GENERAL:
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy (SCC) hereby proposes to host the 1999 National Cave Management Symposium (1999 NCMS). Upon award and assignment to this project, the SCC will act as the primary entity responsible for planning, coordinating, and hosting the event. The SCC will actively seek co-hosts and cosponsors for the event. The SCC will schedule the event during the October 1999 time frame, and select a suitable facility for the symposium.

CO-HOSTS AND PARTICIPANTS:
The following agencies either have or will be contacted and solicited for participation in the 1999 NCMS. This list should be considered a preliminary and by no means exhaustive.

¥Wheeler Wildlife Nation Refuge
¥Tennessee Valley Authority
¥Tennessee River Gorge Trust
¥Tennessee Aquarium
¥Lula Lake Land Trust
¥Tennessee Division of Forestry
¥Georgia Department of Natural Resources
¥National Caves Association
¥Hamilton County Rescue, Cave Cliff Team
¥American Cave Conservation
¥Association National Speleological Society
¥Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Cave Surveys
¥Cave Research Foundation
¥University of Tennessee
¥The Nature Conservancy
¥Alabama Natural Heritage Program
¥National Park Service
¥US Forest Service
¥Cherokee Center for Cave and Karst Studies
¥W.K.U.
¥National Park Service US Fish and Wildlife Service
¥Jackson County Cave Liaison
¥Russell Cave National Monument
¥Alabama Park Service
¥PMI Petzl Corporation
¥Huntsville, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Knoxville Grottos of the NSS

FACILITIES:
The proposed facility for the 1999 NCMS is the Lake Guntersville State Park and Convention Center, which is located about 15 minutes from Guntersville, Alabama. The facility has 96 rooms, 6 suites, 19 chalets, and 16 cottages. Prices range from $58/night for a single room to $98/night for a chalet or cottage. Cottages and chalets are suitable for up to six adults Conference room space and capacity is more than adequate to handle the requirements of the NCMS. Food services are provided by two restaurants located in the lodge. Camping sites are also available within the park.

The park is located about 1 hours drive from Huntsville, Alabama, and about two hours drive from Birmingham, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The lodge is situated on top of a mountain and overlooks Lake Guntersville. The views are impressive, and with an anticipated date during mid October, the autumnal displays should be spectacular. The lodge, itself is also quite impressive, and warrants a walk through. The main dining room boasts a ceiling height of about 75 feet, and walk in fire places. Magnificent huge chandeliers adorn the dinning room, and massive beams of Alabama pine are used throughout the interior.

Should the need or desire for additional lodging and/or food service arise, the city of Guntersville, located 15 minutes away, offers additional hotels and restaurants.

REGION:
Lake Guntersville State Park is located in the karst rich region of North Alabama. There are literally thousands of caves within a few hours drive. There is at least one cave on the park property. The park is also conveniently located to caves owned by the SCC and the Wheeler Wildlife National Refuge.

FIELD TRIPS:
Field trips will be selected from the following (but not exhaustive ) list:

CAVE SPRINGS CAVE (Wheeler) - This cave, which has about two miles of passage, is a summer maternity colony for gray bats. The entrance is impressive and well worth the trip.

KEY CAVE (Wheeler) -- This is another two mile plus maze cave that also hosts populations of the gray bats It is located near the Tennessee River in cliffs that are peppered with caves.

NEVERSINK (SCC) -- A magnificent 165 foot shaft cave that is considered by some to be the crown jewel of shafts that punctuate the mountains in this area. Although the hike is somewhat strenuous, the visitor is rewarded by a superlative view down a day light illuminated shaft.

KENNAMER CAVE (SCC) - This is another two mile plus long cave that is managed by the SCC. A mile hike will lead to the 100 plus acres owned by the SCC, and to a very lush and beautiful sink that contains the main entrance to the cave.

FERN CAVE (Wheeler and SCC) -- This 20 mile plus long cave is a hibernaculum for perhaps one half million gray bats during the winter months. The Wheeler Wildlife National Refuge owns a portion of the cave, and the SCC leases the other portion of the cave. It is managed jointly. One of the sink entrances is a habitat for a threatened species of Fern plant. The entrance leased by the SCC leads to the 400 foot deep Surprise shaft which is one of the deepest in the US.

BLOWING WIND CAVE (Wheeler) -- This cave serves as a bachelor colony in the winter and a maternity colony in the summer for the gray bat. Its impressive entrance is located close to Lake Guntersville.

HOWARD'S WATERFALL CAVE - (SCC) This cave is located within the city limits of Trenton, Georgia. It was once a heavily littered cave, but the SCC has taken it over, and completely cleaned it up.

SHELTA CAVE AND NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL OFFICE - (NSS) Shelta cave is a habitat to a rare species of cave shrimp. The entire NSS office sits on top of the cave.

RUSSELL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT (National Park Service) - This cave is a national monument and is operation by the park service. The entrance is extremely impressive, and has been used by humans for over 9000 years.

CATHEDRAL CAVERNS STATE PARK (Alabama Park Service) -- This site is an exceptionally impressive commercialized cave that is owned by the state of Alabama. A tour is well worth the time.

GOURDNECK CAVE (SCC) - This beautiful cave is managed by the SCC, and is a habitat for the Tennessee cave salamander.

PUBLICATIONS:
After the conclusion of the 1999 NCMS, the SCC will undertake the responsibility of publishing the proceedings of the 1999 NCMS. This document will be distributed to all participants.

COSTS:
The costs for computing the 1999 NCMS will be computed on an anticipated minimum attendance of 75 persons. This cost will include the banquet, field trips, and the published proceedings of the 1999 NCMS. Lodging costs, other meal costs, and incidentals will not be included in the registration fee.

PROGRAM:
The symposium will begin on a Monday, and conclude with a banquet on Wednesday evening. The current plans are to have papers and sessions on Monday, and Wednesday. Field trips will occur on Tuesday, and will be split into multiple groups. Upon receipt of award, the SCC will actively solicit papers and speakers for the symposium.

Respectively Submitted

John Van Swearingen IV
NSS 12729 FE, RL
SCC Chair,
Landowner Relations Committee
Fund Raising Committee