US Cave Survey Organizations

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Organization Name	Type	Area Served	Website	Phone	Email	Current Leader / Title	Notes
National Speleological Society (NSS)	National Organization	United States (National)	caves.org	(256) 852-1300	[email protected]	Dr. Annette Engel — Executive Director (inaugural, started Aug 2025)	Founded 1941. ~8,000+ members, ~200+ grottos. Underwent major restructuring 2024; hired first full-time Executive Director 2025.
Cave Research Foundation (CRF)	National Nonprofit	National (Mammoth Cave / Guadalupe Mtns / Ozarks)	www.cave-research.org		[email protected]	Dr. Kayla Sapkota — President	501(c)(3). Long-standing partnership with Mammoth Cave NP. Conducts survey and mapping projects in multiple states.
National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI)	Federal Research Institute	National (HQ: Carlsbad, NM)	nckri.org	(575) 887-5518	[email protected]	Dr. George Veni — Executive Director	Created by US Congress 1998. Research center of NM Institute of Mining & Technology. Partners with NPS and State of NM.
American Cave Conservation Association (ACCA)	National Nonprofit	National	caveconservation.com	(270) 786-1466		David G. Foster — President/CEO (since 2020)	501(c)(3). Operates Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum. Focus on public education and cave/karst protection.
NSS Cave Diving Section (NSS-CDS)	NSS Section	National / International	nsscds.org	(561) 704-3038	[email protected]	Fred Stratton — Chairman (term exp. June 2026)	Standards-setting body for cave diving training and safety in the US. Operates in 25 countries.
NSS Survey and Cartography Section (SACS)	NSS Section	National	sacs.caves.org		[email protected]	Bob Hoke — Treasurer (primary contact)	Promotes cave documentation, survey techniques, and cave cartography. Publishes Compass & Tape journal.
Karst Waters Institute (KWI)	National Nonprofit	National / International	karstwaters.org	(540) 839-5019		Board of Directors (see karstwaters.org/about/kwi-personnel/)	501(c)(3). Improves understanding of karst water systems through scientific research and education.
National Cave Rescue Commission (NCRC)	NSS Affiliate	National (10 regional divisions)	caves.org/org/national-cave-rescue-commission			National Coordinator + Medical, Diving, and Training Coordinators	Led by Board of Regional Coordinators. Contact through caves.org or individual regional NCRC pages.

NSS REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Organization Name	Type	Area Served	Website	Phone	Email	Current Leader / Title	Notes
Southeastern Regional Association (SERA)	NSS Regional Association	AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN	sera.caves.org		[email protected]	Christina Richards — Chair	Hosts annual Summer Cave Carnival. Vice-Chair advances to Chair automatically.
Western Region NSS	NSS Regional Association	CA, NV, OR, WA	nsswest.org		[email protected]	Elizabeth "Boof" Truchan — Chair	501(c)(3). Publishes Western Caver newsletter.
Southwestern Region NSS (SWR)	NSS Regional Association	New Mexico, West Texas	swr.caves.org		[email protected]	Andrea Landaker — Chairman	Founded 1962. Publishes Southwestern Cavers.
Texas Speleological Association (TSA)	NSS Regional Association	Texas	www.cavetexas.org		[email protected]	Officers listed at cavetexas.org	NSS regional association for Texas grottos. Holds annual Spring Convention.

STATE CAVE SURVEYS

Organization Name	Type	Area Served	Website	Phone	Email	Current Leader / Title	Notes
Alabama Cave Survey (ACS)	State Cave Survey	Alabama	www.alabamacavesurvey.org		[email protected]	Angela Morgan — Treasurer (primary public contact)	NSS internal org. Originated in 1955 Huntsville Grotto. Formally organized 1973. Annual meeting at NSS HQ.
Arizona Cave Survey	State Cave Survey	Arizona	arizonacaves.org		(via caves.org NSS portal)	Officers via caves.org/grotto/arizona-cave-survey/	Maintains master digital database and GIS system of AZ cave locations. NSS affiliated.
Colorado Cave Survey	State Cave Survey	Colorado	coloradocavesurvey.org		[email protected]	Jesse Rochette — Survey Chair	Elected body. Liaison between CO caving community and land management agencies.
Florida Cave Survey	State Cave Survey	Florida	caves.org/grotto/florida-cave-survey		[email protected]	Fletcher Jacob — Co-Chair South / Meeting Director	NSS internal org. Goal: find, document, survey, and preserve Florida caves.
Georgia Speleological Survey (GSS)	State Cave Survey	Georgia	gss.caves.org	(678) 898-4317	[email protected]	Clint Garner — Chair	~85 members. NSS internal org. Publishes Bulletin of the Georgia Speleological Survey.
Illinois Speleological Survey (ISS)	State Cave Survey	Illinois	ilspeleo.org		[email protected]	Bob Weck — President	Private nonprofit. Protecting, conserving, locating, recording, exploring, and studying Illinois caves and karst.
Indiana Cave Survey (ICS)	State Cave Survey	Indiana	wp.indianacavesurvey.org		[email protected]	Dave Everton — President	Founded ~1986. Catalogues all cave and karst features in Indiana. Quarterly meetings.
Kentucky Speleological Survey (KSS)	State Cave Survey	Kentucky	kss.caves.org		(via members.caves.org)	Officers via NSS member portal	Dedicated to study of cave and karst resources in Kentucky. Facebook: Kentucky Speleological Survey, Inc.
Minnesota Speleological Survey (MSS)	State Cave Survey	Minnesota	sites.google.com/view/msscaves		(via Facebook: MSS Caves)	Officers not publicly listed	Nonprofit MN corporation. Protection, study, exploration, and conservation of Minnesota caves.
Missouri Speleological Survey (MSS)	State Cave Survey	Missouri	www.mospeleo.org		[email protected]	Dan Lamping — President	501(c)(3). Board composed of reps from affiliate orgs. Publishes MSS Liaison. ~8,000 known MO caves as of 2026.
North Carolina Cave Survey (NCCS)	State Cave Survey	North Carolina	(no active website)		[email protected]	Contact via mailing address or email	Initiated 1972 by Flittermouse Grotto (NSS). Primary affiliated grotto: Flittermouse Grotto, Asheville NC (flittermouse.org).
Ohio Cave Survey (OCS)	State Cave Survey	Ohio	ohiocavesurvey.org		(via website contact form)	Gary Bush — Website contact	501(c)(3). Repository for cave info, maps, photos, and reports in Ohio. Emphasis on conservation and research.
Tennessee Cave Survey (TCS)	State Cave Survey	Tennessee	tennesseecavesurvey.org		[email protected]	Gerald Moni — Co-Chair (West TN); JP McLendon — Co-Chair (East TN)	NSS internal org. Officers elected annually. Holds Spring and Fall meetings. Publishes Tennessee Caver.
Texas Speleological Survey (TSS)	State Cave Survey	Texas	www.texasspeleologicalsurvey.org		(via website contact form)	Officers via TSS website contact form	Founded 1961. NSS Study Group retaining records of known caves and karst in TX. Founded by James R. Reddell.
Virginia Speleological Survey (VSS)	State Cave Survey	Virginia	www.virginiacaves.org	(540) 888-3625		Dave Socky — President	Incorporated 1974. NSS internal org. 4,187 known caves; 595+ miles surveyed passage (Oct 2024).
West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVASS)	State Cave Survey	West Virginia	wvass.org		[email protected]	David A. Riggs — Executive Director	501(c)(3). Founded 1967 by Roger Baroody. Meetings ~2x/year. Publishes West Virginia Caver.

CONSERVATION & RESEARCH

Organization Name	Type	Area Served	Website	Phone	Email	Current Leader / Title	Notes
Southeastern Cave Conservancy (SCCi)	Cave Conservation Org	Southeastern US (TN, AL, GA primary)	www.saveyourcaves.org	(423) 771-9671	[email protected]	Kyle Lassiter — Chair	501(c)(3). Acquires and manages cave properties for conservation. Officers elected annually.
Ozark Underground Laboratory (OUL)	Research Organization	Ozark karst region (MO / AR)	www.ozarkundergroundlab.com	(417) 785-4289		Tom Aley — President	Groundwater consulting firm since 1973. Karst/fractured rock specialist. Associated with Tumbling Creek Cave.