Shawnee Karst Preserve

Photo courtesy Dave Everton

On January 13, 2012, the IKC closed on a 50.3-acre tract of property containing the upstream entrance to Upper Twin Cave. This parcel extends the IKC's landholdings in Lawrence County and helps protect the watershed of a world-class cave system, including habitat for the northern blind cavefish Amblyopsis spelaea and the blind crayfish Orconectes inermis. Several other rare invertebrates are also reported to be in the cave. Water in the cave system originates at the sinks of Mosquito Creek and continues downstream into the Shawnee Cave system in Spring Mill State Park, which includes Bronson Cave and Donaldson Cave. The system is famous for the cavefish studies conducted in the 1890s by the noted IU ichthyologist, Dr. Carl Eigenmann. Photos are also available of the property and cave.

Upper Twin cave has been on the IKC's priority list for acquisition since the mid-1990s. The cave is mostly a single stream passage with swimming required in some places. There are some potholes and drop-offs and the cave is known to flood after heavy rains. This, along with the presence of sensitive cave fauna, presents some unique management challenges. A management plan has been written, and cave access is available to responsible and experienced cavers only. This is not a cave for a novice.

Although some money was already available in our land acquisition fund, it was not enough to fully bankroll this purchase. The access road will need to be hardened, along with a parking area. Hiking and primitive camping will be allowed, and associated minor improvements will be needed. The property was also recently logged and reforestation activities will be necessary. For these reasons the IKC is actively soliciting donations to offset purchase costs and to establish a stewardship fund for Shawnee Karst Preserve. Donations can be made online using our secure server at Network for Good (click the "Donate Now" button). Mail-in donations should be sent to the following address:

Indiana Karst Conservancy
Shawnee Karst Preserve Fund
P O Box 2401
Indianapolis, IN 46206-2401
E-mail: ikc@caves.org

Special thanks go to all the people and organizations who have already contributed to the land acquisition fund. The IKC would also like to again recognize The Nature Conservancy of Indiana, without whose assistance the purchase would not have been possible.

For cave access or management concerns, please contact:

Dr Julian Lewis, Cave Patron & Property Manager
E-mail: lewisbioconsult@aol.com
Phone: (812) 967-7592

Members of local NSS grottoes may also arrange access through their grotto liaison.