andrea croskrey - human waste management in the caves of the us national park service
TRANSCRIPT
A Presentation for the 2010 Exit Strategies – Managing Human Waste in the Wild Conference in
Golden, CO
Human Waste Management in the Caves of the US National Park
Service
High EnergyActive stream
inputLots of sources of
“food” and nutrients being brought in
Short transit time
Cave Environments
Low EnergyLittle to no flowing waterLittle to no “food” or nutrients being
brought inLong to zero transit times
Cave Environments
Introduces lots of energy/carbon (food) to a “starved” environmentDisrupts the microbial ecosystemLiquid waste elevates nitrogenSolid waste introduces carbon
Human Waste Impacts
Introduces foreign bacteria and virusesCould contaminate drinking water
suppliesRed Lake/Huapache Camp – trackingPink Dot – natural hydrologic
processes
Human Waste Impacts
Aesthetics (smell, visual)Solid waste biodegrades
slowlyStainingFouling routes
Human Waste Impacts
Mammoth CaveCat holesStreamsLow Visitation
Management Strategies
Underground wilderness can be downstream of urban centers and agricultureKarst aquifers are contaminatedElevated estrogen in Ozark AquiferSome caves have elevated E. coli from surface
impacts
Management Strategies
Wind Cave and Jewel Cave: pack it all out
Management Strategies
Lechuguilla Cave:<48 hour trip – pack it all out>48 hour trip – Urine is dumped at 4 sites
adjacent to camps; all other waste is packed out
Dumping urine is not ideal. Some technological solutions proposed, but none proven.
Management Strategies
Why the difference?Logistics of gear and weight requirements
Horizontal v. verticalStocked camps
Fear of dehydration in the warmer caveLonger trips = more urine to haulPrecedence
Management Strategies
High NRG CavesInto active
streams
Urine Dump Sites
Low NRG CaveConcentrated impactTime required between usesLower passages?Wear booties
Urine Dump Sites
In the sediments of active streams or on trail
Toilet paper didn’t breakdownNone in low energy caves
Solid Waste Dump Sites
Hard v. flexibleDisposable v. ReusableFunnels/wide mouth
Urine Transport
Lg. Plastic BagsWine Bags
Urine Storage
“Burrito” BagsInexpensiveGallon bags and
aluminum foilDrop cloth
Manufactured Options
Solid Waste Transport
Provide Disposal ReceptaclesDumpsters
Bear proofRecycling bottles
Flush contentsrinse
The Finale
Thanks to photographers: Jean Krejca, Hazel Barton, Ron Kerbo, Art Palmer
For more information about NPS Caves visit:
http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/caves/