For updates or questions email Zach.Englebert@gmail.com
| Organization Name | Type | Area Served | Website | Phone | Current Leader / Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Cave Survey (ACS) | State Cave Survey | Alabama | www.alabamacavesurvey.org | membership@alabamacavesurvey.org | 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. | |
| California Cave Survey | State Cave Survey | California | californiacaves.org | Joel Despain (contact) | NSS-affiliated effort to document caves statewide. Maintains cave and karst database for California. | ||
| Colorado Cave Survey | State Cave Survey | Colorado | coloradocavesurvey.org | jesse.rochette@gmail.com | 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 | floridacavesurvey@gmail.com | 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 | caverclint@gmail.com | Clint Garner — Chair | NSS internal org. Publishes Bulletin of the Georgia Speleological Survey. |
| Illinois Speleological Survey (ISS) | State Cave Survey | Illinois | ilspeleo.org | caveandwoods@gmail.com | 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 | president@indianacavesurvey.org | 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 | danieljlamping@gmail.com | Dan Lamping — President | 501(c)(3). Board composed of reps from affiliate orgs. Publishes MSS Liaison. ~8,000 known MO caves as of 2026. | |
| New Mexico Cave Survey | State Cave Survey | New Mexico | Jerry Atkinson | Collects and databases cave and karst information for New Mexico. | |||
| North Carolina Cave Survey (NCCS) | State Cave Survey | North Carolina | (no active website) | hollers2@frontier.com | 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 | tcs@tennesseecavesurvey.org | 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 | driggs@speleo.us | David A. Riggs — Executive Director | 501(c)(3). Founded 1967 by Roger Baroody. Meetings ~2x/year. Publishes West Virginia Caver. |
| Organization Name | Type | Area Served | Website | Phone | Current Leader / Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Speleological Society (NSS) | National Organization | United States (National) | caves.org | (256) 852-1300 | nss@caves.org | 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 | president@cave-research.org | 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 | nckri@nmt.edu | Dr. Ben Tobin — 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 | cdsmanager@nsscds.org | 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 | bob@rhoke.net | 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. |
| Organization Name | Type | Area Served | Website | Phone | Current Leader / Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Regional Association (SERA) | NSS Regional Association | AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN | sera.caves.org | c@rchrds.org | Christina Richards — Chair | Hosts annual Summer Cave Carnival. Vice-Chair advances to Chair automatically. | |
| Southwestern Region NSS (SWR) | NSS Regional Association | New Mexico, West Texas, Eastern Arizona | swr.caves.org | andrea@icecavern.net | Andrea Landaker — Chairman | Founded 1962. Publishes Southwestern Cavers. | |
| Arizona Regional Association (ARA) | NSS Regional Association | Arizona | arizonaregional.yourwebsitespace.com | NSS regional association focused on caving within Arizona. | |||
| Mississippi Valley-Ozark Region (MVOR) | NSS Regional Association | Mississippi Valley / Ozark region | mvor.org | Promotes fellowship and exploration across the Mississippi Valley and Ozark region. | |||
| Mid-Appalachian Region (MAR) | NSS Regional Association | Mid-Appalachian states (PA, MD, OH, WV) | mar.caves.org | Publishes occasional bulletins since 1954. | |||
| Northeastern Regional Organization (NRO) | NSS Regional Association | Northeastern US / Eastern Canada | caves.org/grotto/northeastern-regional-organization | Publishes The Northeastern Caver. Quarterly meetings at rotating locations. | |||
| Ohio Valley Region (OVR) | NSS Regional Association | KY, IN, OH | NSS regional association for the Ohio River Valley area. | ||||
| Virginia Region (VAR) | NSS Regional Association / IO | Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland | var.caves.org | NSS Internal Organization. 40+ local caving groups. Manages limited access caves. Publishes Region Record quarterly newsletter. | |||
| Western Region NSS | NSS Regional Association | CA, NV, OR, WA | nsswest.org | chair@nsswest.org | Elizabeth "Boof" Truchan — Chair | 501(c)(3). Publishes Western Caver newsletter. | |
| Texas Speleological Association (TSA) | NSS Regional Association | Texas | www.cavetexas.org | vicechairman@cavetexas.org | Officers listed at cavetexas.org | NSS regional association for Texas grottos. Holds annual Spring Convention. | |
| Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto (NRMG) | NSS Grotto | Northern Rocky Mountain region | nrmg.org | NSS-affiliated local grotto serving the Northern Rocky Mountain area. |
| Organization Name | Type | Area Served | Website | Phone | Current Leader / Title | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Cave Conservancy (ACC) | Cave Conservation Org | Southwest Virginia / Eastern Tennessee | acave.us | agent@acave.us | Jason Lachniet — President; Tia Bednar — Chairman of the Board | NSS-affiliated nonprofit Virginia corporation. Founded 1978. Cave stewardship in SW Virginia and Eastern Tennessee. | |
| Cave Conservancy of the Virginias (CCV) | Cave Conservation Org | Virginia, West Virginia | caveconservancyofvirginia.org | (804) 798-4893 | CAVECV@AOL.COM | Joey Fagan — President; Michael J. Ficco — Chairman of the Board | Founded 1980. Promotes conservation, management, and acquisition of cave and karst resources in Virginia and West Virginia. |
| Rockcastle Karst Conservancy (RKC) | Cave Conservation Org | Kentucky (Rockcastle County and surrounding areas) | rkci.org | rkcboard@rkci.org | Patrick Gibson — Chair | 501(c)(3). Permanently protect caves and karst lands in Rockcastle County, Kentucky and its surrounding areas. | |
| Southeastern Cave Conservancy (SCCi) | Cave Conservation Org | Southeastern US (TN, AL, GA primary) | www.saveyourcaves.org | (423) 771-9671 | info@scci.org | Kyle Lassiter — Chair | 501(c)(3). Acquires and manages cave properties for conservation. Officers elected annually. |
| Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy (MCKC) | Cave Conservation Org | Missouri | mocavesandkarst.org | (via website contact form) | Tony Schmitt — President | Founded 1992. Dedicated to protecting caves and karst resources in Missouri through land acquisition, owner assistance, education, and maintaining caver access. | |
| 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. |