Why Restore Caves? An Educational Document
from
Springfield Plateau Grotto
of the National Speleological Society

Many of the caves around the United States, including the Ozarks, have been damaged.  Caves can be damaged by thoughtless or reckless human visitors or polluted from poor land management above them.  There was a time when cave conservationists could only look at the damage and be saddened at the loss of endangered species habitat, missing or broken speleothems, ugly and even obscene graffiti and soiled flowstone.
But the day has come when increasing knowledge and advancement of technology has made it possible for cavers to repair the damage.  Habitat can be restored, dismembered speleothems can be reattached and made whole again, graffiti can be removed or masked and muddy stains on flowstone can be removed.
Springfield Plateau Grotto has among its membership some of the most experienced cave restorers in the United States.  No wonder. One of the local managed caves is a restoration laboratory!  Many experimental methods have been developed in this cave as well as other caves to reattached broken speleothems and remove graffiti and mud stains.  And what a difference restoration makes!

Currently members of SPG are involved with serious restoration efforts in several caves including:

1.      Jolly Cave of Newton County, a cave recently purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation,

2.      Fisher Cave of Franklin County, a cave within Meramec State Park,

3.      Tumbling Creek Cave of Taney County, a cave designated as a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior

4.       Breakdown Cave of Christian County, the aforementioned cave restoration laboratory

Many caves that were filled with trash and graffiti with many broken speleothems and soiled formations have been restored so that their appearance is vastly improved, and the natural beauty that was robbed from them by vandals has been returned.

Cavers who participate in cave restoration have a sense of pride and accomplishment after each cave is restored.  It is this pride, and the responsibility that comes with it, that makes the reason why members of SPG and many other cavers restore caves.