Lost caves revealed
Published: November 16, 2007
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Amy Alonzo/Union Democrat
By JAMES DAMSCHRODER
The Union Democrat
When New Melones Dam was filled a quarter century ago this year, thousands of acres of history and prehistory were lost to its watery depths.
Drought conditions, however, have lowered the lake level by 93 feet, bringing back a glimpse of what was lost – notably, several of the 20-plus caves inundated when the dam's floodwaters began to rise.
Ralph Squire, 78, vice president of the Columbia Grotto of the National Speleological Society, said there are two significant caves that became visible when the water level dropped.
Both are located near the east end of the reservoir where the Main and South forks of the Stanislaus River converge. Several smaller grottoes also exist.
One of the significant caves is Coral Cave.
"When the Native Americans lived there, they quarried travertine for religious jewelry," Squire said. "Some of that jewelry has been found on the North Coast because they used to trade it."
Squire wasn't able to save this cave from drowning, but he was able to save others.
While serving as the chairman of the New Melones Task Force almost 30 years ago, he made recommendations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to purchase 1,500 acres of land in the area to preserve some of the more significant caves threatened by the reservoir.
Still, 20 to 30 caves lay beneath the murky waters of the New Melones Lake, he said.
Where the Main and South forks of the Stanislaus meet, the landscape changes — the valley narrows and
the clay banks that surround the lake's western edges are replaced by jutting limestone cliffs.
The limestone is responsible for the area's caverns, said John Gardner, 60, of Columbia, a member of the Columbia Grotto.
Millions of years ago, hot brine pools formed, dissolving much of the limestone, and left these enormous caverns.
"I like the formations," said Gardner, who started caving when he was 16. "All the beauty the caves have to offer. I've been doing it a long time."
The caves attract people of all ages, like Michael White Jr., 15, a member of the Columbia Grotto, who first starting exploring caves with his father at age 6.
"You get to see a lot of things that other people don't," White said. "When I'm down there, it's relieving. There is no one around. It's quiet."
To explore Coral Cave now, you have to get in the bone-chilling water to fit through the cave entrance, which is now peaking out only a few feet above the waterline.
Once inside the cave, it opens up. Stalactites drip from the ceiling and stalagmites boil from the floor.
Experts warn that cave exploring is not for novices.
Lisa Boulton, marketing director for Sierra Nevada Recreation — the company that runs the tours for the area's Moaning and California caverns — said it's not a good idea for the inexperienced to explore wild caves.
"Don't go without someone that's an experienced caver," Boulton said. "It can be extremely dangerous."
Another reason novices are urged to go with more experienced spelunkers: Caves are fragile.
Grotto member Mike White Sr., 37, said that when someone abuses rock or mineral formations in a cave, it can take thousands of years for the damage to be undone.
"People should treat them (wild caves) as a treasure," White Sr. said. "Stalactites don't look as good on your coffee table as they would in the cave."
Particularly caves one rarely gets to visit.
"It's special because of the limited time you get to see it," White said of Coral Cave. "It's neat because it was proven that American Indians used it as a shelter."
