Nestled in the mountains above Utah County, a network of nine alpine caves beckons 80,000 visitors six months out of the year.

Protecting the natural resources of Timpanogos Cave National Monument while at the same time ensuring tours are safe and educational is the foundation of a National Park Service cave management plan that will be drafted.

Public comment is being sought on the management plan, which is the park service's first effort to address specifically the caves as a resource aside from the management of the park itself.

"We want to manage the resources for all of our visitors, not just visitors now, but for people who want to come 10, 20 or 30 years down the road," said Cami Pulham, the monument's chief of resource management.

Pulham notes that while the caves are smaller than others in the national park system, they boast unique geologic formations that are easily viewed within close proximity to a metropolitan area. Other caves are "destination locations"; visitors pretty much have to make it a stopping point on their list.

As a result, Pulham said the caves get a bevy of schoolchildren who come on tours and others who drop in for a spontaneous visit.

"It is such a valuable opportunity for people to see caves, especially here in Utah. This one is particularly beautiful," she said, with rock formations that are yellow, green and purple due to mineral content.

The caves are also home to a unique ecosystem, providing a sanctuary for bats and a home for animals that have adapted to a cave environment, with some lacking skin pigmentation and eyes.

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With visitation growing, the park service has identified several preliminary topics it says should be addressed in a management plan, including identification of research needs, protection of pristine cave resources, development and maintenance of tour infrastructure, and managing the size of tours as well as acceptable behavior in caves.

An open house explaining the purpose of the management plan and the timeline will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the park's visitors center.

Comments on the plan are being accepted through Sept. 28.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com

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