Projects
Postal Address:
101 - 560 Stewart Street
Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5T5
Projects
SENSITIVE CAVE PROTECTION & RESTORATION
Except as noted, all work detailed below was conducted entirely by volunteers, mostly cavers concerned for the welfare of
the subject caves.
* 2010 – Horne Lakes Caves Cleanup - The CCC covered the expenses involved in cleaning Horne Lake Main and
Lower Main Caves, Cougar Cave and Andre's Annex of rubbish and graffiti. Funds covered the purchase of cleaning
supplies; all labour was undertaken by volunteers.
* 2009 – The CCC provided funds for the purchase of concrete to plug
an unauthorized entry into Renaissance Cave. Entry had been gained by
digging through a nearby sink, bypassing the existing gate. The cave
has subsequently suffered serious damage. Concrete and metal
reinforcing material were installed in the excavation to plug the illegal
entry and protect the cave from further damage.
* 2008 – The CCC paid the expenses to gate Liquid Sky, a vulnerable
cave with fragile speleothems that was assessed by local cavers to be at
risk from vandalism. The funds covered gate materials & the services of
a professional welder; all other work was done by
volunteers.
* 2007 – The CCC provided the funds required to
construct and install a new gate on Iron Curtain Cave, a
highly vulnerable cave with delicate speleothems. New
locks were also installed and debris removed from inside
the cave. The original gate and lock had been severely
damaged and removed by vandals.
* 2005 – the CCC and the Ministry of Forests jointly
funded the installation of a gate on Renaissance Cave, a
highly decorated and very vulnerable cave located within
a very popular recreational area.
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND AWARENESS
Signage Project
▪
With an expectation that much of the non-industrial damage of
caves and karst results from a lack of information, the Canadian
Cave Conservancy has been funding installation of signage at
popular cave sites around Vancouver Island. This effort is
continuing.
▪
Science World Display & Demonstration – In 2008 The
CCC participated in a display and demonstration at
Science World in Vancouver, B.C. The goals of this
activity were to promote an interest in caves & caving
by the general public and to gain support for a BC Cave
Protection Act.
INTER-AGENCY LIAISON & INFORMATION SHARING
Vancouver Island Cave Park Planning & Vancouver Island Cave/Karst
Strategy
Between 2003 and 2006, with support from the BC Ministry of Water Land & Air Protection (currently Ministry
of Environment) and access to the Ministry of Forests and Range cave inventory database, the Canadian Cave
Conservancy prepared a Cave/Karst Strategy for Vancouver Island. The project consolidated existing inventory
information on Island caves and karst, and compared the recreational and conservation values of the most
significant caves and areas, as well as presented recommendations for management. It also prepared draft
Interim Management Statements for Artlish River Caves Park, Weymer Creek Park, Clayoquot Plateau Park
and White Ridge Park.
Review of Commercial Cave Guiding Practice
One of the few uses of caves which generate revenue is the operation of cave tours. This could range from
full-scale developments with walk-ways and electric lighting to the more commonly practiced in Canada, at
least) wild-cave tours. Responding to a need for a review and for cave guiding standards, Mark Hassel
produced an excellent set of recommendations on cave guiding standards in March 2003. These standards
have since been referenced by Alberta and British Columbia government agencies when authorizing
commercial cave guiding in provincial jurisdictions. A PDF is available here: Cave Guiding Standards.
Nahanni Karstlands Protection
In 2006, the CCC joined the Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Dr. Derek Ford (a leading
Canadian geologist) and many others, calling for an expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve and World
Heritage Site in order to protect the entire South Nahanni Watershed and the spectacular limestone features
of the Nahanni karstlands.
Langford Lake Cave /Karst Protection
In 2008, the CCC participated in extensive liaison with the City of Langford
in an effort to save this area from disturbance/destruction as a result of a
proposed highway interchange development.
Caver Visitation Estimates
While the caving community may have some informal estimates of use of caves by members, there are many casual
visitors whose activity is largely unknown. As well, evidence of cave visitation and traffic would provide data with
which to lobby for management action by relevant management agencies. A pilot project using specially designed
electronic "caver counters" is underway in select caves on Vancouver Island and south-west British Columbia.
Photomonitoring System
A fundamental tool for cave management is the photodocumentation of ave features and cave processes. This could
include tracking of effects of cave visitation on speleothems or sedimentary deposits, or in a research setting follow
cave passage evolution through infilling or collapse. A simple and compact photomonitoring "kit" is being developed
and tested with an objective of establishing photomonitoring networks in a number of
caves. The kit would be readily available for both caver volunteers and for lease by cavers
working under contract to management agencies.
Redemption Cave Baseline
With support from Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), a baseline biological survey and
photomonitoring network was established in a newly discovered alpine cave in south-
central British Columbia. A report on the results were forwarded to MEC, and the project
leader Kirk Safford prepared a series of web pages describing the project.
Fundraising
Dangerous Dick and The Duckbusters
Since bursting onto the underground music scene in fall 2003, Dangerous
Dick and the Duckbusters have produced three fantastic CD recordings.
Proceeds from the sales of these CDs have been instrumental in allowing
funding for important Conservancy projects and have created a world-wide
profile for both the Conservancy and the band!
Expert Advice
Members of the conservancy are experts in areas relating to local cave and karst management, and are often called on for
advice. When this evolves into a formal contract with a funding agency, a portion of the proceeds are routed to support
and promote projects by the conservancy.
Donations
The Canadian Cave Conservancy is a fully registered charitable organization under Canadian tax laws, and any donations
are tax-deductable. Contact the CCC at CCC@canadiancaveconservancy.ca for info.
Funding
We are in a position to consider modest funding requests for cave and karst conservation in Canada. Ideally, these
requests would be multi-partner funding opportunities where conservancy funding would provide a "seed" for approaching
other potential funders. For more information, send an email to the Canadian Cave Conservancy.
