West Virginia Speleological Survey
The West Virginia Speleological Survey (WVaSS) is a speleological organization and ongoing cave survey program that has gathered information and published about West Virginia caves and karst since 1967. WVaSS was founded by Roger Baroody who was motivated to continue the survey begun by William E. Davies (1917–1990) in his "Caverns of West Virginia" (1949, 1950, 1965). Davis’ book and its updates were published as part of the West Virginia Geological Survey series, but after 1965 it became apparent that no further updates would be forthcoming. Large quantities of new cave and karst data were becoming  available and so the need for a dedicated survey program seemed evident. Organization and history. The WVaSS is a highly informal, voluntary, non-profit association of cavers and caving groups. In 1978, WVaSS became a Study Group of the National Speleological Society (NSS) and in 1987 was granted 501c3 tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. Safeguards. For reasons of cave conservation and safety, it is the policy of WVaSS to sell bulletins only to NSS members and individuals and agencies doing karst research. Certain caves contain unique speleothems, rare forms of cave life, or have serious landowner-caver  relations problems. For these caves, the WVaSS may refrain from publication. Publications. Beginning in 1971, the WVaSS has produced 19 publications (“bulletins”) to date. It has attempted to maintain a balance between bulletins that simply present cave surveys/descriptions (14 so far) and bulletins advancing specific karst research (5 so far). In aggregate, the 11 survey bulletins have provided descriptions of over 2175 caves in 14 West Virginia counties. The research survey bulletins include a master's thesis on cave development, a bibliography of West Virginia caves and karst, and bulletins on the invertebrate and vertebrate fauna of West Virginia  caves. WVaSS publications. Bulletins Monographs Miscellaneous