Daily Postcard: Mourning Dove Nests Along Reservoir Road
Forest Service Invests $80M In Forest Legacy Conservation
USFS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service is investing more than $80 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to support 15 congressionally approved Forest Legacy projects in 2026. These projects will permanently conserve over 34,000 acres of privately owned working forests across the country.
“The Forest Legacy program makes critical investments in working forests with state partnerships to provide timber supplies and other wood products, provide public access for recreation, secure drinking water, and maintain wildlife habitat in some of the most important forests Read More
PEEC Nature Club Develops Autonomous AI ‘PumaGuard’ System
PEEC Nature Club members who developed a 3-year ‘PumaGuard’ project combining wildlife biology, AI, and field engineering, from left, Gavin Bent, Seb Koglin, Phoebe Reid, Celia Pesiri, Adis Bock, Aditya Viswanathan, Suchi Jha, and Tate Plohr. Not pictured is Zoe Bent, who graduated in 2025. Courtesy/PEEC
By MARK MACINNIS
Los Alamos Daily Post
At a recent evening presentation at the Los Alamos Nature Center, a group of Los Alamos High School (LAHS) students in the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) Nature Club unveiled something far beyond a typical high school science club Read More
Tut & His Harem Gather At Farm In Beautiful Española Valley
Tut and his harem gather on Wednesday at a farm in the beautiful Española Valley. Photo by Liddie Martinez Read More
Daily Postcard: Bee Enjoys Wild Iris Along Camp May Road
Daily Postcard: A bee enjoys wild iris on Tuesday afternoon along Camp May Road. Photo by Marc BaileyNMED, DAF Verbally Agree To Collaboration That Advances PFAS Cleanup At Cannon AFB
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) today announced a verbal agreement to establish a collaborative groundwater sampling framework to support ongoing PFAS investigation and clean-up activities at Cannon Air Force Base in Curry County.
Under the verbal agreement, NMED will lead off-base groundwater sampling—including at multiple dairies—while the Department of the Air Force provides funding and technical resources. This sampling effort will accelerate PFAS response around Cannon AFB. The DAF will continue Read More
Forest Service Pushes Forward On Landmark Disaster Recovery Through American Relief Act
USFS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Forest Service announced today that significant recovery efforts across national forests and grasslands continue to progress following damage caused over three years of natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires and flooding.
These efforts were made possible by $6.35 billion in disaster recovery supplemental funding allocated to the agency through the American Relief Act of 2025. These supplemental funds are targeted to support the restoration of infrastructure and natural resources across half the National Forest System following Read More
Conservation Groups, Business Owners, And Community Members Pen Letter Stating Antelope Pass Is Wrong Place For Mineral Exploration
NMWILD News:
SILVER CITY — Last week, 14 conservation groups alongside numerous local businesses and community members sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) outlining serious concerns regarding a new mining threat in the Antelope Pass area in Hidalgo County, NM. Just north of NM Highway 9, in the Peloncillo Mountain range, Antelope Pass is home to the Antelope Pass Research Natural Area (RNA), a Special Management Area designated by the BLM specifically to protect biological and research values, and in particular, an exceptional diversity of lizard species and outstanding Read More
Daily Postcard: Elk Plays Peekaboo In Bandelier
Daily Postcard: An elk plays peekaboo on Monday in Bandelier National Monument. Photo by Lauren Hughes
An elk nibbles on spring aspen leaves on Monday in Bandelier. Photo by Lauren Hughes Read More
On The Job In Los Alamos: Volunteers Help Divert Waste During 2026 Jemez Mountain Trail Runs
On the Job in Los Alamos: Los Alamos Sustainability Alliance (LASA) members from left, Jody Benson and Dorothy Brown and Jemez Mountain Trail Run organizing committee member Kristine Coblentz man the waste station Saturday afternoon outside the Sheriff’s Posse Lodge, which was the finish line for the trail runs. Volunteers assisted runners and other attendees to properly dispose of their litter into either trash, recycle or compost bins. This year, event organizers offered compostable plates, utensils and cups. The material was taken to Reunity Resources in Santa Fe, which offers municipal Read More
Concordia Santa Fe’s Wind Orchestra To Present Concert At St. Francis Auditorium June 14
Mid Century Joyride Sunday, June 14 at St. Francis Auditorium. Courtesy/CSF
CONCERT News:
Concordia Santa Fe’s Wind Orchestra will present its second concert of 2026 at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at the New Mexico Museum of Art in the St. Francis Auditorium.
Under the direction of guest conductor Professor David Bertman, Director of Bands at the University of Houston, the 40-member ensemble will perform works by Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Michael Markowski, Gian Carlo Menotti, Vincent Persichetti, and David White.
Admission is free, with donations gratefully accepted at the door. Read More
Forestry Division: Burn Bans & Fire Restrictions, Explained
Fire restrictions sign posted at a campground. Photo courtesy/U.S. Forest Service
NMFD News:
When the weather gets warm, we all want to get outside and build a backyard bonfire, take an off-roading excursion or burn old yard debris. But which of those activities are allowed and where? Let’s talk fire restrictions.
Risky business
When fuels have dried out due to continued heat and winds, fire restrictions become preventative measures that remind the public, “It’s windy, and there’s a ton of dry grass; it’s too risky to have a campfire right now.”
Restrictions can come from county, state Read More
Los Alamos County Begins Installation Of Direct Current Fast Chargers At Mesa Public Library
During construction, the main parking lot and vehicle access to the drive-up book drop will be closed. Community members visiting the library can use the parking lots on the east side of the library near Fuller Lodge. Community members returning books can park on the east side of library and walk the books into the drop-off bin. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Sustainability Office, in partnership with Public Works, is excited to announce that two new direct-current fast-charging stations are coming to Mesa Public Library. This is the next step in expanding the community’s Read More
Daily Postcard: Hooded Warblers Return To Los Alamos
Daily Postcard: Hooded Warblers have returned to the Santa Fe National Forest, Los Alamos County, for the third year in a row. This species is a rare migrant in the western United States, but in 2024 they nested along the reservoir road, the first confirmed nesting in New Mexico, and fledged one young. In 2025, they moved south to Upper Water Canyon, and successfully fledged two young. This year a male was first seen April 11, and by May 10 a male and female had settled back into Upper Water Canyon again, in the same exact spot as last year. If you hike this trail, listen for the distinctive song ‘cheree Read More
DPU Investigates Root Cause Of Townsite Power Outage
COUNTY News:
A power outage that impacted the whole townsite of Los Alamos in the evening hours of Friday, May 8, started at 9:32 p.m. with a high-magnitude fault (greater than 5000 amps) on both transformers that feed the townsite from the electric substation on Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) property.
While any interruption of electric service experienced on LANL property was brief, the townsite outage spanned the townsite from the far east ends of North and Barranca mesas, west toward the outer edge of the Quemazon subdivision, and then east again to the commercial and county buildings Read More
Kiwanis Club To Host Aluminum Collection Saturday May 16
The Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos is collecting and buying aluminum cans from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16, to be sent for recycling. The collection location is the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church on Diamond Drive (near Sullivan Field). The community is encouraged to bring the aluminum cans they’ve had accumulating and help support the environment and the Kiwanis. Courtesy/Kiwanis Read More
Bill Would Protect 105,623 Acres Of Caja del Rio Habitat, Culturally Significant Landscape
NWF News:
SANTA FE — The Caja del Rio Protection Act, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), would designate the Caja del Rio as a Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Area and U.S. Forest Service Special Management Area to permanently protect the region.
“The Caja del Rio supports a resident population and migration pattern of deer and elk that have supported our ancestors and Tesuque Pueblo’s inherent health and cultural ties to the natural environment. The landscape also serves as a migration corridor for these animals Read More
Santa Fe National Forest Issues Temporary Closures For Campground Construction, Post-Fire Safety
SFNF News:
Forest Order 03-10-05-26-04 closes three developed recreation sites and an access road while contractors perform vault toilet and water system construction.
The following areas are closed to public entry:
- Field Tract Campground
- Panchuela Campground
- Jacks Creek Campground and Equestrian Area
The order also closes the road north of Cowles at the junction of State Road 63 and Forest Road 555, beginning at the middle gate leading toward the Jacks Creek Campground and Equestrian Area.
These closures are in effect from 8 a.m., May 4, 2026, through 11:59 p.m., Sept. 30, 2026, Read More
Daily Postcard: Rare Long-Eared Owl Spotted Near Urban
Daily Postcard: A rare Long-eared Owl was spotted roosting in the backyard of a residence Saturday near Urban Park. Long-eared Owls are lanky and often seem to wear a surprised expression thanks to long ear tufts that typically point straight up like exclamation marks. These nocturnal hunters roost in dense foliage, where their camouflage makes them hard to find, and forage over grasslands for small mammals. Long-eared Owls are nimble flyers, with hearing so acute they can snatch prey in complete darkness. In spring and summer, listen for their low, breathy hoots and strange barking calls Read More
Opening Day At Los Alamos Farmers Market Thursday
