Daily Postcard: Sun Peeks Through Cloudy Sky
Daily Postcard: Sun peeks through clouds recently above Pinon Trails in White Rock. Photo by Grace Wolfe Read More
County: Draft Climate Action Plan Goes To Council July 9
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County’s consultant, Cascadia Consulting Group, will present a draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) to the County Council at the upcoming council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 in the Council Chambers.
Interested individuals are encouraged to attend this meeting in person at 1000 Central Ave., Council Chambers or via Zoom.
Following the presentation, the draft plan will be made available for public review and comment at https://losalamoscap.konveio.com from July 9 through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 9.
The County invites all residents to read the draft plan and provide feedback. Read More
PEEC To Host Enchanting Evening ‘Poetry Under The Stars’ With New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp July 16
New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp will grace the stage July 16 at the Los Alamos Nature Center, at 2600 Canyon Road, as part of the exciting ScienceFest 2024 celebration powered by Los Alamos Mainstreet. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
The community is invited to join PEEC for an enchanting evening, “Poetry Under the Stars” with New Mexico Poet Laureate Lauren Camp at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Los Alamos Nature Center as part of the exciting ScienceFest 2024 celebration powered by Los Alamos Mainstreet.
Prepare for an evening that seamlessly blends the magic of poetry with the awe-inspiring Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Announces 165 Enforcement Actions Initiated; 87 Resolved In June 2024
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) released updates for the month of June 2024 on the Enforcement Watch.
The Enforcement Watch is a listing of all active and resolved enforcement cases. Active cases involve an alleged violation of a regulation, rule, permit, license, etc. Resolved cases are those that were adjudicated in court of law or administratively resolved.
The Enforcement Watch also provides tools for the public to report alleged environmental or workplace safety violations.
“Whether it is the safety of manufactured cannabis edibles or protecting Read More
LWV Lunch With A Leader Features Abby Howard July 18
Abbey Hayward
LWV News:
The League of Women Voters (LWV) next community event, Lunch with a Leader, is noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the Fellowship Hall of the Unitarian Church on Sage.
The meeting is open to the public.
Department of Public Utilities, Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator Abbey Hayward is the guest speaker. Hayward develops education and outreach programming focused on reducing customer consumption and utility resource waste through behavioral and technological adaptations.
Hayward graduated from Bowling Green State University with a dual degree in Environmental Read More
Daily Postcard: Bright Red Asiatic Lily Blooms In White Rock
Daily Postcard: A beautiful Asiatic lily after a rainstorm Sunday morning at a residence in White Rock. Asiatic lily bulbs are both the earliest bloomers and easiest to care for of the lily family. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Small And Large Geologic Bands
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
Summer provides a good time for exploring and observing many aspects of the natural world around us. There are variations between the large and the small in geology. The canyons in the Pajarito Plateau provide parallel patterns on a large scale.
Picture 1 below is of Pueblo Canyon. It is about 3.5 miles from it upper to lower end of Los Alamos mesa. It is nearly a half mile wide at this lower end and 400 feet deep from mesa top to canyon bottom.
There are parallel layers that form the wall of Pueblo Canyon. These layers are called members. These are named the Tshirege member, the Read More
EPA And NMED Find Potential Air Quality Violations At 60% Of Permian Basin Oil And Gas Facilities Inspected
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED or the Department) Wednesday announced the results of a six-month inspection initiative done in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It found 75 of the 124 facilities investigated had emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and could be subject to monetary penalties and other actions necessary to comply with requirements pursuant to federal Clean Air Act and state Air Quality Control Act.
During this time, EPA and NMED analyzed data from satellites, regulatory reports and other sources Read More
ScienceFest At SALA: A Day Of Immersive STEM Exploration
SALA News:
The SALA Events Center announces ScienceFest at SALA, a day dedicated to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, taking place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 13.
This event promises a day full of interactive and immersive experiences suitable for all ages.
STEMarts Activities:
- VR Exploration: Participants can explore the cosmos with Oculus headsets, diving into the wonders of the universe.
- 3D VR Painting: Attendees can unleash their creativity by creating and projecting 3D art in real-time.
- AR Sky Hunt: An augmented reality adventure
‘New Mexico Volunteers For The Outdoors’ Completes Trail Project Removing 202 Downed Trees
‘New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors’ (NMVFO) successfully cleared downed trees and debris from three trails in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness of the Cuba Ranger District. Courtesy/NMVFO
NMVFO News:
SANTA FE — A group from “New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors” (NMVFO) successfully cleared downed trees and debris from three trails in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness of the Cuba Ranger District.
Twelve volunteers, supported by five members of the Jemez Chapter of Back Country Horsemen, successfully removed 202 downed trees along 3.3 miles of the Palomas, Perchas and Penas Negras trails. Read More
Daily Postcard: Happy 4th Of July From Pinon Trails
Daily Postcard: Happy 4th of July from the Pinon Trails neighborhood in White Rock. Photo by VaLynn Purvis Read More
Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round: Celebrate With One Less Spark
Forest Service Guild News:
SANTA FE — In New Mexico, July usually marks the beginning of monsoon season, and with monsoons comes lightning, but not always rain.
As Fourth of July approaches, remember fireworks are always illegal on federal lands in New Mexico no matter what day of the year.
Let’s work together to prevent unwanted human-caused fires for the month of July! This month’s Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round” Message is “Celebrate with One Less Spark!”
Leaving fireworks to the professionals reduces the risk of injury, unintentional wildfire starts, roof damage, and litter.
Consider Read More
Lightning Strike Sparks South Fork Fire In New Mexico
FBI News:
Mescalero – Wildland fire and law enforcement investigators completed the investigation into the cause of the South Fork Fire. The identification of the point of origin and all evidence and data support lightning as the cause of the fire. Human activity and factors did not contribute to the cause.
The investigation was conducted by wildland fire investigators and law enforcement officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Bureau of Land Management, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Mescalero Conservation Law Enforcement Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Read More
Downhill Rockies Series Stops By Pajarito Mountain
Pajarito Mountain News:
The Team Trail Party Downhill Rockies series makes its Independence Day debut with a slew of activities, not just downhill racing on Pajarito’s legendary trails! Visit the trail party website for more details.
The downhill trails will be open to the public during the race, with some trails closed for a limited time to accommodate racers. Be prepared for extra traffic on the hill this weekend.
Registration is up, click the link below to join the fun.
PEEC To Host Solar Car Racing & Electric Vehicle Show At ScienceFest Saturday July 13
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is celebrating Los Alamos ScienceFest with its annual Electric Vehicle Show and Solar Car Racing.
The community is invited to join them 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the Municipal parking lot (off Central) between the demo garden and the Police Station, northwest from Ashley Pond Park.
This event will feature a variety of electric-powered vehicles and bikes. Speak with owners about their experiences, discover the different features and styles, and explore options for electric transportation. Learn where Los Alamos gets Read More
SFNF: Wildfire Prevention Ahead Of 4th Of July Holiday
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — Every year, thousands of wildfires are sparked on public lands by fireworks. Fireworks are illegal to use in national forests every day of the year. You can help the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) to prevent unwanted human-caused wildfires by practicing safe and responsible campfire management.
Responsible campfire tips:
- Campfire rings should be clear of flammable debris for three feet in every direction.
- All campfires must be extinguished before campers depart their campsites, even if they will only be gone for a couple of hours.
- For more information on responsible
Daily Postcard: View Of Canyon And Rio Grande
Daily Postcard: View of the canyon and Rio Grande on Sunday from White Rock Overlook. Photo by Shari Mills Read More
Wernicke: Parks & Recreation Board Update For June 2024
The bottom of Ranch School Trail after an early June rainstorm. Courtesy photo
By James Wernicke
Chair
Los Alamos Parks and Recreation Board
Here are the June Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) meeting highlights:
Public Comment on Aquatic Center Maintenance
We first heard public concerns that conducting aquatic center maintenance from September to April could negatively impact swim teams and other users. While contractor availability will play a role in scheduling, the PRB is committed to working with the Community Services Department (CSD) to minimize disruptions. Public comments Read More
Rep. Stansbury, Sen. Merkley Lead Letter To FEMA Urging Critical Policy Changes
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) led a bicameral letter with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use all available resources to respond to the threats of extreme heat and wildfire smoke facing American communities.
Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), and Joe Neguse (CO-02) joined as co-leads and 60 other members of Congress signed the letter.
“Extreme heat is a growing environmental justice issue,” the lawmakers said. “Heat is the leading weather-related Read More
Los Alamos County Code Compliance Reminds Residents Of Reporting Process
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Code Compliance reminds residents of their reporting process with the summer season and upcoming Fourth of July celebrations. The Code Compliance team enforces the Building Code (Chapter 10), Development Code (Chapter 16), and Nuisance Code (Chapter 18), except where designated to the County Engineer or another official.
From Jan. 1 to June 27, 2024, Code Compliance staff addressed 71 complaint-based cases, including 47 anonymous complaints.
“Each case in the County receives our full attention,” County Management Analyst Adrienne Lovato said. “We want Read More
