A NEW KARST PRESERVE FOR VIRGINIA

 The Cave Conservancy of the Virginias (CCV) is pleased to announce the purchase of property that contains entrances to Omega, Franklin Pit, and Parson Cave in Wise County Virginia. The Powell Mountain Karst Preserve (PMKP) is the beginning of a new era in CCV's goals. It is anticipated that future Land Trusts will be established as opportunity allows.

These three caves of PMKP are listed on Virginia's Significant Cave List.

Parsons Cave was documented by speleo-historian, Pete Hauer as a saltpetre cave. It is a large sloping passage that extends downward from a walk-in entrance, reaching over 80 feet in width and ending in a flowstone choke 1400 feet from the entrance. Parsons is a significant biological eco system having amphipods, isopods, spiders, millipedes, and diplurans.

 
Franklin Pit is located about 150 feet from Parson's entrance and is an impressive 20 feet by 60 feet vertical opening 35 feet deep on the shallow side. A recently investigation by David Hubbard, revealed six saltpetre casts/vats in the cave, adding Franklin Pit to the list of Virginia's saltpetre caves. Strong air currents are present in the cave, hinting of future discoveries.
The crown jewel on the property is the Omega Cave System, presently mapped to 16.4 miles. Omega currently stands as Virginia's second longest reported cave. With a surveyed depth of 1,263 feet, Omega is the deepest cave east of the Mississippi and the fourth deepest cave in the continental United States. This cave holds vast potential and most survey trips return with more leads than they start with. Omega is a tough, rugged cave that requires all visitors to be vertically competent and experienced. It will be an exciting cave for those able and willing to endure the long survey trips as well as for those just eager to follow the actions through trip reports and programs. This cave is already significant in many categories. We feel confident that as more discoveries are made and scientific investigations commence in the depths of the system, the cave's true significance will grow internationally. Enough is already known to rate Omega as a world class cave.
The PMKP is developing a management plan that will accommodate those interested in visiting the caves of the preserve.  The mission of the PMKP is to protect the cave and karst of the preserve and to provide long-term access to the caves and karst for the purposes of exploration, scientific research, and recreation.