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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #316644
Title: Carroll Cave: a Missouri legend

Author
item Lerch, Robert
item LAMPING, DAN - Consultant
item MILLER, BEN - Consultant
item HINES, RICK - Consultant
item SCHMITT, TONY - Consultant
item GEE, BILL - Consultant
item TENNANT, MIKE - Consultant
item SIKORSKI, JOE - Consultant

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2015
Publication Date: 7/13/2015
Citation: Lerch, R.N., Lamping, D., Miller, B., Hines, R., Schmitt, T., Gee, B., Tennant, M., Sikorski, J. 2015. Carroll Cave: a Missouri legend. Book Chapter. In: Slais, D. and Schaper, J.,editors. 2015 National Speleological Society Convention Guidebook. Huntsville, AL. National Speleological Society. p. 159-183.

Interpretive Summary: Carroll Cave is one of the premiere caves of Missouri and the Ozarks region. At over 20 miles of surveyed passage, it is the 2nd longest cave in the state and 33rd longest in the nation. It is also the largest known cave formed in the Ordovician aged (443-485 million years ago) Gasconade Dolomite of the Salem Plateau, an area with the highest density of caves in the Ozarks. Despite a long history of exploration, a complete map of the cave has never been produced. This article provides an overview of the cave, including a brief history of exploration and survey, the digging of a new entrance, the formation of the Carroll Cave Conservancy (CCC), and an update on the modern effort to comprehensively map the cave. Furthermore, recent hydrologic studies that have led to a greater understanding of the Carroll Cave-Toronto Springs system are summarized. These studies developed mathematical and conceptual models to describe the hydrologic processes occurring in this unique setting. Following the completion of the Backdoor Entrance, CCC members began working in the cave, including biological and hydrological monitoring, restoration, safety, and survey projects. An update of the cave survey project is included, describing progress over the years along with the most recent survey data. Passage descriptions, written by various surveyors, are also provided. Lastly, personal stories, written by three long-time CCC cavers, were added to give a sense of the Carroll experience.

Technical Abstract: Carroll Cave is one of the premiere caves of Missouri and the Ozarks region. At over 20 miles of surveyed passage, it is the 2nd longest cave in the state and 33rd longest in the nation. It is also the largest known cave formed in the Ordovician aged (443-485 million years ago) Gasconade Dolomite of the Salem Plateau, an area with the highest density of caves in the Ozarks. Despite a long history of exploration, a complete map of the cave has never been produced. This article provides an overview of the cave, including a brief history of exploration and survey, the digging of a new entrance, the formation of the Carroll Cave Conservancy (CCC), and an update on the modern effort to comprehensively map the cave. Furthermore, recent hydrologic studies that have led to a greater understanding of the Carroll Cave-Toronto Springs system are summarized. These studies developed mathematical and conceptual models to describe the hydrologic processes occurring in this unique setting. Following the completion of the Backdoor Entrance, CCC members began working in the cave, including biological and hydrological monitoring, restoration, safety, and survey projects. An update of the cave survey project is included, describing progress over the years along with the most recent survey data. Passage descriptions, written by various surveyors, are also provided. Lastly, personal stories, written by three long-time CCC cavers, were added to give a sense of the Carroll experience.