BLM deputy director, Jim Hughes and BLM New Mexico state director, Linda Rundell Cavers Discover the Entrance to a New World Within an Old Cave What Is It? The new discovery appears to be a segment of a much larger complex cave system. How it formed and how it relates to the local geology and hydrology has yet to be determined. Some interesting cave organisms have been observed in the new section and have been identified as new species. This new cave is generating many more questions than answers. In the years to come many new biological and geologic discoveries are anticipated. Studying this new discovery will help us better understand the formation of caves in this area and may give us some more information on groundwater hydrology of the cave region. The bottom of Snowy River is covered with bright white coatings. Very slow moving ground water dissolved the grayish-brown limestone walls of the cave and recrystallized that limestone into a different white-colored mineral called calcite, creating a white cave formation in the bottom of the now dry cave passage. The passage has been subjected to numerous infilling of ground water saturated with calcite, which during periods of drying laid numerous coats of calcite as it evaporated or slowly drained from the cave. The cave formation lying on the bottom of Snowy River may well be the largest continuous cave formation in America. Dr. Penny Boston Dr. Penny Boston, director of the cave and karst studies program at New Mexico Tech, said her studies of the passage's microbiology have revealed several species of microorganisms that were previously unknown to exist. The species live in this isolated environment by essentially eating the rocks, creating chemical byproducts in the process that could have pharmaceutical uses, she said.

Fort Stanton-Snowy River May Be First National Cave Conservation Area

On May 31, 2005, the world learned what a handful of people knew—the existence of what may be the longest continuous calcite formation in the world—Snowy River. The Snowy River passage of the BLM-managed Fort Stanton Cave is an unparalleled natural wonder in Lincoln County. Already mapped at more than two miles in length, Snowy River is likely to grow in acclaim as more of it is revealed. Senator Pete V. Domenici (together with Senator Jeff Bingaman) announced the introduction of a bill that establishes a Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area.

"The Snowy River Passage may be one of the most significant speleological finds ever. This legislation would see that it is protected for suitable scientific and educational opportunities associated with this magnificent discovery," Domenici said. "There is so much potential for us to learn from this passage, and I hope this legislation will clear the way for us to protect it, study it and find the best means of sharing it on a broader basis."

U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is an original cosponsor to the bill. "The discovery of the Snowy River passage is a truly exciting find for our state. The right thing to do now is to ensure there is a conservation plan for the cave area. I look forward to working with Senator Domenici to pass legislation that will do just that," Bingaman said.

"This designation for Fort Stanton Cave would be the first of its kind in the nation. We look forward to working with the scientific community, universities, and local partners in the creation of a workable plan to conserve the Fort Stanton Cave including the unparalleled Snowy River discovery," said Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.

The Snowy River passage was discovered in the Fort Stanton Cave by volunteers of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 2001, but it can now be made known with the completion of an environmental assessment of the passage and its formations.

The continued scientific research and discoveries in the cave may yield valuable information on the hydrology, geology and microbiology in the region. For instance, investigations of the Snowy River formation may provide information on past water chemistry, weather trends, and flood and drought cycles.