Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc.

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Southeastern Cave Conservancy News

WNS and Fungus confirmed in four Southeastern Cave Conservancy Caves
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi) today reported that signs of the bat disease known as White Nose Syndrome (WNS) have been detected on hibernating bats in SCCi caves in four states. The SCCi-owned caves affected this winter include Wolf River Cave in Fentress County, Tennessee; Frenchman Knob Cave in Hart County, Kentucky; Fricks Cave in Walker County, Georgia; and Fern Cave in Jackson County, Alabama. Read more...

Addition to the Valhalla Cave Preserve
In February 2012, the SCCi closed on the purchase of the Patrick addition to the Valhalla Cave Preserve. Ownership of this property represents an effort spanning ten years and a marathon amount of work over the last two years. The State of Alabama’s Forever Wild program is purchasing all of the Patrick’s 2,100 acres, which would have permanently blocked the SCCi from any chance to own the area above the pit and the two in-feeder caves. With this 20-acre purchase, the SCCi now has ownership of the complete known extents of Valhalla and the two in-feeder caves, plus a significant portion of the watershed that drains into the cave. Read more...

A New (and Free!) Way to Help the SCCi Raise Money
One of our members suggested a great fundraising idea that will help the SCCi buy even more caves. The best thing about this idea is that it won't cost you a penny. What's the idea? Get a Kroger's card and use it when you buy gas or groceries. Each time you use your card to buy anything from Kroger or a Kroger affiliated company, 5% of your purchase will be donated to the SCCi. Read more...

2011/2012 Annual Report
If you missed our annual member's meeting on June 2, you can still review our 2011/2012 annual report! SCCi 2011/2012 Annual Report

New SCCI Cave Visitation Policy
We have a new Cave Visitation Policy that applies to all of our caves. It includes a new method of deconning gear that's MUCH easier and doesn't require any chemicals: hot water. Please read the policy and clear your gear before and after visiting not just SCCi caves, but all caves! Now that deconning is really cheap and easy, let's all be sure to cave cleanly!

Three Steps to Clean Caving with Hot Water Disinfection: Quick, Easy, and No Added Chemicals!
Clean Caving is a practice we should all be following to help protect our cave ecosystems. In addition to concerns regarding White Nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungus-caused disease that has killed millions of bats in the eastern U.S. in the past several years, we also need to protect other forms of microscopic cave life. Read more...

Fox Mountain Work Day: December 17
The first of several planned work days to clear trails at the SCCi's Fox Mountain Preserve is scheduled for Saturday, December 17th, beginning at 9 AM EST. This work day will focus on clearing the trail up to Rusty's Cave, which received a direct hit from a tornado that came through the area in April 2011. Read more...

SCCi Board Ends Lease of Long Island Cove
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy recently decided to end our lease of Long Island Cove. We’re really glad our members could enjoy the wonderful caves in the cove for the past two years, but we felt that the money we would spend on an additional year’s lease would be better spent in other ways. Read more...

We're Reopening Caves!
The SCCi Board of Directors recently voted to re-open nearly all of our caves with seasonal bat populations in May 2012. We had closed these caves in 2009, when the cause of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), and mechanism by which it spread, were poorly understood. At the time, WNS was over 1,000 miles away from our caves, and the board wanted to reduce the potential that a visitor to one of these caves could inadvertently cause a long-distance jump of WNS. The SCCi acted before most state and federal agencies, demonstrating our leadership in cave conservation and management. Read more...

Cavers Now Own Tumbling Rock Cave!
We're pleased to announce that cavers now own the classic and caver-favorite Tumbling Rock Cave! The SCCi started leasing the cave in January, 2008 and purchased the cave in July, 2011. Tumbling Rock Inc., an Alabama non-profit corporation, manages the cave. This very special acquisition is the culmination of more than four years of extensive efforts by SCCi member Jay Clark and others.Read more...

Parking Area and Access Route for the Fox Mountain Preserve
There is a new parking area and access to the SCCi's Fox Mtn. Preserve in Rising Fawn, Georgia, home to Rusty's, Byers, Cemetery Pit, and other caves. We no longer have permission to park on the Rising Fawn Market (formerly Sue's Market) property. Also, anyone planning to visit the preserve should be advised that the south end of the preserve was drastically impacted by the tornadoes in April of this year. The main road up the mountain was partially obliterated and finding Rusty's and Byers is difficult, even if you know the way. We have begun the arduous task of clearing the trails, but it will be a while (maybe years) before they are totally clear all the way to Byers. We will be organizing a trail-clearing day in November and will be asking for volunteers.

First Online Newsletter Sent Out!
We are pleased to announce that we sent our first online newsletter on January 14. We hope you enjoy it! If you didn't receive a copy, please subscribe using the sign-up form in the left column. You can also open the online newsletter and read the issue. If you have any questions or comments about the newsletter, send an email to newsletter@scci.org.

SCCi Creates the Jacobs Mountain Preserve
The SCCi is excited to announce our newest lease acquisition, the Jacobs Mountain Preserve. Located in Jackson County, Alabama. Jacobs Mountain features 65 known caves that have been closed for many years. Eighteen of the caves are considered significant, including Paint Rock River Cave, Guess Cave, Norsemans Well, Torode Pit, Williams Saltpeter Cave, Halley's Hole and many, many more. Read more....

Sign up for Our NEW Online Newsletter!
We're starting an online newsletter! The first issue will be sent out in October after the TAG Fall Cave in. Subscribe by entering your email address in the sign-up form in the left column. We don't share your email address or any contact information with anyone, and you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time. The new online newsletter will be a great way for you to keep up to date on acquisitions, SCCi news, announcements, and other interesting caving information.

SCCi Creates Long Island Cove Preserve
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi) has just opened to visitation Long Island Cove in Jackson County, Alabama. The Long Island Cove Preserve contains two notable pits, one significant horizontal cave, and seven other known caves; all of these caves have been closed for several years. Read more...

The SCCi Adopts Revised Cave Visitation Policy for WNS Concerns
February 27, 2010 - The Board of Directors of the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc (SCCi) today approved a revised Cave Visitation Policy, effective immediately. Read more...

SCCi Draft Quarterly Reports for February 27, 2010 Board Meeting
Now Available. Meeting Agenda

Jay Clark Wins 2009 John Van Swearingen IV Stewardship Award
Jay Clark, who has served as the SCCi's pro bono attorney for many years, wins this year's stewardship award. Read more...

Jim Wilbanks Shaves His Head for the SCCi and Breast Cancer Awareness
Jim Wilbanks thinks that the best thing cavers can do for the SCCi is to become a sustaining member. If we all give what we can, the sky is the limit. But Jim recently did much more for the SCCi. To raise money for the SCCi, raise awareness about breast cancer, and support a good friend undergoing chemotherapy, Jim Wilbanks shaved his head (and his beard!). Read more...

SCCi Board Votes to Reopen Tennessee and Kentucky Caves
On May 22nd, 2009 the SCCi Board voted to reopen the following Tennessee caves: Gourdneck Cave, Sinking Cove Cave(s), South Pittsburg, Snail Shell Cave, and Swirl Canyon Cave. Logsdon Cave in Kentucky was also reopened. Please refer to the management plan for each cave for access guidelines. The following caves in Tennessee and Kentucky will remain closed: Hardins / Junkyard Cave, Holly Creek Cave, Rattling Pit, Wolf River Cave, and Frenchman Knob Cave.

Letter from SCCi Chair Brian Krebs to Members About WNS
Read the letter from SCCi Chair Brian Krebs sharing some important information with you about the SCCi’s response to white-nose syndrome (WNS), and asking for your continued support.

Join Us for the SCCi Annual Membership Meeting and Board Meeting
The 2009 Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc. will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Steward Springs Cave Preserve located in Ft. Payne, Alabama. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. (Central Time). Prior to the meeting, the Board will hold its quarterly business meeting beginning at 12 p.m. This meeting will be at the Wells Valley Recreation Center 4220 Godfrey Ave NE. For more information and driving directions, please see the meeting announcement.

SCCi Acts to Protect Bats (April 16, 2009)
On April 16, 2009, the Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc, (SCCi) has taken precautionary action to help protect bats from White Nose Syndrome (WNS) by temporarily closing several SCCi caves. We are working closely with specialists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other partner organizations to make sure we are aware of all current WNS information and to respond appropriately. We will reopen our caves as soon as the Board determines that it is safe to do so.