American Cave Conservation Association

Results: • ACCA spearheaded the effort to pass the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act in 1988. • ACCA has worked for 40 years to protect the groundwater basins for two of America’s largest caves, Hidden River Cave and Hicks Cave. This has included cleaning up dozens of dump sites, working to help create a regional sewage treatment system, assisting Hart County with writing a solid waste management plan, and educating local citizens about the value of these major cave systems. • ACCA pioneered the development of a style of cave gate which is the industry standard for protecting endangered bats. • ACCA Restored and Reopened Hidden River Cave in Horse Cave, Kentucky which was once known as the most polluted cave in America. • ACCA sponsored more than 15 National Cave Management Seminars and Symposia to teach professional land managers how to take care of caves. • ACCA created the American Cave Museum in Horse Cave, Kentucky. • ACCA developed “Learning To Live With Caves and Karst,” an educational curriculum for use by school groups. • ACCA has provided direct interpretive education programs to more than 400,000 people including school children, scout groups and teachers. • ACCA operates Hidden River Cave & the American Cave Museum in the middle of Kentucky's "Cave Country" to educate and instill an appreciation for caves and their resources.

Target demographics: preserve fragile cave resources including groundwater and the animals that call caves their home.

Geographic areas served: Horse Cave, Kentucky @ Hidden River Cave and throughout the US on cave conservation issues

Programs: educational tours at the American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave and sponsoring national conservation programs that directly protect and preserve caves and groundwater resources.