Proposed Senate Bill Threatens Thousands of Significant Caves
UPDATE: In response to public outcry from across the political spectrum, lawmakers have halted the proposed sale of public lands. While this is a positive development—and the caves are safe for now—their future remains uncertain. We urge everyone to stay informed about the value of our public lands and continue advocating for their protection. Original text follows.
A new provision added to the Senate’s reconciliation bill could result in the sale of over 3 million acres of public land — and many caves we care deeply about are at risk. We are writing to inform you about what is happening, why it matters, and how you can take action to help protect these fragile ecosystems that inspire and unite our community.
What’s Happening?
The draft legislation (H.R.1, also called the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act”) includes language that would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to sell between 0.5% and 0.75% of their total land holdings by 2030.
That amounts to up to 3.29 million acres across 11 western states. View the interactive map of lands proposed for sale. Although the bill exempts national parks and designated wilderness areas at this time, the bill does not exclude many caves located on BLM or USFS lands.
Why It Matters:
Many of the lands identified for sale contain significant caves, such as Main Drain, Columbine Crawl, Loaded Dice, Deadhorse, and many others. Access to our NSS Preserves could even be threatened. For example, while the NSS owns the entrance to Great Expectations (GreatX), the USFS land that abuts it (and provides access via the road) is flagged for sale.
Once sold, public or trailhead access to many caves could be lost entirely. These lands can be developed — and the caves and ecosystems they contain may be destroyed, closed, or irreparably harmed.
Here’s a breakdown of why this matter is urgent:
- Conservation of Unique Ecosystems: Many of these caves are home to endemic cave-adapted species that are threatened or understudied. For example, in the draft legislation, the land that holds El Cap Cave is listed for sale, and this cave alone is home to many amphipods, collembolans, two different species of bats, river otters, and more.
- Cultural and Recreational Significance: Countless caves serve as key sites for scientific research, exploration, and outdoor recreation. A change in ownership and land management practices could restrict or eliminate public access.
- Environmental Impact: The alteration of land stewardship practices may set a precedent that endangers other protected areas, threatening a legacy of conservation in critical landscapes.
What you can do:
If you would like to take action to help protect these caves and the lands that hold them, here’s how to help:
- Contact your legislators: Ask them to oppose the land sale provisions in the reconciliation bill. Be sure to use your full name and return address. You can find your legislators’ information via the official government site or contact them using this contact form. If you like, you can use this sample message:
- As a member of the National Speleological Society, I’m deeply concerned that the proposed land sales in the Senate reconciliation bill would put many unique cave ecosystems, rare species, and irreplaceable geological and cultural resources at risk. Please oppose the mandated sale of public lands and help protect our shared natural heritage.
- Spread the word: Share a message on social media to help spread the word to fellow cavers, outdoor groups, and conservationists. Here’s another template:
- The Senate reconciliation bill includes a plan to sell off up to 3 million acres of land currently managed, conserved, and protected by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management — including land that contains significant caves. These aren’t empty plots. They’re home to rare cave-adapted species, archaeological sites, and formations that took millions of years to form. Once sold, they could be lost forever.Help save our caves. Contact your legislators today here: https://democracy.io/#!/
Top Image Credit: Cephalopod Maltshop in Great Expectations (GreatX) Cave by Hazel Barton
