive quality of text, maps, and photographs. Another code category and two sub-categories rate the quality of directions to the cave. This database does not include actual cave descriptions.
Project director: Alan Porker, PO Box 10551, New Orleans, LA 70181.

Mount Rainier Steam Caves Project

The project's primary objective is to survey and monitor the caves vicinity the summit of Mount Rainier, Washington. The caves are formed in the firn ice that is formed from consolidated snow. The firn melts at the rock substrate interface and the entire mass of firn in the crater subsides. Hot gasses escape from fumaroles and melt cave passages in the firn. Kiver reported two kilometers of passage. The continual subsidence and melting of passages apparently stays in an annual equilibrium but shows seasonal variation.
Project Director: Bill Klimack, 8995 Furrow Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21042, (410)-461-8504, (E-mail: bklimack@aol.com).

Quintana Roo Speleological Survey

Exploration and mapping of underwater and dry caves in the Quintana Roo area of Mexico, from Playa del Carmen to Tulum. The survey is dedicated to the production of a comprehensive cave inventory of the area. Major caves explored so far include Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Sistema Sac Actun, Sistema Dos Ojos, Sistema Toh Ha, and Sistema Naranjal. Cave inventory and biological and archaeological studies have also progressed. Project director: James G. Coke; (E-mail: chac@consolidated.net).

Roppel Cave Project

The continuing partnership of the Central Kentucky Karst Coalition (CKKC), which runs the survey of Roppel Cave, and the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) provides the catalyst for much of our success in the cave. This partnership has served both organizations well and we will continue this relationship for the foreseeable future.
Contact Jim Borden (E-mail: jamesdborden@yahoo.com).

Texas Speleological Society

TSS is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the management of Texas cave data in support of research, exploration, education, and conservation. Its office is housed at The University of Texas at Austin, which supports TSS through the Texas Memorial Museum. During the past year, TSS has been active developing new publications on Texas caving regions. Currently, 9,331 Texas caves and karst features are recorded. TSS has two publication series. TSS Bulletins are reports on caves and karst regions in Texas, include updated reprints of past publications, and TSS Monographs are for major works on Texas karst, including reformatted and quality-printed dissertations and theses. A regular column in the Texas Speleological Association's newsletter, an active Internet web site, office data-cataloguing work sessions, and an annual technical workshop are all ways that TSS is supporting and encouraging Texas caving, while generating more information for its database.
The TSS website has been selected by the SciLinks program of the National Science Teachers Association as a quality educational website.
For more information, contact TSS at: PRC 176/R4000, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1100, 512-475-8802.

Tongass Cave Project

The Tongass Cave Project is dedicated to the discovery, exploration, survey, study, and protection of the caves of Alaska, particularly those in the Alaskan Panhandle. Our recent work has centered on the conservation and protection of caves and karst areas, but we are also involved in new cave exploration and survey. We are presently in the process of developing a cooperative agreement with the Wrangell-St Elias Park, and will foster collaboration with other cavers.
Contacts: Steve Lewis (E-maiL: tenakeetwo@yahoo.com) and Kevin Allred (E-mail: carleneallred@hotmail.com)

Ukrainian American Youth Caver Exchange Foundation

The Ukrainian American Youth Caver Exchange Foundation (UAYCEF), in cooperation with The Ukrainian Regional Union of Horizontal Speleology, seeks to both foster relationships between the caving communities of America and Ukraine, and to promote the exchange of speleological Related information between both countries with an emphasis on exploratory, cartographic and vertical techniques and skills. In pursuance of its goals UAYCEF operates a student exchange program, and leads annual trips to both Western Ukraine, home of the world's giant horizontal gypsum caves, and Crimea, an area well known for its deep limestone pits. Local cavers from the Kiev and Ternopol areas join trip participants on their explorations, and provide any needed instruction in Eastern European Rebelay Techniques on all Crimea trips.
To date there have been fourteen expeditions to the Ukraine, with occasional side trips to Russia, which included a total of 62 participants from the US and United Kingdom. In addition, a total of seven youngsters have benefited from UAYCEF's student exchange program. The international caving community also has benefited from UAYCEF, not just from its annual trips and student exchange program, but from a wide range of other activities. These activities have included the introduction of SCT (Single Cable Technique) to the U.S., publication of various articles, slideshow presentations for various caving organizations and community groups, conduction of vertical rebelay workshops, and the development and testing of new and unique ascending, descending, and safety systems.
Gratitude is given to the Cave Conservancy Foundation, PMI, IMO, Speleobooks, Gonzo Guano Gear, Howe Caverns and numerous NSS grottos and members for their assistance over the years.
Project Director: Chris Nicola, 2446 43rd. Street, Astoria, N.Y. 11103.
Phone/Fax: 718 204-8373, Email: chris@uaycef.org

Western Kentucky Speleological Survey

The WKSS is committed to the exploration, mapping, and scientific study of the thirteen karst counties of western Kentucky. Recently we have investigated caves associated with the Rough Creek fault system in Ohio County. One cave in the upper Pennsylvania's Madisonville limestone may be the only known cave in this member in Kentucky. On April 22, 2006, Jason Richards made a 110 foot dive in Logan County that connected Spring Acre Cave with Gorham Cave. The new combined length is 2.28 miles. In 2005 the WKSS Report 1985-2005 was published and presented at the Huntsville NSS Convention. The 100 plus miles of surveyed cave in western KY is more than found in 40 states. The WKSS is a supporter of the KY Speleological Survey.
Contact Preston and Shari Forsythe (E-mail: pns_for@bellsouth.net)

Williams Canyon Project

The Williams Canyon Project (WCP) surveys, explores, and preserves caves of Williams Canyon near Colorado Springs, Colorado including the commercially operated Cave of the Winds. In a cooperative agreement with Cave of the Winds, the WCP take an active role in the management of the canyon resources. New surveyed passage yielded approximately 500 feet from a recently opened cave. Lesser amounts of survey resulted from continued digs in several other caves. WCP members have proposed to host the 2009 BOG meeting. WCP History Committee continues to do research on the rich history of the Williams Canyon caves and is pursuing a proposal to seek National Natural Area status for the canyon. WCP members participated in a regional Cave Rescue Seminar with the mock rescue held in a canyon cave through the generosity of the Cave of the Winds management. Restoration projects are ongoing in the canyon caves.
Project Coordinator: Patricia Malone; 9065 Picabo Rd; Cascade, CO 80809; 719-684-7756; pzmalone@pcisys.net