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| Cave Next Door map
Vertical Map of Dig
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Purpose
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The purpose of the Cave Next Door project is to promote the conservation, preservation, study and exploration of the cave.
At all times possible a connection will be maintained via telephone or Internet. Pictures and progress will be immediately posted. By sharing the discovery with as large an audience as possible, we hope to increase appreciation of caves and their unique features. By holding the cave in a larger public embrace, we also hope to increase the awareness of the importance of cave conservation.
It is intended that the Cave Next Door (CND) serve as an alternative model for the entry into, progress through, and subsequent management of any newly discovered cave. This will require a disciplined, planned and observant progress, recording and caring for all features. The plan for this is given below.
Previously it was always felt that the first step in the eventual management of a cave was the exploration of the cave by mapping crews. This was usually done in a state of high excitement, with the main thought being one of pushing through as much virgin passage as possible, as fast as possible. Unfortunately this often is to the cave's detriment as delicate contents are damaged, and other contents defaced and spoiled, by the rush of exploring new passage. Witness the damage and defacement committed by the early explorers in Lechuguilla Cave. Only ten years after its discovery, it required much restoration work. Cavers went swimming in cave lakes that later were found to each have a unique micro biota.
Furthermore, it has been found that some features will not be discovered until careful inventory is done. For example, Oregon Caves was visited from 1874 on, and until recently was constantly explored and re-explored. Yet it was not until a careful inventory in the 1990's, that the ancient animal marks and imprints in sediment deposits were found. It has to be presumed that more such marks were originally present, but were destroyed by explorers.
Another factor is that cave biota is a subtle presence, and not necessarily visible to the passing explorer. Bats will crawl into cracks to sleep, and invertebrates will feel the coming vibrations, and scurry out of sight. I have observed this. Cave biologists tell me that repeated visitation will cause biota to move to less disturbed parts of the cave, and thus a lot of activity can have a very adverse effect.
For these reasons, it is planned to move into the cave slowly, mapping as we go, and doing a basic inventory as we go. Hopefully, in this way the cave can be known, but no delicate features lost in the process. Travel will be restricted from the start, to a path that is defined as the investigators progress. It is planned also to set up photo monitoring as we go, and to video everything as a record of the original nature of the cave.
Geology and Description
The Cave Next Door (CND) is a newly discovered cave at about 4,000 feet elevation in southern Oregon. The discovery entrance is a resurgence that had been covered with a heavy layer of detritus, either from a landslide or glacial outwash, presumably at some time in the Pleistocene. To get into the cave, the discoverers had to dig some 80 feet through this debris.
The cave is in marble, similar in age to the Oregon Caves marble, and the elevations of the two caves are about the same. CND was pushed for about 1000 feet before the entrance dig collapsed and closed the cave. It is heading on a bearing due magnetic south. The marble at the resurgence is a thin layer, steeply dipping to the northeast, and the cave is following the strike of the marble. The marble containing the known portion of CND is not exposed at elevations much higher than the cave itself, and not visible on the surface from just above the entrance for half a mile south. Since this marble outcrops for a mile in a southerly direction there is a possibility of a very large cave. Since both Oregon Caves and CND have a gradient that increases in a southerly direction, it is unlikely they are connected, but stranger things have happened in caves.
CND
Once accessible, the cave was followed for a straight-line distance of about 800 feet, already nearly as much as the 900-foot straight line extent of Oregon Caves. At that point the base level, a streambed, ended in a sump. Discernable airflow a short distance back from this end indicates the cave continues on a higher level, and there is a short climb-up to a visible lead that was not done before the collapse of the entrance dig.
Volume flow at the resurgence is about half of the flow of the River Styx as it exits Oregon Caves at the same time of year.
The cave's contents as initially observed, includes some very nice quartz dikes, protruding from the wall for several inches. There are no massive flowstone deposits. Normal speleothems are present, and one area had an abundance of small wall crystals. The main passage is of various cross-sections, varying from a tall, narrow canyon (2x15 feet), a mushroom
shape where the canyon has a broad, low top, to a tube (8 foot diameter). Near the entrance are some thick sequences of layered sediments, presumably deposited starting at the time the cave entrance was blocked.
Near the sump were some small animal tracks in the mud.
Entry
A security gate will be in place before actual entry is made. Provisions are being made for this as the tunnel is being built. An airlock door will also be installed if and when air is found. The next step in the dig will be to shore up the roof at the end of the tunnel and augur holes in the soft clay, probing ahead for air and to map the limits of the sinkhole. If and when air is found, a camera will be used to determine the safest way to proceed, and cave monitoring will begin. The actual re-entry into the cave will serve as a model for subsequent exploration and entry into each new portion of the cave. Monitoring comes first. Temperature, humidity, airflow, moisture, CO2--all will be monitored. Permanent photo monitoring stations will be set up before each section is entered.
Mapping
The cave will be mapped with standard cave mapping procedure, using a compass and
clinometer, and a fiberglass tape, taking distance, bearing and inclination, and making a sketch of the traverse as it proceeds. Each page will be devoted to one traverse leg, however, and side shots will be done if necessary, to define the size and shape of the passage or chamber, and prominent features therein. Traverse legs will be done in distances of no more than ten meters, so that the area of inventory around each station will not be too large. All measurements will be in metric units.
Each station will be marked with a permanent tag, either nailed into a crack, or suspended from same, and this tag will be marked with letters and numbers, the letter prefix indicating the area of the cave, the suffix if necessary, to make each station unique. Numbers are to go in sequence along a passage, and side passages to sequence from the main passage station number plus a letter to make them unique. Each station will be
intervisible, of course.
Survey books will be the standard Rite in the Rain type.
Inventory
Inventory will be done as the mapping is done, each leg at a time. Thus the
mappers will take a shot, get the data recorded, and then spread out in the defined area (boundary is half the distance to the next and previous survey station) and go through the inventory, one item at a time, looking carefully around to see if and where, and how much an item is present. One person
will record the presence of the items. If possible, the item will be videoed. The data will be entered into a data base program on a small computer.
Items:
Speleothems
1. Stalactites
2. Stalagmites
3. Columns
4. Flowstone
5. Soda Straws
6. Moonmilk
7. Draperies
8. Cave Pearls
9. Coralloid
10. Wall crystals
11. Helictites
12. Anthodites
13. Rimstone
14. Xtal clubs
Speleogens
15. Arches/Pillars
16. Scallops
17. Corrosion
18. Incised channels
19. Stream canyon
20. Wall bevels
21. Clay Worms
22. Cross section
Bedrock Structure
23. Dip___ Strike____
24. Fault Dip____ Strike____
25. Apparent joint strike____
25. Quartz Dikes
27. Other dikes/sills
28. Banding
29. Interbeds
Sediment Deposits
30. Perched
31. Layered
32. Floor
33. Surface flow marks
Paleontology
34. Bones loose
35. Bones buried
36. Paleo tracks
Environment
37. Temperature, Humidity, CO2 levels
38. Air movement, 1, 2, 3 (1-see movement of smoke from a match, 2-feel movement on skin 3-flow disturbs match flame)
39. Drips, 1,2,3 (1-none apparent, 2- several in a minute 3-numerous in a minute)
40. Flowing water (if film on surface, swipe across, if it fills in again, water is flowing)
41. Moist surfaces
Floor
42. Breakdown
43. Sediment
44. Bedrock
45. Flowstone
Biota
46. Invertebrates White
47. Invertebrates Colored
48. Bats
49. Cave Slime
50. Animal tracks
51. Organic material
52. Roots
The Route of Travel
A path will be defined with flagging tape as we go. This will be flagging that does not deteriorate, and is not toxic to cave life. At areas where there is any sort of floor feature, and there is no way to define a route through this where the act of walking or crawling will destroy no feature, we intend to have a roll of material available that can be rolled out as a protecting layer, to create a path of no degradation. If the floor features would be degraded by any application to the surface, we will attempt to engineer a causeway over the feature, to provide a way on that doesn't even touch the surface. It is believed by the cave discoverers, that a good cave trail is a major component of cave conservation. Wet caves can be muddy. Not tracking mud around is important in cave management. The sooner a permanent trail can be constructed in any section of the cave, especially over any wet sediments, the more pristine the cave will remain. The Task Force has plans to raise money for trail construction using the Internet.
Invertebrates and Carrying Capacity
The fauna of a cave, once one is well inside the twilight zone, is generally an ecosystem of invertebrates, where the food chain involves plant and fungus eaters, who are in turn eaten by predators. The populations of these are surely affected by the travel of large animals through the cave, and if that travel becomes too great, the animals will move further and further from the route of travel and their habitat will effectively decrease. If the areas to the side of such a route are limited, the visitation might severely limit the habitat. There may be a critical point, where the species was too restricted a habitat, and extinction occurs. Given the usual small size of cave invertebrates, this extinction could easily go unnoticed.
The ability of a cave to accept a level of visitation with no long term or irreversible degradation is referred to as Carrying Capacity. This is a term often used in cave management, but one that so far is only determined empirically. That is, given a map and some basic knowledge of a cave, there is no formula for calculating the carrying capacity. Whenever this parameter is invoked, it is done by guesswork, and a cave is assigned a CC as a best guess. If monitoring has been set up, the managers can then look for degradation over time, and adjust the CC downward until degradation is acceptable.
It is felt that the level of invertebrate populations near the route of travel will be a yardstick for the CC of
CND, so it will b e necessary to set up sampling sites along the progress. If the populations show a decrease, the visitation level needs to be decreased.
Equipment, Clothing and Human Effluent
Whatever is taken into the cave needs to be of material that will not degrade and introduce toxins into the cave environment. Clothing is especially susceptible to this. Lint is a product of most fabrics, so clothing must be shielded from shedding into the cave. A well washed PVC or Nylon over suit is a must, to keep the lint from other fabrics inside. Gloves should be PVC also, or at least of the non-fabric type. All such material should be washed beforehand, to allow the chemicals and solvents left over from manufacturing to be removed.
The human body also produces material potentially toxic to the cave environment. Dead skin and hair falls from the body constantly. This is a food source foreign to the cave except in minute quantities from the occasional lost animal. The over suits and gloves should keep this to a minimum, but cavers should shower before each trip and use no chemicals like
deodorant or cologne.
It may be that the wearing of surgical masks is necessary to limit the introduction of foreign bacteria to the cave.
The Mapping and GIS
Land is managed using GIS, which stands for geographical information system. Thus information of a particular sort is plotted on a map, which becomes a layer in computer GIS software, and the distribution of that feature can be analyzed versus other features similarly computerized, and management decisions thus affected. The management of cave clearly should be done
this same way, but the gathering of information is more difficult. On the surface, the information can be obtained from aerial photography or satellite imaging. In the cave, it must all be gathered by hand, by local observation and recording. This is the reason for the inventory as we go, since that information is vital to any proper management decision. The desire is to obtain a reasonable database as early in the cave's human history as possible.
GIS software already exists (SMAPS 5.2, Compass/ArcView) that can analyze inventory data that is associated with a particular survey station, but only general information can be gained from such. The reason is that the data is all attached to a single point with a large (for the cave) radius. No analysis of distribution within that radius is possible. Thus it is felt that it is necessary to produce a digital plan view of the cave with inventory items placed properly. This will be done on
Autocad, and such a DWG file is immediately usable by MAP, the Autodesk GIS package, or by
ArcView, the ESRI GIS package that is the NPS and Forest Service standard GIS software.
With such a detailed GIS available early in the cave's human history, proper management has a chance to occur, also early in that history.
Above Ground
There are currently no structures or improvements above the ground. It is proposed that a small lean-to, 8'x12', be constructed next to the sinkhole and a composting outhouse be built in the vicinity. All this can be constructed from available natural materials.
Public Involvement
Education is the key to conservation. we want to increase public awareness of cave conservation while we share the discovery of a new cave. The telephone line is the key to this involvement. We also feel that public awareness can keep cavers accountable. Public support could also help finance the building of a trail into the cave, even as the cave is being explored and mapped. By good communication we intend to make the discovery and exploration of the
CND, a little more of a giving, and a little less of a taking.
Written by Steve Knutsen
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Plans to Re-Open the Cave Next Door
Introduction:
There is one known way into the Cave Next Door (CND): the original dig site, It is recommended that this is the best way to reenter the cave while minimizing any possible environmental impact.
Entrance:
There is an approximately 30’ long trench from the creek bank to the ancient cave entrance, the result of subsidence caused by the cave flushing itself out. It was originally thought that the best way through this area was to remove the dirt in the trench, storing it on the surface, install a culvert or build a tunnel, then backfill with the removed dirt. After more careful observation, it seems that simply driving a tunnel through the loose dirt would be safer, more efficient, and more environmentally sound.
This method would be safer because the workers would not have to work in a trench, dealing with the hazards of supported walls. The tunnel would simply be built underneath and through the collapsed section, with simple drift mining methods, the walls and roof being reinforced with timbers. Any removed dirt would be put into the top of the collapsed trench.
It would be more efficient because less dirt would have to be moved to get the job done, and any dirt would only have to be handled once.
It would be cleaner environmentally because it appears as if the job could be done while totally avoiding the CND creek. It is observed that the water exits now from the right (west) side of the gate. This is because in the original tunnel there were loose rocks stacked on the west side. It is these loose rocks through which the water is flowing. Since the creek is flowing on the west side, a drift could be driven into the collapsed trench on the east side, avoiding the water. A tarp would be used to catch the dirt that needs to be removed, keeping any loose dirt out of the water. Once the drift is complete, a culvert could be inserted. Note that this is all work to be done by hand, with no heavy equipment included, thereby minimizing impact on the sensitive riparian area. This tunnel or culvert would serve two purposes: first, it would provide entrance to the cave. Second, it would provide a drainage for the spring, protecting the road from erosion consequences connected with the entrance plugging up at times of high runoff when the cave seems to be filled with water, which is indicated by ripple marks in the silt in all areas of the cave.
Another possible way into the original entrance would be to dig a vertical shaft at the most southerly end of the collapsed trench. Any dirt removed would go into the rest of the trench. The success of this method depends on how deep the water is backed up into the cave at the time of the excavation. If the cave is indeed empty of water it would be very easy to dig this entrance without impacting the water resources, but at the same time the possibility would still exist that a more complete plug-up could happen while someone was in the cave, possibly flooding the entrance and making escape difficult or impossible.
It is also proposed that the original natural cut in the talus slope to the creek will be lined with rock walls to the surface to prevent any further erosion. A roof would be laid on the rock walls, and then covered with dirt and duff to restore the cut to its natural condition. This is a part of the project that I feel could be started immediately, before further erosion occurs.
Since the entrance is located in a riparian zone, this plan would restore the creek bank to its most natural state, and reduce any further large-scale erosion from occurring. In effect, this would stabilize the forces that are flushing out the cave.
Environmental Observations:
It should be noted that the CND entrance is not only in an area impacted by a road-cut, but also that the small patch of old growth forest containing the entrance is surrounded by harvested timber units, the proposed activity is most insignificant compared to other activities in the area. These harvested areas all show remarkable regenerative ability, probably a result of sound forest management and a strong, friendly environment, including soils and climate.
Much of the forest above the mapped section of the cave is an old partial cut. This forest has many large, healthy Douglas and white firs. Thinning has allowed sunshine to penetrate to the forest floor, resulting in a robust ground cover of grasses, rhododendron, ocean spray, Oregon grape, bracken fern, wild currants, and many other species useful to wildlife. These all make excellent habitat for small animals, birds, and deer. Bears are common, mountain lion are occasionally seen, and red foxes have become more common in the last few years. The forest is exceptionally beautiful in late spring and early summer when the rhododendron is in bloom. The lush grasses make wonderful nursery habitat for lactating does and their fawns. Unmapped areas of the cave system underlie more recently harvested units which show the same promise of prolific growth with more emphasis now on sun-loving plants such as black-caps and wild strawberries. Our activities in the cave, of course, have a negligible impact on these forests, but they are beautiful to wander and forage in.
Other Possible Entrances:
After the collapse of the entrance in the spring of 2000, a thorough search of the area was made, looking for other entrances. The existence of airflow in the CND seemed to indicate that some kind of opening must exist. Any marble outcrop
in the area was searched thoroughly with negative results. These included marble close to the entrance above the road and marble on the south fork of
the creek to the south. It was while searching the area in between that sinkholes were discovered in the north fork of
the creek. The lower sinkhole might be a fairly easy way into the cave. At this point it takes water through a rocky, six-inch hole in the bottom that connects to the water system in the cave. Altimeter readings also indicated that the cave could be within twenty feet of the surface, depending on how large a room the hole was connected to. This dig was started in the summer of 2000, and is now approximately 10 feet deep.
It was shown, by a simple measurement on a weir at the CND entrance, that water going down either sinkhole, or even a root-wad hole in this north fork of
the creek area, within eight hours comes out of the CND. This drainage seems to be one of the main sources of water in the cave. An entrance at this point would be extremely useful for exploration of the cave, for the simple reason that by going in at one point and exiting at another, not having to backtrack over the same route for each trip into the cave, will decrease human impact by 50%.
The sinkhole as it now exists is a 10’ by 10’ hole, about 10’ deep. It is proposed that this hole be reinforced with walls and cross-bracing to prevent collapse of the hard clay walls. This is another part of the project that could be started immediately to minimize any further erosion. Once the existing hole is reinforced and braced, it could be deepened, and then reinforced and braced further. In this way we would continue down until the cave is reached. A simple A-frame roof would be constructed over this hole with drainage ditches to divert snowmelt and heavy runoff. Again, as at the entrance, a culvert with an airlock door could be inserted once as a connection to the cave was established.
A simple roofed structure at this point would serve as a logistical support center and equipment storage, place for changing clothes, etc. The location, being off the road, is also more secure than the original entrance.
Importance of the Cave:
The discoverers of the cave believe that high stream levels caused by heavy rains and melting snow packs (1996, 1997, 1998) caused the CND to flush itself out at the entrance. This could have been accomplished by a "head" of water backing up into the cave and the subsequent pressure forcing the water out of the creek bank alluvium. More likely, the sump at the end of the canyon complex could be a siphon, connected to water reservoirs deeper in the cave that fill up at times of high water flow and when sufficient head is generated the siphon is started and the reservoirs are emptied, resulting in a surge of water through the cave and increased flushing out of the entrance. Perhaps the road helped the process by plugging up unknown and hidden "relief springs" that historically relieved this pressure. Probably this process has been at work for many hundreds of years.
Human Impact:
Human activity in the form of work at the entrance, road building, and timber harvesting has obviously impacted the cave in various ways, but all these activities seem insignificant compared to the natural forces of nature in the form of fires, floods, ice or even log jams in the creek.
Conclusion:
There are many questions to be answered about the Cave Next Door, including about the cave’s past:
What is there to be learned from a study of the sediments that form a plug to the natural entrance? How much of the history of the cave is recorded in these sediments? Are there any fossil pollens preserved in what appear in some places to be layers from multiple floods?
Not only is the cave at the evolutionary stage, so that it holds the story of its past, but it is also at a point where we can observe it changing as it evolves from a plugged cave to an open cave. We find it important to study these features now, before the natural flushing destroys them.
How does its chemistry change?
How does its biota change?
What are the rates of these changes?
How does all this compare to the same processes in the Oregon Caves, a historically open cave?
We can learn a great deal from the CND, and what we learn here can help us with the successful management of the Oregon Caves and other (explored as well as undiscovered) caves in the rich marble topography of the Siskiyou Mountains. The sooner these questions are answered about the Cave Next Door, the more meaningful the answers will become.
Respectfully,
David Hodges.
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