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The West Virginia Cave Conservancy (WVCC), a non profit, West
Virginia corporation, has purchased approximately 5 acres that
includes the Persinger’s Entrance to Benedict’s Cave.
This parcel was subdivided from the old Persinger Farm, located
just off of Benedict Lane, near the Greenbrier Valley Airport.
At least one other parcel has been sold. The farm is in a prime
development area
in the booming Lewisburg, WV area, and the entire farm has been
subdivided with all the other parcels for sale.
Access to all the major cave systems in Greenbrier County are
potentially threatened by the rapid population growth and development
of the area, and by increasing liability concerns. WVCC has a
goal of maintaining access to Benedict’s Cave, and to as
many of the other major systems in West Virginia as possible.
Benedict’s Cave offers outstanding scientific, educational,
and recreational opportunities. WVCC will manage the Persinger’s
Entrance to maximize these opportunities. At the present the
Benedict’s Entrance is open to caver visits by special
permission from the owner.
RESOURCES
Benedict’s Cave is listed on the Significant Cave List
for length, depth, hydrology, geology, biology, history, and
esthetics. The cave has two entrances, the main Benedict’s
entrance that was first used to gain access to the cave and the
Persinger entrance. WVACS members found the Persinger entrance
from the inside during exploration of the cave. An attempt was
made to dig out from the inside but was not successful. Subsequently,
the entrance was located on the surface and was excavated.
Benedict’s Cave is one of the longest, most complex of
a series of so called “contact cave systems” located
in the historic “Great Savannah” of Greenbrier County.
These contact cave systems are known for extensive passage development
in the contact zone between the overlying Mississippian Greenbrier
Limestone and the underlying MacCrady Shale. To date, approximately
14 miles of passage has been surveyed in Benedict’s. Benedict’s
Cave lies between two other major contact cave systems: Wades
Cave to the southwest, and Maxwelton Sink Cave to the northwest.
All these systems are interrelated, and connection potential
exists for all of these systems. A total of 5 major contact cave
systems are developed adjacent to each other in this area. A
total of 77 miles have been mapped so far in all these systems.
Major stream passages in Benedict’s were formed near the
limestone/shale contact, and are cutting down into the underlying
red shales of the MacCrady Formation, yielding interesting passage
morphology. In addition, numerous faults and folds have been
documented, and the cave shows interesting passage modifications
where these features are encountered.
Hydrologically, Benedict’s has several infeeder streams
that travel from the surface down-dip to the master trunk stream.
This stream has been dye traced to an eventual resurgence at
Davis Spring, approximately 15 miles to the south on the Greenbrier
River. Benedict’s Cave serves as a major in feeder to the
65 square mile Davis Spring drainage basin.
Although not highly decorated with speleothems, certain areas
of the cave contain nice formations. Benedict’s contains
several species of bats and invertebrates that are common to
the area. The cave is not a significant hybernaculum. The cave
has the potential to produce some interesting paleontological
finds.
SURFACE RESOURCES
The Persinger’s Entrance is situated in roughly the center
of the Persinger farm. WVCC was able to choose the acreage that
suited both budget and usage concerns. A large section of the
wetlands draining into the cave was included in the purchase
along with a second entrance that most likely could be dug open.
A common use right-of-way was included in the purchase.
The blind valley with the Persinger Entrance is ringed with
many mature trees and a large portion of the property is open
meadow. Included with this draft plan will be a conservation
proposal from the USDA for a tree, shrub, and legume-planting
program to provide soil, wetland, and wildlife protection.
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