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The West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVaSS) is a speleological organization and ongoing cave survey program that has gathered information and published about West Virginia caves and karst since 1967.
WVaSS was founded by Roger Baroody who was motivated to continue the survey begun by William E. Davies (1917–1990) in his Caverns of West Virginia (1949, 1950, 1965). Davis’ book and its updates were published as part of the West Virginia Geological Survey series, but after 1965 it became apparent that no further updates would be forthcoming. Large quantities of new cave and karst data were becoming available and so the need for a dedicated survey program seemed evident.
The WVaSS is a highly informal, voluntary, non-profit association of cavers and caving groups. In 1978, WVaSS became a Study Group of the National Speleological Society (NSS) and in 1987 was granted 501c3 tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service.
For reasons of cave conservation and safety, it is the policy of WVaSS to sell bulletins only to NSS members and individuals and agencies doing karst research. Certain caves contain unique speleothems, rare forms of cave life, or have serious landowner-caver relations problems. For these caves, the WVaSS may refrain from publication.
Beginning in 1971, the WVaSS has produced 19 publications (“bulletins”) to date. It has attempted to maintain a balance between bulletins that simply present cave surveys/descriptions (14 so far) and bulletins advancing specific karst research (5 so far). In aggregate, the 11 survey bulletins have provided descriptions of over 2175 caves in 14 West Virginia counties. The research survey bulletins include a master's thesis on cave development, a bibliography of West Virginia caves and karst, and bulletins on the invertebrate and vertebrate fauna of West Virginia caves.
Bulletins
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Speleology is the scientific study of caves and other karst features, as well as their make-up, structure, physical properties, history, life forms, and the processes by which they form (speleogenesis) and change over time (speleomorphology). The term speleology is also sometimes applied to the recreational activity of exploring caves, but this is more properly known as caving, potholing, or spelunking. Speleology and caving are often connected, as the physical skills required for in situ study are the same.
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, 162 miles (261 km) long, in southeastern West Virginia, in the United States. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 1,656 square miles (4,290 km2). It is one of the longest rivers in West Virginia.
West Virginia Route 66 is an east–west state highway located within Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The route runs 16.1 miles (25.9 km) from U.S. Route 219 and West Virginia Route 55 near Snowshoe east to West Virginia Route 28 and West Virginia Route 92 south of Green Bank. WV 66 is maintained by the West Virginia Division of Highways.
Knapp Creek is a tributary stream of the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Its source is east of the community of Frost on Allegheny Mountain. From its headwaters, Knapp Creek slowly flows down through farmland until its confluence with Laurel Creek at Minnehaha Springs. Downstream from the confluence of the two streams, Knapp Creek flows through Huntersville. Six miles from Huntersville, Knapp Creek empties into the Greenbrier River outside Marlinton.
The Sinks of Gandy — also called the Sinks of Gandy Creek, or simply "The Sinks" — are a modestly celebrated cave and underground stream at Osceola in eastern Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The Sinks are on private property within the Monongahela National Forest.
Germany Valley is a scenic upland valley high in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia originally settled by German farmers in the mid-18th century. It is today a part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area of the Monongahela National Forest, although much ownership of the Valley remains in private hands.
Hellhole is a large and deep pit cave in Germany Valley, eastern West Virginia. It’s the 7th longest cave in the United States and is home to almost half of the world's population of Virginia big-eared bats. At 737 feet, Hellhole is the deepest of several caves in the Valley.
The West Virginia spring salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is endemic to West Virginia, the United States.
Trichopetalum whitei, common name Luray Caverns blind cave millipede, is a rare troglobitic millipede of the upper Potomac River drainage in four Virginia counties and three West Virginia counties. It has been recorded from 12 caves across this range, including the Luray Caverns where it was first discovered and described.
Organ Cave is a large and historic cave in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA. The surrounding community takes its name from the cave.
Fort Spring is an unincorporated community and town in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. It is situated along the Greenbrier River within the Greenbrier River Watershed. It was once a substantial portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway by way of the Gravel Girtie route from Hinton in Summers County to Clifton Forge, Virginia. The name is derived from its main export; Mississippian limestone from Snowflake Quarry sent to Clifton Forge. The main road going through the small town was once the original rail line, but was moved.
The Greenbrier River Watershed Association is one of the oldest watershed associations in the state of West Virginia, currently on its 15th year of existence. It has supported the creation of other watershed associations throughout the state and maintains a policy of "upstream courtesy" and "downstream courtesy" with its neighbors.
Haynes Cave is a cave within the Greenbrier River watershed in West Virginia. It sits within the complex hydrology of the historic Second Creek watershed in Monroe County.
Lowell is an unincorporated community in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. Lowell is located on the Greenbrier River, east of Hinton and southwest of Alderson. The community was first settled in 1770 and is the oldest community in Summers County.
Buckeye is an unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. Buckeye is located along U.S. Route 219, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Marlinton. As of mid 2021, US post office now open. Town has large used bookstore, c-store, farm supply, and access to Greenbrier trail and Greenbrier River. Home of Louise McNeill, former poet laureate of WV. La in Buckeye.
Slaty Fork is an unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. Slaty Fork is located along U.S. Route 219, 13.5 miles (21.7 km) north of Marlinton.
Sitlington is an unincorporated community in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. Sitlington is located at the confluence of the Greenbrier River and Sitlington Creek, 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Marlinton.
The Butler Cave Conservation Society (BCCS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Virginia corporation dedicated to the conservation, exploration, survey, preservation, and scientific study of Virginia's longest and deepest cave systems.
The Cliefden Caves ia heritage-listed geoheritage site in Mandurama, Cowra Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The caves comprises Ordovician fossil localities, limestone caves, a spring and tufa dams, and a site where limestone was first discovered in inland Australia.
Friars Hole Cave System is a cave located in Greenbrier county and Pocahontas county, West Virginia.
