CRF Projects

CRF Programs and Projects

Mammoth Cave Cartographic Program - Chief Cartographer, Bob Osburn: The objectives of the cartographic program are to collect detailed geographic data from the caves of Mammoth Cave National park, to produce cartographic interpretations of the data in the form of various types of maps, and to incorporate that data into a master data archive system. Copies of data and maps are provided to the Division of Resource Management at Mammoth Cave National Park via the conditions of an official Cartographic Research Project.

Small Caves Inventory/Data Management at Mammoth Cave National Park - Project Coordinator, Scott House: In 1994 a new cooperative program was initiated between CRF and Mammoth Cave National Park to begin a comprehensive resource inventory of less-extensive caves within certain drainage basins in the Park. Caves are located, brass caps are installed, and locations are determined by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) equipment. The caves are mapped and data about the contents, suitable for use with a geographic information system (GIS), are recorded in reference to the survey net. An additional product of this study is a separate database that will contain general information about the cave.

Missouri Cave Inventory/Data Management Program - Program Coordinator, Scott House: Cave mapping, resource surveys, and biologic inventory are conducted in the Ozark National Scenie Riverways, on Missouri Department of Conservation lands, in the Mark Twain National Forest and in privately-owned Pioneer Forest. Work is done under cooperative agreements between CRF and Federal/state agencies who administer the lands.

Lava Beds Survey and Inventory Project - Project Directors, Bruce Rogers and Pat Helton: Since 1988, CRF has assisted Lave Beds National Monument with cave surveys, cave resource inventories and other projects. The objective of the project is to thoroughly evaluate the caves and resources they contain and to provide input toward management of the caves.

Lilburn Cartography Project - Chief Cartographer, Dr. Peter Bosted: The project began in 1980 with the goal of adding more detail to some of the main passages. Since then the 7.8 miles of known cave has been resurveyed using modern sketching techniques and standards and over 8 miles of survey has been added to the known length of the cave (currently over 16 miles). For cartography, the passages are split out into quadrangles and drafting is done on computer. As quadrangles are completed, copies are provided to survey teams who then field check the maps.

Redwood Canyon Sediment Studies - Principal Investigator, Dr. John Tinsley: This research measures rate of sediment yield and rates, and processes of sediment transport among the karst features of Redwood Canyon (CA) in order to (1) improve understanding of the karst and its physical system and (2) to gain insight into the region's natural history using a sedimentological perspective.

Mineral King Project Area - Project Coordinator, Roger Mortimer: Started in 1993, work in the Mineral King area involves inventory and survey of the area's caves.

Lilburn Restoration Project - Project Coordinator, Bill Frantz: Over its long history of use, some of the formation areas of Lilburn Cave have suffered damage. Fortunately, there is little formation breakage, but the very muddy nature of some passages has resulted in dirty formations. In 1993, the Lilburn Restoration Project was initiated to try to undo some of that damage and to prevent further problems. Restoration efforts have been dedicated to cleaning formations, flagging trails and installing direction signs.

USGS National Spacial Data Infrastructure Project: In 1996, a grant was awarded to CRF by the U.S. Geolgoical Survey for the development of tools that contribute to the USGS National Spacial Data Infrastructure. CRF, in cooperation with Mammoth Cave National Park, The American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA), and Kentucky's Barren River Area Development District (BRADD), have developed and proposed a minimal content standard for the collection of cave survey data on federal lands.

China/USA Caves Project and Exchange - Project Director, Ian Baren: This project promotes the joint exploration, mapping and research of the caves and karst of China and the U.S. The sponsoring entity from China is Guizhou Normal University. Project activities have been focusing on the caves and karst of Guizhou Province. In return for sponsoring CRF/NSS cavers in China, CRF and the NSS sponsor and host 3 to 5 chinese researchers to the NSS convention. Project trips run every other year with the exchange taking place during intervening years.

GIS Resource Development Program -Project Directors, Aaron Addison & Bernard Szukalski: In 1997, recognizing that GIS technology was rapidly becoming one of the most effective approaches to cave and karst resource management, the Cave Research Foundation established a GIS Resource Development Program. The goal of the program is to assist CRF personnel, federal agency staff, and other researchers access and utilize spatial data, GIS applications, and other software tools for the purpose of cave and karst resource management. A longer term goal is to use GIS to develop a collective knowledge and support base for cave conservation, protection and management.

Educational Resource Development Program: The purpose of this program is to make information about cave and karst resources more widely available through the development of audiovisual and multimedia educational materials. Hardware and software, utilizing digital video, digital still and computer graphics and animation packages are available to create presentations that can be rendered in standard VHS, CD-ROM, and World Wide Web formats. The program has two primary goals: 1) The development and dissemination of educational resources (primarily multimedia \ and audiovisual) and, 2) the provision of assistance to federal agencies who want to create interpretive exhibits and displays for the general public. Projects are currently being developed.

Lincoln National Forest - Capitan Peak Study Area Project - Project Coordinator, Dick Venters: In 1991, CRF instigated the Lincoln National Forest/Capitan Peak Study Area project (LNF-CPSA). The project began as a field mapping expedition to locate karst features within the Lincoln National Forest, Capitan Peak area of New Mexico. Current Field work involves ridgewalking, cave hunting, surficial land form study and geologic mapping.

Paleontology Projects at Mammoth Cave - Principal Investigator: Dr. Rick Toomey: Starting in the Fall of 1997, the Illinois State Museum (ISM) has been involved in two paleontology projects at Mammoth Cave National Park (MACA). The principal investigator on these two projects has been Rickard Toomey. They are being undertaken under cooperative agreements between the ISM and the NPS. In addition to providing important data to the projects, CRF has been actively involved in supporting the projects through both mapping activities and contributing personnel to assist in locating paleontological remains. Although there are formally two projects, with somewhat different goals and timelines, the methods, data, and CRF participation are the same in both projects.