McClungs Cave Update

from Jeff Bray, West Virginia Cave Conservancy

{Editor's Note: McClungs Cave in West Virginia, is a recently caver-aquired cave. The West Virginia Cave Conservancy (WVCC) purchased the Lightner's Entrance, and this is their preliminary management plan for the cave.}

Preliminary Management Plan for Lightners Entrance to McClung's Cave

1. This preliminary plan maybe modified based on additional information.
2. The Lightners Entrance will be maintained in an "open" condition, and will be freely available to all cavers, regardless of any affiliation.
   
3. If, in the future, additional information indicates that some resource needs some additional level of protection, whatever minimal controls needed to protect the resource maybe instituted. in general, access to cave will be maintained as open as practical.
   
4. No release form will be required for visitation via this entrance.
   
5. No cave-for-pay will be allowed.
   
6. No bolts or other defacement of the cave will be allowed.
   
7. Informational signs will be placed on a kiosk near the entrance.
   
8. Camping will not be permitted at this time. no open fires will be permitted at this time.
   
9. Parking is allowed at designated areas only.
   
   Additional Info
   The parking situation will probably evolve to try different options for parking, but no limit to number of people allowed in the cave at one time, or how many cars will be instituted at this time.
   Visitation will be allowed 24/7. please don't visit the cave yet!!!! It's not open yet. We don't own it til we close on the property, which will be in 40 days or less.

This brings up again the topic of funds. We are going to need to raise funds to help pay for this purchase. The purchase price is $50,000, for 11+ acres, with a right-of-way that we own from vago road. We have a good chunk of this money though our fundraising over the past years (like bat flights and duck races) but we are going to have some loans that will need to be repaid, and anything you can give would be greatly greatly appreciated. Our address is:
WVCC,
PO Box 243
Frankford, WV 24938.

http://www.wvcc.net

Thanks goes out also to all that have supported us so far, and we hope that you will continue to support us!

Jeff Bray, WVCC Board Member