Cave research foundation (CRF) will conduct biological inventories and monitoring for all cave species, emerging wildlife disease, and human disturbance of at least 80 caves at ozark national scenic…

The National Park Service (NPS) National Office awarded a $125,216 Cooperative Agreement to Cave Research Foundation, Inc. under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) for the period August 26, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The Foundation will conduct comprehensive biological inventories and monitoring activities across a minimum of 80 caves at Ozark National Scenic Riverways annually, with deliverables including population and trend data for cave species, surveillance of emerging wildlife diseases, and assessment of human disturbance impacts. In coordination with park staff, the Foundation will also repair and maintain 25 cave signs and/or cave gates per year and perform cartographic surveys of previously undocumented caves to expand the scientific understanding of subterranean ecosystems within the park unit.

These services support the Natural Resource Stewardship program's core mission of evaluating and improving the health of natural resources within the National Park System through species inventories, monitoring protocols, and infrastructure maintenance. The Cooperative Agreement leverage Cave Research Foundation's specialized expertise in cave ecosystem science and wildlife monitoring to generate scientific data and monitoring protocols that inform ongoing resource management decisions for cave-dependent species and visitor access management at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Cave research foundation (CRF) will conduct biological inventories and monitoring for all cave species, emerging wildlife disease, and human disturbance of at least 80 caves at ozark national scenic riverways annually to confirm population and trend data. In coordination with park staff, CRF will repair and maintain 25 cave signs and or cave gates per year. Cartographic surveys will be done for previously undocumented caves.