Submitted by Steve Ormeroid, AVP avp@caves.org October 23, 2006
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The Department of the AVP consists of 4 Divisions and two Commissions. Contained within are 19 committees and various subcommittees. Copies of the actual 3-P reports will be made available as requested.
The time between the 2006 Convention meeting and the requests for reports for this Nov. 4 meeting was very short. Many of the Committees were just working through the decisions and plans made in Bellingham. With the size of this last Convention at a more intimate level, there seemed to be more time to have informal discussion groups to work on plans and problems. The highlight of one of these discussions was the start of a Partnership Building Forum. The primary goal of this Forum would be to network and partner with land use planners, land managers and developers where cave and Karst land issues arise. This forum is presently a work in progress. Those involved in the primary meeting were from Conservation, Education, Environmental and Conservancy committees. I hope to have much more to report on this at a later time. I also was very pleased to see the great involvement with youth groups as present by the Education Division. One of the important discussions within the Executive Committee has been the "graying" of the Society. With a well documented downturn of adults and youth being involved in "back to nature" and environment activities, the dedication of those in the Education Division and the JSS should be applauded and may well be the future of the Society. Convention planning is working well into the future with potential bids out to 2012. This will help the members plan their upcoming travels and give the Convention committee time to review the ongoing issues of insurance and site availabilities. After a dry spell of new volunteers for positions, I am starting to have a list of potential candidates to fill some vacancies.
Jim C. Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker, Division Chiefs werks@zianet.com
Vision for the NSS Conservation Division: Heighten awareness of the importance of cave and karst conservation. Develop strategies to serve a greater diversity of audiences throughout the U.S.
Book—Cave Conservation and Restoration is published and on the market. Deep appreciation goes to all contributors, reviewers, production staff members, and to the NSS Executive Committee and Board for supporting this publication. The 600 page volume, edited by Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim C Werker, contains contributions from more than 40 speleological authors. The book introduces a philosophical conservation ethic: For every decision related to a cave, the foremost concern should be the perpetuation of speleological processes, values, and resources. Containing a wealth of detail, the manual describes tools and methods for cave conservation, restoration, and speleothem repair. It is available to NSS members for $37 through the NSS bookstore.
Jim C. Werker & Val Hildreth-Werker, Co-Chairmen werks@zianet.com
NSS News—NSS News 2007
Conservation Issue call for articles went out in September. Help
produce a thorough NSS overview of worldwide conservation
research, projects, and cave/karst outreach
awareness efforts. Youth speleo-conservation activities
will receive special emphasis in this issue.
Submit conservation pieces from one paragraph to several pages.
Please do not exceed 2500 words.
Deadline is December 31, 2006. (Nothing
is accepted after the final submission date of January
15, 2007.)
Jim Werker and Val Hildreth-Werker serve as editors for the
annual conservation issue of the NSS News. Please give notice
that you plan to submit. Send an e-mail now werks@zianet.com
Convention—Thanks and kudos go to all who submitted abstracts and presented papers on Conservation Tuesday at the Bellingham NSS Convention. This year we had a day of truly excellent presentations during the Restoration Forum and the Conservation and Management Session. Staged at thirty-minute intervals, each presenter was allowed twenty minutes to speak followed by 10 minutes for questions and next speaker setup. This format allowed time for important discussion and enhanced participant interaction. Thanks and kudos go to the Bellingham Convention staff for providing lovely, adequate space state-of-the-art media modules in each presentation room, and comfort-driven working thermostats. Throughout the day, 150-200 individuals participated in the Conservation Tuesday papers.
Grow or Die—An encouraging, enthusiastic, and surprising discussion erupted during the Conservation Tuesday talks. In keeping with the NSS need to grow new members, many cavers in the room promote and are involved with caving youth groups. About half the participants stated they started caving as teens and stuck with it because of excellent mentoring and training. We all recognize the future resides with new blood, and the benefit of training and tutoring youth and college groups was certainly clear among this group of NSS members. The message of this discussion is the Society needs to actively promote and support youth membership, mentoring, and student grottos.
Welcome New Appointments – We are happy to announce several new facets of the Conservation Committee. We welcome these conservation-spirited individuals and thank them for taking on leadership roles in national tasks promoting cave and karst protection.
Steve Smith of Arizona is initiating a new program for coordinating conservation information with NSS Grottos.
Justin Epps of Utah is tackling the promotion of low-impact caving techniques and cave softly ethics.
Merideth Hildreth of New Mexico is coordinating the new NSS Partnership Building Forum.
JuJu Volcanic Island World Heritage Site Proposal—The Conservation Division supports Bill Halliday’s request that the NSS Board take action in supporting a JeJu Volcanic Island World Heritage Site Proposal.
NSS Partnership Building Forum (Subcommittee)
Merideth A. Hildreth, Coordinator planning@zianet.com
Purpose: As a practicing community/urban planner, Merideth Hildreth recognized that the NSS could serve as a much needed informational resource for planners, local officials, land managers, and land developers who encounter development issues involving caves and karst. Coordinating with Val Hildreth-Werker, Jim Werker, and Steve Ormeroid, a meeting was held on August 11, 2006 during the Bellingham NSS Convention to establish the Partnership Building Forum as a part of the NSS Conservation Committee. Merideth presented a draft set of goals and a purpose statement for the forum. The document has been revised to reflect discussion and input during the meeting.
Progress:
Mike Walsh and Pat Seiser are working on an Urban Cave Management Plan
Discovering Caves Brochure Series Subcommittee
Cheryl Jones, Coordinator cs.jones@verizon.net
Mike Dale, Graphic Design miked@backpacker.com
Plans: The NSS
Biology Section agreed at their Convention meeting to take the
lead in developing a new brochure/s on cave life for the
Discovering Caves Series. Dave Culver is heading up the
project for the Section, and will work with Cheryl Jones and Mike
Dale to develop the final product.
Progress: Mike is looking to replace a couple of photos in
Fragile Underground before it is reprinted this year.
Jeju Volcanic Island World Heritage Proposal
Request for NSS Board Action
We support Bill Halliday’s recommendation for action by the NSS Board of Governors to show support for a Jeju World Heritage proposal. (See abstract and supporting information below.)
Halliday’s abstract for the 2006 NSS Convention Conservation and Management Session:
Halliday, William R. 2006. The Jeju Volcanic Island World Heritage Proposal. 2006 NSS Convention Program Guide, p. 52-53 (abstract).
Roy Vanhoozer RVanhoo@aol.com
Rick Williams, Treasurer
Short Term Goals: Complete the removal of electrical switchboxes and concrete footers from unused tourist trail.
Long Term Goals: Work with the National Park Service (NPS) and other local cave owners to accomplish restoration projects to improve karst environments.
Project Updates: With the removal of the switchboxes, the camp will have completed all the goals laid out in the current Proposal and Agreement with the NPS. With no other large-scale volunteer projects looming, the NPS has requested that the number of participants in the camps be reduced and capped. A new Web site (now on the NSS server) was created that allows the interactive sign-up of volunteers and a waiting list. Initially, the camp will be capped at 45 volunteers, but this number will be reevaluated with time and experience.
Problems: Federal grant funds to reimburse volunteer expenses dried up earlier this year. However, this has had little impact on attendance. Morale and volunteerism remain high. Camp attendance will have to be managed in accordance with NPS goals and request for volunteers.
Amy M. Bern, Division Chief amybern@juno.com
Progress:
800 Girl Scouts (not including parents, troop leaders, and other members of the public) registered for this event. Our initial estimate of attendance is approximately 1200 people. Members from the Colorado Grotto had a booth with activities on cave formation, speleothems, and critters and a karst groundwater model demonstration. The squeezebox was also available for kids to wiggle through.
Kriste has jumped into her new role as EEC Chairman (see report below).
Plans:
Discussed possibilities for this committee position with NSS AVP. Hope to have someone in soon.
"Careers in Speleology"- as Kriste settles into her new position revisit the opportunity to make this CD.
Problems:
I would like to have someone in place for this important committee very soon. (Note: a candidate for this position is available since the writing of this report)
There has still been no interest from anyone in chairing this committee.
Committee Reports:
Kriste Lindberg , Chairman lindberg@kiva.net
Progress:
Plans:
Problems:
None.
Pat Bingham, Chairman nssyouth@caves.org
Progress:
Plans:
Problems:
I have not given the Regional Coordinator Program the attention it requires to be of full benefit. I would like to fill the sub-committee chair with one person who will promote and actively push the Regional Coordinators program by recruiting enough Regional Coordinators so that there is one per state.
Kriste Lindberg (PU Board Member, NSS)
Progress:
Plans:
Problems:
None.
Chief position open
Kim Metzgar, Chairman kimmakc@aol.com
There have been no grant requests
John M. Wilson, Chairman wilsonjml@msn.com
The Tenth Annual Cave Conservancy Round-table will be held at the 2007 Convention on Friday of the Convention week.
Insurance issues continue to be the main item of discussion at the 2006 Round-table.
The website www.acave.us/nssccc continues to be updated as new information is available.
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE NSS NATURE PRESERVE COMMITTEE
Buford Pruitt, Jr., Chairman bpruitt5@cox.net
Chairman’s Comments – Buford Pruitt, Jr.
Lately, I have not been totally timely about informing managers when report deadlines approach. The reason is that, as each Board meeting and EC meeting approach, Steve O. tells me when he needs my reports. I then back-count to figure out when manager reports need to be in my hands, and then I so inform the managers. This deadline planning process is done three times a year. A better way might to plan our deadlines only once annually, so that there aren’t any delays due to Steve or me being overworked. Thus, Steve could tell me early in the calendar year when he needs my reports, and I can then inform the managers all at once what their deadlines are, thus saving Steve and me some time. Of course, friendly reminders to the managers will still be necessary.
Mill Creek Sink Nature Preserve – Jim Taylor and Buford Pruitt, Jr.
Progress: Cave diving has been limited due to increased rain and subsequently decreased visibility. During intervals where diving was possible such dives were work related; i.e., mapping, water flow measurements and water testing. A dye tracing study was completed which demonstrated that Mill Creek Sink Cave conveys surface waters to Hornsby Spring and thence to the Santa Fe River. The Wal-Mart proposed across the street was permitted by the Suwannee River Water Management District, and will almost certainly be permitted by the City of Alachua, to include dry storm water ponds which we believe will have slowly accumulating, long term adverse impacts on the cave’s resources.
Problems: FDOT drilled test holes between Hwy 441 and the sink to measure sinkhole encroachment upon the highway and to ascertain how to anchor in some armor to retard erosion of the nearly vertical, almost-barren dirt walls of the sink. The sink is enlarging southward toward US Hwy 441, and FDOT is concerned about the integrity of the road. Their geotechnical consultant has told us that FDOT wants to work with the NSS to find out "what the NSS will let them do."
Plans: Continued water and biological testing within the cave are being planned to establish baseline levels. Buford Pruitt and Gene Melton plan to field-meet with the FDOT consultant when the latter is ready and determine the most environmentally friendly way to prevent the sink from damaging the highway. We do not intend to continue to fight the Wal-Mart dry ponds; however, we now have the attention of numerous local elected and appointed officials, and they and the public are becoming highly aware of the lack of State protection for ground water quality protection.
McFails Cave Nature Preserve – Tom Rider
Progress: The cave is now closed for the season. There were approximately 14 trips into the cave this year. High waters caused trip cancellations and resulted in one exit being "very sporting."
Problems: No problems to report, although there was no progress on the gate this summer.
Plans: Conversations were held with an adjacent landowner about purchasing additional land, including Wicke’s Hole.
Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve – Garrett Czmor
Progress: Approximately 32 linear feet of an erosion control wall destroyed by Hurricane Ivan was finally reconstructed, with an additional 15 linear feet still needing to be completed. The cave continues to be monitored and the kiosk and cave register maintained. Cave divers have surveyed to the fourth sump and are working on a rough draft map. They also have been surveying on the downstream part of Arch in an effort to create a full survey of the wet section of the cave system. Garrett has begun surveying the dry part of Tytoona. Schuylkill Center students and a couple of Boy Scout troops were given a tour of the cave. The kiosk was updated with newer information including an upgraded list of Tytoona contributors.
Problems: The 1980s-era steps leading down into the sinkhole are showing signs of decay, and a few steps are also too high.
Plans: Garrett hopes to have a draft map of the cave completed this winter and eventually have a map for the NSS showing the entire cave system. Tentative plans for next year calls for additional work on the erosion barrier and repair of the sinkhole steps.
Warrens Cave Nature Preserve – William Oldacre
Progress: Visitation at Warrens was slow this summer, as anticipated. Regulars continue to visit the cave and fortunately there hasn't been another break in. We are still using a spare lock. One of the landowners whose property our entry road crosses has previously stated that he wanted to fence his land (and we would have to construct a new road to access the cave), but he evidently has no immediate plans so Bill didn’t push him.
Problems: Spam reaching the Warrens Cave Web site is reaching approximately 3,000 messages a month! Bill wants to streamline the process to provide information to Web site visitors, and spam makes it difficult for him to know whom to respond to.
Plans: He will get two new locks for the cave gate, one being a spare, and the FSS will pay for both locks. Bill plans to implement anti-spam measures via cooperation from the NSS webmaster. Bill also wants permission from the NSS webmaster to mirror some of the Boy Scout information page on the Warrens site so that troop masters can more easily find the information they need to safely explore the cave when FSS members take them in.
John Guilday Caves Nature Preserve – Dave West
Progress: Work continues on the dig in Trout Cave, with two recent trips to the site. It has progressed about 50ft, and continues to show evidence of soot transmission. This is important, as the dig is proceeding to an area where no known cave exists, yet indications are that it was an outlet of soot transmission to the known cave. The supposition is that it may be an alternate route to the alleged "Saltpetre Passage" to which the original connection was purportedly filled in by Pete Hauer, and may ultimately allow restoration of the hibernaculum conditions preferred by the Indian bat. Approximately 100 big-eared bats have been discovered in the cave.
Problems: Thankfully, nothing major. A few visitors continue to go off trail and take a short cut down the hill.
Plans: Work will continue on the dig as time permits. The annual Conservacation is scheduled for November 4. During this weekend, we plan to install additional fencing above and below the area where short cuts down the hill are most frequently taken. In addition, we plan to exchange the temperature monitors in Trout Cave, except perhaps for those in the small chamber currently used by the Indiana bats. The semi annual bat count for Trout will be conducted in February, along with counts in the other major caves, Hamilton and New Trout. The monitors in the chamber will be exchanged at that time to minimize visitation to the room. Although the current population of Indiana bats exceeds the numbers described in the management plan as appropriate for closure, we have no evidence to date that the habitat has been restored. Continued monitoring and a successful dig will tell the tale. The recommendation from Craig Stihler of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is to maintain the status quo for the time being. During the most recent digging trip, two groups in the cave reported large groups of clustering bats well beyond the area reported as previous Indiana habitat. One of these led me back to the area and I was able to identify a cluster of approximately 100 Big-Eared bats in a dome along the main trail. The area will be searched during the bat count to determine if they have selected the cave as a home. This seems unlikely, as there are no prior reports of Virginia Big-Ears on the property other than a single individual that seems to appear every few years in either Trout or, more often, New Trout Cave.
Barton Hill Nature Preserve – Thom Engel
Progress: This has been a quiet season. It has been very wet in upstate New York and visitation has been light.
Problems: None reported.
Plans: Plans are to start work on the road to the cave when the ground is drier. The work will be done over a one-mile stretch that has two wet areas making passage problematic. The western area crosses a New York State regulated wetland and a permit will be needed from the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation for the work. Thom works for this agency and will handle the application procedures. The roadwork will be a multi-year process. Expenses have not yet been estimated, but some funding is available from Gage Caverns Fund and Northeast Cave Properties Fund.
Wells Cave Nature Preserve – Larry Simpson
Progress: June 3rd Greater Cincinnati Grotto held a cleanup and maintenance trip at Wells Cave Preserve. They performed brush clearing and weed eating in the parking area and on the trail back to the field, leveled the existing gravel on the driveway to fill a wash-out, relocated some large stones from the ditch to help shore-up the driveway, and did a 4 hr clean-up back to the river passage.
Problems: The ongoing gravel washout may need further mitigation. Also, the neighboring landowner has been mowing the field to prevent copperheads. There have been suggestions to let the field revert to its natural state or plant wildflowers.
Plans: Evaluate ditch washout to see if it needs extra culvert, larger stones or other mitigation such as a concrete riprap apron. Consider alternatives on the field and how it will affect landowner relations. Talk to landowner to make sure he understands the needs of the preserve.
Carol Tiderman, Division Chief ctider@us.ibm.com
2007- Online registration is up and running. The Web site is under construction. Promo CD’s are scheduled to be shipped out to all Grottos and the NSS Office before the end of October.
2008- Confirmation of a date is still an issue. The Lake City Community College President has confirmed his commitment in having the Convention at their facility. However they cannot confirm any schedules until the Florida regents prepare the master schedule for public colleges and universities. This is done in early 2007. Camp Weed is willing to hold dates for the Convention in early August, 2007 until we confirm the College availability.
2009- A site visit is planned for December to review facility spaces and accommodations.
2010- No additional information to present.
2011 & 2012- Future bids in planning stages
No additional reports at this time
John Punches, National Coordinator national@ncrc.info
Progress:
NCRC summer meeting was held at Convention. Minutes are posted on the NCRC website.
Rocky Mt. Region, with assistance from Central Region, held a Level 1 class in Jackson Hole Wyoming.
Central Region held an OCR in Kentucky and participated in Indiana Dept of Homeland Security open house.
PNW Region held local instructor workshop in Trout Lake, Washington, Sept 23-24.
Western Region held an OCR in Great Basin National Monument in NV, Oct 14-15.
Eastern Region held an OCR in Laurel Caverns, Pennsylvania, Oct. 14-15.
Plans:
Northeastern Region is planning an OCR.
The 2007 NCRC National Cave Rescue Seminar is final review by the BORC. The event is tentatively scheduled for June 16-23, 2007, in Salem Virginia. Pending final approval by the BORC, the event should be posted to the NCRC website by early November.
NCRC Education Committee will meet November 18-19, 2006 in Walker County Georgia 911 Center to work on curriculum.
The NCRC Board of Regional Coordinators meeting is planned for Saturday, February 3, 2007, at the Walker County (Georgia) 911 Center. It will be preceded by a meeting of the NCRC Education Committee (on Friday, February 2).
Problems:
Nothing of overwhelming significance.
Jay Jorden, Chairman jjorden@texoma.net
Current commission members: Gale Beach <raybeach@earthlink.net>; Tom Rea <tomrea@ccrtc.com>; John Wilson <wilsonjml@msn.com>; Aaron Atz <atz@netpointe.com>; Thomas Lera <frontier2@erols.com>
Progress: In the months since the last report, the committee has continued to work with various groups in fighting cave vandalism and promoting the deterrence reward system. Although no new requests for awards were made during the reporting period, the committee just received word of $2,700 in fines levied against nine New Mexico youths for entering a closed bat cave on a federal monument. The National Park Service said the youths violated NPS regulations and federal laws. It’s unclear if vandalism was involved. Commissioners will be asked for their recommendation regarding this incident. The commission is also monitoring two arrests following vandalism at Wyandotte and Sieberts Caves at the O'Bannon Woods State Park near Corydon, Indiana. Prosecution is apparently in the early stages. An article publicizing the Cave Vandalism Deterrence Reward Commission is being prepared for the NSS News.
Plans: The commission will continue to review all successful prosecutions of cave vandals with an eye toward publicizing the Society's conservation objectives and rewarding diligence on the part of those individuals who work in furtherance of those goals. Other means of publicizing the commission's activities are also envisioned.
Problems: None noted.
10/24/06