Oregon High Desert Grotto
Encyclopedia
The Oregon High Desert Grotto (or OHDG) is a caving club
, known as a Grotto.
OHDG is involved with caving and conservation efforts in central Oregon and beyond, including the Oregon Caves National Monument
, the Lava Beds National Monument
in northern California
, and caves in western Idaho
. Members of the grotto have also worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands
and received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state.
and the adjacent states.
caves. The grotto often partners with the United States Forest Service
(USFS) to help manage the caves of the Deschutes National Forest
. Cooperation with private owners of caves has also been done. On National Public Lands Day
, the grotto participated in the gating of Stookey Ranch Cave. Cleanup trips to caves in the area are common and are synonymous with the caving motto: "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." Missing lavacicles from Lavacicle Cave were recently reacquired by grotto member Eddy Cartaya while working for the USFS. The lavacicles will be used as educational tools at Lava Lands Visitor Center.
The grotto is involved with caving and conservation efforts beyond its local area of central Oregon. Grotto member Brent McGregor produced a video for the Oregon Caves National Monument promoting safe caving to conserve the off-trail parts of the cave. Other efforts have been done with Lava Beds National Monument in northern California, western Idaho, and Nevada. Ken Siegrist, of the grotto and employee with the BLM, has worked to protect many caves, including those of eastern and southern Oregon. Members of the grotto have also worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands
and received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state. Additionally, the grotto has done invertebrate
studies in collaboration with Bill Shear of Hampden-Sydney College
. A couple new species have been found, including a harvestman named Taracus marchingtoni after grotto member Neil Marchington.
Grotto (National Speleological Society)
A Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society . They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club. Many Grottos however, operate in areas outside of their local area, with many operating in several states. Most Grottos also participate in Regions which are loose...
, known as a Grotto.
OHDG is involved with caving and conservation efforts in central Oregon and beyond, including the Oregon Caves National Monument
Oregon Caves National Monument
Oregon Caves National Monument is a national monument in the northern Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The main part of the park, including the marble cave and a visitor center, is located east of Cave Junction, on Oregon Route 46. A separate visitor center in Cave...
, the Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument
Lava Beds National Monument is located in northeastern California, in Siskiyou and Modoc Counties. The Monument lies on the northeastern flank of the Medicine Lake Volcano, with the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range....
in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and caves in western Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Members of the grotto have also worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands
Oregon Department of State Lands
The Department of State Lands , one of the oldest agencies of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is principally responsible for the management of lands under state ownership, as its name implies. Unlike most other department-level state agencies, it is not headed by a sole elected official,...
and received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state.
History
The Oregon High Desert Grotto was first created in 1989 by Dan Best. It lasted only a year before complications terminated the grotto. In late 1995, the OHDG was reformed by the new founding member Ric Carlson, then an employee of the forest service. By 1997, the Grotto had over 30 members, a newsletter publication, and a growing knowledge of caves in the Central Oregon area and beyond. Today, the grotto is actively involved with caving in most of OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and the adjacent states.
Conservation
The OHDG is an avid participant in conserving and restoringRestoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
caves. The grotto often partners with the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
(USFS) to help manage the caves of the Deschutes National Forest
Deschutes National Forest
The Deschutes National Forest is a United States National Forest located in parts of Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, and Jefferson counties in central Oregon. It comprises 1.8 million acres along the east side of the Cascade mountains. In 1908, the Deschutes National Forest was established from parts...
. Cooperation with private owners of caves has also been done. On National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is celebrated annually at public lands in the United States on a Saturday in late September. A signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation, it promotes both popular enjoyment and volunteer conservation of public lands.Three federal agencies and 700...
, the grotto participated in the gating of Stookey Ranch Cave. Cleanup trips to caves in the area are common and are synonymous with the caving motto: "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." Missing lavacicles from Lavacicle Cave were recently reacquired by grotto member Eddy Cartaya while working for the USFS. The lavacicles will be used as educational tools at Lava Lands Visitor Center.
The grotto is involved with caving and conservation efforts beyond its local area of central Oregon. Grotto member Brent McGregor produced a video for the Oregon Caves National Monument promoting safe caving to conserve the off-trail parts of the cave. Other efforts have been done with Lava Beds National Monument in northern California, western Idaho, and Nevada. Ken Siegrist, of the grotto and employee with the BLM, has worked to protect many caves, including those of eastern and southern Oregon. Members of the grotto have also worked in conjunction with the Department of State Lands
Oregon Department of State Lands
The Department of State Lands , one of the oldest agencies of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is principally responsible for the management of lands under state ownership, as its name implies. Unlike most other department-level state agencies, it is not headed by a sole elected official,...
and received a participation award from State leaders for their volunteer work with the state. Additionally, the grotto has done invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
studies in collaboration with Bill Shear of Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
. A couple new species have been found, including a harvestman named Taracus marchingtoni after grotto member Neil Marchington.
External links
- Oregon High Desert Grotto (Caving club affiliated with the National Speleological SocietyNational Speleological SocietyThe National Speleological Society is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the exploration, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the United States. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in Huntsville, Alabama...
) - National Speleological Society
- Oregon Field Guide - "Ice Caves"
- Oregon Field Guide - "Lava Caves"
- Oregon Caves National Monument - Off Trail Video