Sewage Spill Flows Into Mammoth Cave NP; Impact On Endangered Cave Species Still Unknown

Sewage that spewed onto the ground more than a month ago above Mammoth Cave is believed to have made its way into the cave.

It’s still not known if the sewage has made its way into the part of the cave where the delicate and endangered Kentucky cave shrimp live, according to Bob Carson, chief of resource and management division for Mammoth Cave National Park. “That is what we are concerned about,” he said.

Carson said water samples, particularly those collected after heavy rain June 16, showed elevated levels of the bacteria E.coli, a common indicator of sewage. Carson said once the rush of water subsided, so did E.coli levels, but they rose again after more rain.

Park staff members are preparing to do a dye test, which requires getting background readings on possible contamination levels before releasing dye into the ditch where the raw sewage leaked May 27. At the time of the leak, the Caveland Environmental Authority was working in the area when a valve burst.

About 5,000 gallons of sewage leaked, and about 3,000 gallons were recovered. “We have no reason to doubt those numbers,” Carson said. Carson said he’s confident the E.coli came from the spilled sewage, but there are other potential sources, including wildlife that roam the ground above the cave.

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