Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

SFNF: La Cueva Prescribed Burn Slated For Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 13, 2018

SFNF News:

SANTA FE ― Fire managers from the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest will attempt to treat approximately 372 acres beginning today, Nov. 13, in the La Cueva area, seven miles northwest of Pecos.

Weather permitting, fire managers will continue treatments through Feb. 28.

Smoke may be visible from the communities of La Cueva, Glorieta, Canada da Los Alamos, La Joya, Apache Canyon, Upper Pecos Canyon, Pecos, Rowe, Las Vegas, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Watershed.

These communities can expect the smoke to settle and possibly impact the

Daily Postcard: Pair Of Deer Visit North Mesa

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 13, 2018

Daily Postcard: Morning visitors stopped at a neighborhood on North Mesa after Sunday night’s snowfall. Photo by Linda Hull Read More

USDA Announces Investments To Improve Rural Electric Infrastructure And Increase Grid Resilience

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 13, 2018

USDA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett Nov. 8 announced that USDA is investing $1.6 billion in 46 rural electric utility infrastructure projects to improve electric reliability and resilience in 24 states.

“Reliable and affordable power is an underpinning for economic development and quality of life,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner in building prosperity in rural communities through the sustainment and modernization of rural electric infrastructure.”

Snowy Scenes Around Los Alamos Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

Snow scene this morning at the VFW on Trinity Drive. The National Weather Service predicts the storm is clearing and will be followed by sunny skies Tuesday and a high of 34. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Snow scene this morning on the grounds of Mesa Public Library. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Snow scene this morning on Rose Street near Oppenheimer Tower. Photo By Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Snowplows this morning clearing Central Avenue. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A man clears the parking area this morning at Chapel Apartments near Rose Street. Photo by Read More

Udall, Heinrich Announce $4.347 Million For Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project will receive a total of $4.347 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) fiscal year 2019 budget.

The project, when complete, will deliver a reliable water supply to Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, Grady, Elida, Melrose, Portales, Texico, and Roosevelt and Curry counties. An additional $7.65 million will be allocated to other projects along the Rio Grande, for Isleta Pueblo, and the Carlsbad area.

More Than A Foot Of Fresh Snow Falls On Sipapu

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

Today’s storm brought more than a foot of snow to Sipapu Ski Resort … 13 inches to be exact. Sipapu has received a total of 31 inches so far this season with 25 inches falling in the past two weeks. Sipapu continues to make snow in preparation for the kick off of ski season as crews work to open more and more terrain for the season. Sipapu will once again be the first ski resort in New Mexico to open for the ski season. Opening day is this Friday, Nov. 16. For more information, visit S ipapu.ski. Courtesy/Sipapu Ski Resort Read More

Winter Storm Warning In Effect Until 6 p.m. Today

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning in effect through 6 p.m. today as snow continues falling in the area including this home in the Pinon Trails neighborhood in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Scene of snowfall today in the Pinon Trails neighborhood in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Recycle Fair And Fashion Show Nov. 14

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

Jemez Ranger District Plans Piles Burn In December

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

Fire managers plan ignitions on piles between Dec. 1, and Feb. 28, 2019 on the Jemez Ranger District to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire. Courtesy photo

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – To take advantage of favorable conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality, and weather forecasts, fire managers on the Jemez Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) expect to begin ignitions on piles between Dec. 1, and Feb. 28, 2019 to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire.

Weather permitting, crews plan to treat up to 1,123 acres of piles located three to eight miles northeast of Read More

Near Record Temperatures & 80% Chance Of Snow

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 12, 2018

The National Weather Service predicts today’s high near 25 with an 80% chance of snow. Tonight’s low around 10 with wind chill values as low as -1. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Courtesy/NWS Read More

Daily Postcard: Scenes From Bosque Del Apache

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 11, 2018

Sandhill Cranes in flight Friday morning at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The 31st Annual Festival of the Cranes gets underway Wednesday, Nov. 14 and includes more than 140 events, drawing photographers, birders and wildlife enthusiasts from around the country to celebrate the return of the Sandhill Cranes to their winter home. To get to the refuge, drive south on I-25 past Socorro to exit 139 (San Antonio), go east 0.25 miles on US 380 to the flashing signal at the village of San Antonio, turn right onto Old Highway 1, and drive south nine miles to the Visitor Center on the right. Read More

NPA: 2018 Western Association Award Winners

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 10, 2018

2018 Award Winners. Courtesy photo

WNPA News:

TUCSON, Ariz. — Thursday, Western National Parks Association (WNPA), a nonprofit education partner of the National Park Service (NPS) since 1938, announced the recipients of its annual awards at the WNPA board reception.

For more than 30 years, WNPA has recognized individuals and organizations who make exceptional contributions to national parks and increase awareness of WNPA’s mission.

“We are thrilled to honor those who are dedicated not only to preserving and protecting our national parks, but also to ensuring

BLM Waives Fees At Recreation Sites On Veterans Day

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 9, 2018

BLM News:

SANTA FE ― The Bureau of Land Management will waive entrance fees for visitors to BLM recreation sites this Sunday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day.

“To celebrate Veterans Day, and show our appreciation, we are waiving recreation fees at BLM sites across New Mexico to encourage families to get outside and enjoy their public lands,” Acting BLM State Director Tim Spisak said.

New Mexico fee sites include: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, which includes Wild Rivers and Orilla Verde, Santa Cruz Lake, Valley of Fires Recreation

Weekly Fishing Report: Nov. 9

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 9, 2018

By GEORGE MORSE

Los Alamos Daily Post

Sports and Outdoors

Judging by the number of fishing areas that have not been reported on, fishing pressure has dropped off noticeably recently. That’s pretty normal for this time of year. A lot of anglers turn their attention to hunting and the colder weather keeps a lot of fair-weather anglers indoors watching football on the weekends.

The emphasis on stocking shifts to Southern New Mexico this time of year and will continue through the winter. These lakes and ponds are referred to as “Winter Trout Waters” and are only stocked in late fall and

Explore Quasars, Galactic Nuclei, Black Holes Tonight

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 9, 2018

Learn the history of quasars at 7 p.m. today in the Los Alamos Nature Center Planetarium and view the full-dome film ‘Exploding Universe’ at 2 p.m. Saturday. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Join Paul Arendt and Rick Wallace for a discussion of the history of Quasars at 7 p.m. today, Nov. 9 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

Arendt and Wallace will take the audience through the history of quasars since their discovery in the 1950s and also examine active galactic nuclei and black holes at this talk.

Quasars, or quasi-stellar radio sources, were one of the most hotly

Daily Postcard: Sunrise Viewed From White Rock

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 9, 2018

Daily Postcard: Sunrise colors the sky viewed from White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos National Laboratory: Levitating Particles Could Lift Nuclear Detective Work

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 8, 2018

LANL News:

Laser-based ‘optical tweezers’ could levitate uranium and plutonium particles, thus allowing the measurement of nuclear recoil during radioactive decay.

This technique, proposed by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, provides a new method for conducting the radioactive particle analysis essential to nuclear forensics.

“Our idea relies on trapping a particle using ‘optical tweezers,’ a technique which is the subject of this year’s Nobel prize in Physics,” said Alonso Castro of the Lab’s Actinide Analytical Chemistry group, one of the authors

‘Cut-Your-Own’ Christmas Tree Permits Start Nov. 19

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 8, 2018

Courtesy/USDA FS

SFNF News:

Fourth graders get one permit free

SANTA FE – Permits to cut your own Christmas tree on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are available for purchase beginning Monday, Nov. 19 at SFNF Headquarters, all SFNF Ranger District offices and select third-party vendors.

As part of the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative, every fourth grader is eligible for a free Christmas tree permit.

In order to redeem the free permit, the student must present a valid fourth-grade pass, downloadable at www.everykidinapark.gov. Once the pass is printed, the fourth grader must be accompanied Read More

UA: Aging A Flock Of Stars In Wild Duck Cluster

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on November 8, 2018

UA News:

TUCSON, Ariz. — Do star clusters harbor many generations of stars or just one? Scientists have long searched for an answer and, thanks to the University of Arizona’s MMT telescope, found one in the Wild Duck Cluster, where stars spin at different speeds, disguising their common age.

In a partnership between the UA and the Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute, a team of Korean and Belgian astronomers used UA instruments to solve a puzzle about flocks of stars called open clusters.

Astronomers have long believed that many open clusters consist of a single