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Sound
Management Requires Understanding
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"Since its establishment almost 75
years ago, we have not been able to fully
document or conduct research on the unique
natural and cultural resources of Lava
Beds." -- Craig Dorman,
Superintendent, Lava Beds National
Monument.
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Photo Monitoring
Yields Critical Data
The photomonitoring project, established in 1990
to provide visual documentation of key features
within the monument, recently demonstrated the
value of having base line data for natural
phenomena. In late 1996, a small hole appeared in
the smooth ice floor of Merrill Cave and began to
rapidly enlarge. Photographs of the site taken at
intervals over the last decade provided clear
evidence of sudden rapid deterioration of the ice,
enabling the monument to make changes in the
management of the cave.
A caver sits in the ice chamber below what
was once a smooth ice floor.
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Lava Beds National Monument is charged with
managing and protecting its resources. Without
adequate knowledge this mandate is difficult to
fulfill. On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the
monument, there is still much we do not know. Only
thirty of the 410 known caves have been thoroughly
documented. Many contain rare features, plants,
animals, or archeological materials. Given the
increase in visitation each year, some contents may
be lost to theft or vandalism before they have been
documented. Similar gaps in knowledge exist in
history, archeology, botany, and wildlife
biology.
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The monument staff is committed to other duties,
particularly visitor services and resource
management. They often lack the knowledge required
to conduct specialized scientific research. For
some years scientists from academia and industry,
assisted by eager volunteers, have been helping to
fill this gap. However, their efforts have been
hampered by the lack of on-site work space and
housing. Recently, two research projects were
cancelled due to lack of adequate support
facilities.
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Lack of
Facilities Hinders Progress
Many of the principal investigators are from the
academic community, either students or professors,
who must schedule their field time around class and
teaching obligations. Others are volunteers who
take time from their regular jobs. Furthermore,
their funding is limited and seldom covers more
than equipment and supplies. Time spent driving and
the expense of motels and restaurants sharply
reduce the time actually devoted to research. All
to often, groups hoping to work in the Park have
been discouraged by the lack of facilities, and
decided to go elsewhere. By providing sleeping and
cooking facilities as well as a research lab and a
meeting room within the monument, the Lava Beds
Research Center hopes to draw these researchers
back to the monument.
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