Subject: Re: Carroll Survey

From: "Jerry Vineyard" <nrvinej@mail.dnr.state.mo.us>

The information in this report on surveying in UL1 may just be the best

news that has yet come out of the "Back Entrance to Carroll" story. Why?

Because it reports the finding of several cavefish--2-3 in every pool

checked--which reconfirms that Carroll Cave may indeed be the most

important cavefish site in Missouri. On my desk right now is a document

titled "Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge, Proposed Refuge Expansion,

Environmental Assessment, Land Protection Plan, and Conceptual Management

Plan," out for review and comment until Jan. 10, 2003. The Ozark Plateau

NWR was initially set up to save endangered bats and the Ozark Cavefish,

and the proposed expansion is for unprotected sites in Oklahoma. The

Refuge concept has sometimes been referred to as a "string of pearls,"

each "pearl" being a cave or spring that is home for a population of

cavefish and/or bats. So we're not talking about a huge acquisition

program encompassing the whole Ozark Plateau, but rather specific caves,

and Carroll could obviously become a centerpiece of such a concept.

At one time, working with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Mo.

Depts. of Natural Resources and Conservation, we had a large amount of

money earmarked for acquiring Carroll Cave. However, any time there are

large amounts of money, there are likely to be numerous schemes to spend

it, and quite frankly, the money was snagged by other projects before we

could arrange a deal, so the opportunity was lost.

Now, however, with the reopening of Carroll and the opportunity to

document its importance not only for cavefish but also for bats and other

cave-adapted creatures, we may have a second chance. So my suggestion is

for the CCC to instruct its exploration/mapping/work crews to be on the

lookout for cavefish, and to record any sightings carefully--where, when,

how many, etc. The more we know about these creatures, the better the

opportunity to save them.

Jerry Vineyard