National Cave and Karst Research Institute, New Mexico Tech
Grants Awarded
Parks Ranch Cave is a locally known recreational site on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land near Whites City and adjacent to Carlsbad National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sees over 350,000 visitors per year. This 4.5-mile-long gypsum cave is the second longest gypsum cave in the United States and provides incredible recreational and educational opportunities for both locals and visitors to the region. Currently, land near the cave has a small shade structure and small camping area that lacks amenities (electricity, water, bathrooms). Project goals are focused on improving resource protection, as well as recreational and educational opportunities for the public, by 1) installing a vault toilet at the site, 2) creating a larger shade structure with wind protection, 3) developing a small, ADA-compliant trail system on the surface and a defined trail through part of the cave system, and 4) establishing educational signage throughout the site. A vault toilet will minimize human impact on the area while improving the overall visitor experience and use. Moreover, a vault toilet prevents environmental damage to the desert ecosystem from human waste and litter. The vault toilet will be purchased following BLM standards for recreation sites and installed professionally. The shade structure will provide an essential gathering place for groups to discuss the cave, plan their access to the cave, and learn about the local cave resources. The shade and wind structure will be designed professionally and constructed with both professional labor and volunteers from the National Speleological Society (NSS) with oversight from BLM and New Mexico Tech / National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) staff. The developed surface trails will minimize and remove barriers for people to explore the desert landscape, connect with nature, and gain access to two primary entrances to the cave system. The trail will provide an enjoyable walkway to view wildlife and karst landscape features. By being ADA-compliant, the defined and marked surface trails will improve the visitor experience, as well as protect the natural beauty and sensitive surface ecosystems. Interpretive materials and signage along the trails will engage visitors by discussing the geology, ecology, and geomorphology of both the surface and underground environments. Due to the natural dimensions of the cave passages, the underground trail cannot be fully accessible but will be prepared in a way for novice visitors to navigate between the two cave entrances safely. The trails will be constructed with labor from NSS volunteers and oversight from BLM and NCKRI staff. Interpretive materials will be developed by NCKRI staff, in collaboration with volunteers from the NSS Training and Education Division, and approval of the BLM.
The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) is a nexus of research, stewardship, outreach and information for caves and karst while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, created by the US Congress in 1998 in partnership with the National Park Service, State of New Mexico, and the City of Carlsbad. NCKRI is located in Carlsbad, NM, and is a research center of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Currently the organization is forming a new approach to meeting our mission. With a new Director, who started in 2024, we have expanded our efforts in research, resource management, and outreach. Our outreach activities include running the annual “Cave Week,” which now reach over 1 million people per year and provides education on cave science and how to protect fragile cave environments. Our research staff has expanded over the last year to now include 4 staff dedicated to pushing the frontier of cave and karst science. Most recently, we have expanded our resource management staffing to focus on growing a community of practice aimed at improving cave management around the country.