Caves of East Central Wisconsin
The Great Outdoors | July 1, 2017
A GUIDE TO RESTORATION & WHY IT’S NECESSARY
By Wisconsin Speleological Society
The Wisconsin Speleological Society (WSS), a grotto of the National Speleological Society (NSS), is a nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to cave exploration, study, protection, and education. The WSS and volunteers have been restoring the caves by removing glacial sediment deposits at Ledge View Nature Center and at Cherney Maribel Caves County Park since the mid-1980’s. New discoveries are revealed every year.
The Distant Past & Caves
Some time in the past these caves were formed by carbonic acid slowly eating away at the dolomite rock and later enlarging them by the movement of water. The theory is that later, the glacial meltwaters pushed sediments into the caves almost completely filling up the caves with silt, sand, and clay. Today you can still see the forces of water as they continue to move sediment through the cave passages and during high water volume.
The Wisconsin Speleological Society & County Parks
For many years now the County Park Systems at Calumet & Manitowoc Counties have been working with the WSS so that your county parks can be continually expanded and maintained. If it were not for the very hard work digging out the caves there would be no caves for people to walk into and experience these underground treasures. By restoring these caves the majority of the public: young, old, mentally challenged, or slightly disabled have the opportunity to learn about their parks. Efforts continue to make the park even better by continually improving the trail system with the sediment that is brought out from the caves.
Additional Restoration Benefits
By restoring the caves we not only create habitat for cave dwelling creatures but we also maintain the highest degree of safety and security for the cave and cave visitors. Defined walking surfaces and increased space allow visitors to safely interact with their surroundings without causing damage to themselves or the cave environment, this includes fragile cave formations which take hundreds and thousands of years to grow.
Restoring the cave gives scientists a look back into the past at what these caves once looked like and how they were formed.
By clearing the sediment wall to wall, and floor to ceiling, all hidden passages are identified. These passages may lead to the outside which allows for improved air circulation.
DNR restriction will have severe consequences
Because of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bats, state and federal caves are being closed. Studies have shown that caves that have been closed are neglected and are subjected to damage & vandalism with litter and other contaminates entering the cave system. These contaminates enter the karst landscape and will affect the wells impacting our drinking water for humans and animals. Without the help of experienced cave organizations our underground natural resources will be lost.
If you would like to learn more about the WSS, become a member, or an active volunteer, please visit WisconsinCaves.org.
