Collier Cave, Lauderdale County, Alabama

Gate Types: CHUTE and BASIC

The gates at Collier Cave were some of the most challenging that the Cave Gators ever built. Located in a remote area of northern Alabama, there was no overland access due to the surrounding private property and the large cliff above the entrances. All personnel had to be shuttled in by boat each day, about a mile from the nearest boat ramp. But we couldn’t bring in the steel and equipment the same way, due to the shallowness of the water and the numerous cypress roots at the steep bank below the cave. Fortunately, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) provided a helicopter and crew, and we managed to airlift 18 pallet-loads of steel and gear to the cave in a single day. We had two welders working simultaneously to build the 42-foot by 12-foot Chute Gate and the 9-foot by 5-foot Basic Gate. It really kept our 9-person crew busy! But we managed to finish the entire project in only four days.We are really proud of these gates, which will stop all the illegal entry and impacts from partiers who spraypaint the walls and build fires in the cave. Hopefully the federally Endangered gray bats (Myotis grisescens) that still use the farthest reaches of the cave can now begin to recolonize their former roosts in the rest of the cave. The summer count after gating showed that the bat population already doubled from the pre-gating numbers. All photos © Jim Kennedy.

Six (of eighteen) pallets of carefully packaged equipment are visible in this photo. All ladders, generators, welders, drills, clamps, extension cords, welding rods, and everything else is prepared for helicopter transport.
All the steel for the project was likewise packaged in bundles of no more than 1500 pounds.
Every day we enjoyed a great boat ride to and from work. This was the best way to see other wildlife in the area.
Here comes a bundle of 4″ angle iron! These are 20-foot-long pieces, and individually weigh 196 pounds (88.9 kg) each! We spent a day before the project started to clear some trees in order to open the canopy enough for the helicopter to make the deliveries. This whole process was dangerous, as you can imagine, but fascinating to watch.
Our landing area was this steep slope, but it was the only option around. The main entrance to the cave is at the base of the cliff on the left side of this photo.
And so it begins. We have the expanded metal skirting in place, the footer pieces are welded together, the columns are plumbed and welded, and the bars are starting to go on the hangers.
Mowgli can barely be seen through the limestone dust as he drills a 1″ hole in the ceiling for an anchor pin.
Jane shows that she also knows how to operate the demolition hammer.
Katheryn really throws herself into her work! That hot shower at the end of the day is going to feel soooo good.
Here is a pretty good view of the chute gate from inside the cave. Here, we are working on the chute itself.
The view from the outside shows the steeply-angled chute that allows the bats free entry/exit during their nightly feedings, but keeps out potential trespassers.