LOCALITY |
OWNER |
ACRES |
ACCESS |
NEWS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Augusta | Madison Cave Hill LLC | 89 | By arrangement with DCR and the landowner |
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Located near the town of Grottoes along a portion of the South River, this preserve protects several documented Natural Heritage resources, including three significant geological features (Madisons Saltpetre Cave, Stegers Fissure Cave and part of Grand Caverns), the Madison Cave isopod (Antrolana lira), two cave pseudoscorpions, a cave spider (Bathyphantes weyeri), the Madison Cave amphipod (Stygobromus stegerorum) and the Grand Caverns blind cave millipede (Zygonopus weyeriensis). Other Natural Heritage resources have potential to be documented on the property in the future.
The federally threatened Madison Cave isopod is a fascinating creature that dwells in the flooded nooks and crannies of the region's extensive groundwater aquifer. The isopod's marine ancestors colonized the network of flooded caves beneath the present-day Shenandoah Valley millions of years ago when the limestone was in contact with seawater along the Atlantic coast.
In addition to natural and biological resources, the preserve is significant for historical reasons. Native American peoples who lived in the valley prior to the arrival of Europeans were certainly familiar with Madisons Saltpetre Cave because of its vantage point overlooking the South River. The cave was later explored by several founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson's map of the cave is thought to be the first of a North American cave by a European.
The preserve was established in 2020 through a partnership consisting of DCR, the Cave Conservancy of the Virginias, supportive landowners and trustees of the DuPont Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Fund. Cave Hill is the 64th component of the state natural area preserve system.
VISITATION:
This privately owned preserve has no public access facilities and is not open to the public.
CONTACT: