Exploring biology and history of Equinox Cave in Austin, Texas.

Equinox Cave is one of the local caves managed by Texas Cave Management Association (TCMA) and the City of Austin. This news article will explain the biology, geology, and history of Equinox Cave. This cave is a hidden gem located in Austin, Texas.

Equinox Cave is located in the bed of a tributary creek that runs the length of Western Oaks Karst Preserve and is the primary recharge cave for the preserve. Equinox Cave is one of the caves in the preserve connected to a drainage base. (Ref: https://www.tcmacaves.org/download/88/passages/2089/passages-2002-vol-3-no-2.pdf)

In the drainage base beside Senatorial Sink is Equinox Cave a small but important cave that is used to recharge the Edwards Aquifer. There is good quality water confirmed to be flowing over Equinox Cave. This cave extends below Senatorial Sink and forms a direct connection to the aquifer. (Ref: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/22314/Perrone-2008.pdf?sequence=2)

Equinox Cave is an example of a swallet that (prior to gating) could absorb much of the creek flow that occurs after rain. Water is visible only for short periods after rain. (Ref: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=F2A679B4B237FCBCAD71D8C14A0BD58E?doi=10.1.1.692.9179&rep=rep1&type=pdf)

An Escarpment Black Cherry tree is confirmed to growing along the trail near Equinox Cave. Escarpment Black Cherry is Prunus serotina var. eximia. (Ref: https://www.facebook.com/VWOKPWMA/photos/a.1572717322859880/1603520619779550/?type=3)

Escarpment black cherry is known for the beauty and quality of its wood. The green leaves turn yellow in the fall. Wildlife eat the fruits that grow from this cherry tree. All parts of Prunus species except the fruits contain poisonous substances and should never be eaten. The bark, leaves, and seeds of this species are especially toxic. (Ref: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PRSEE&fbclid=IwAR1_0V__WLcStYMzA9XfExOV1aOtCWVoD3FAi_48mwy1cP9r5Dzlm0GDjFI)
 

Here is the history of Equinox Cave.

Equinox Cave was discovered by surveyors during the early development of the Circle C neighborhood in 1985. Equinox Cave was privately owned then and located on the Circle C Ranch property.

TCMA partnered up with local developer, Lumberman's Investment Corp., for a proposed cave preserve at the Village of Western Oaks in 1998. The preserve would include Get Down Cave, Equinox Cave, Live Oak Cave, Survey Line Cave, and Senatorial Sink (Senatorial Sink Cave). Mike Warton gated all 5 caves in 1999. A management plan was developed for the preserve as coordinated by the City of Austin.

However due to the lack cave management on of the part of the city and developer, it took nearly 8 years to gain full ownership, land rights, and mineral rights to the preserve. TMCA expressed an interest in owning and managing the preserve many years in advance as they had been the de facto managers for 7½ years.

Equinox Cave was once privately owned by Mel Bilich for 4 years in a preserve once called Mel Bilich Karst Preserve (now Western Oaks Karst Preserve). However mismanagement and neglect lead Equinox Cave to natural decay. Equinox Cave had not been properly managed per the karst preserve obligations prior to 2005. (Ref: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC354B_mel-bilich-karst-preserve-cache)

Western Oaks Karst Preserve would open to the public in 2005. Texas Cave Management Association took up the task of giving guiding tours of Equinox Cave along with the other caves located on the preserve. (Ref: www.bseacd.org/western_oaks)

In 2005, a gate was installed and designed to keep construction-disturbed materials from blocking the cave and the nature. However this gate was only used temporarily and was removed in 2008. (Ref: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/22314/Perrone-2008.pdf?sequence=2)

Visitors got to tour and explore the inside of Equinox Cave in April 2010 after receiving a significant amount of rainfall. The ceiling of the cave was dotted with water droplets. Many visitors including adults and children, got the chance to explore the entirety of this cave this sinkhole with help of BCP staff. Visitors saw how water penetrates the overlying rock and slowly enters the aquifer. (Ref: https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_AquiferBulletin_Apr2010.pdf)

Today Equinox Cave is located in a preserve called Western Oaks Karst Preserve with karst features such as Live Oak Cave, Get Down Cave Survey Line Cave, and Senatorial Sink. TCMA has been managing use of the preserve and monitoring all of those caves. Equinox Cave is regularly visited by City of Austin staff.

However Equinox Cave is open to the public for guided tours conducted by TCMA only. The entrance Equinox Cave with locked by a gridiron grate which is visible on the bank of the creek. (Ref: https://www.globalnpo.org/US/Austin/218051571539942/Barton-Springs-Edwards-Aquifer-Conservation-District-%28BSEACD%29)

Equinox Cave is now one of the 62 BCCP caves that protected. BCCP caves usually have some degree of protection although only a few BCCP caves remained ungated. Equinox Cave is one of the gated BCCP caves. (Ref: https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_AquiferBulletin_Apr2010.pdf)

Equinox Cave is located at 5401 Davis Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78749.