National Cave and Karst Research Institute

Carlsbad, New Mexico | Conduct, support, facilitate, and promote programs in cave and karst research, education, environmental management, and data acquisition and sharing.

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Technical Services

Using our team's collective knowledge in cave and karst science, we can study, investigate, train and develop management programs in cave and karst areas.

Evaluation & Management Services

NCKRI uses a variety of geological, biological, and geophysical tools to investigate caves and karst geohazards, aquifers, and ecosystems on private and public land. Examples of our diverse past and current projects include:

  • Geophysical studies of highways, pipeline routes, oil and gas well drilling sites, and business and housing areas to avoid or prevent sinkhole collapse;
  • Aquifer characterization studies that include dye tracing, and water chemistry, flow and elevation studies;
  • Mapping of the biological distribution and management zones of endangered cave species;
  • Instructional workshops on cave and karst research, management, and education;
  • Investigating the effects of cave lighting on algal growths in show caves, and finding safer methods to clean them;
  • Preventing flooding in karst areas.

We’ve conducted projects in the US, as well as Brazil, China, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Our technical team includes more than our staff. NCKRI is part of New Mexico Tech, allowing us access to excellent students, who under the guidance of their professors, conduct insightful, cutting-edge investigations. Also, if there is a highly specialized topic where we don’t have the expertise, we know the top karst scientists around the world and can bring the knowledge needed to any project.

NCKRI welcomes opportunities for contracted cave and karst evaluation and management research and workshops. All results of our work are publicly available to advance cave and karst science in peer-reviewed technical journals, conference reports, and in our NCKRI Reports of Investigations. 

If you would like to contract NCKRI or get more information on our services, please contact us at or (575) 887-5518. We love talking about new research! The following pages summarize some of the services we offer.

An NCKRI member evaluating and managing the wall of a cave.
NCKRI Scholar Zoe Havlena measures photosynthetic growth on the walls of Carlsbad Cavern to understand the effects of the cave’s artificial lighting. Photo courtesy: NCKRI Staff George Veni.