Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

View Heading Down Truck Route From Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 17, 2018

View heading down the truck route today from Los Alamos. Photo by Tammy Jimines Read More

NMHU Students Conduct Czech Volcanic Research

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 17, 2018

Highlands geology graduate student Sindy Lauricella examines a rock sample from the Krasny Vrch volcano in the Czech Republic during field research. Photo by Jake Erickson/Highlands Media Arts

NMHU News:

LAS VEGAS, NM ― Highlands University geology students conducted five weeks of groundbreaking research aimed at understanding the legendary Krasny Vrch volcano in the Czech Republic.

Highlands University’s three-year $250,000 National Science Foundation Grant, titled From the Roots to the Roof: the Anatomy of Volcanoes, funded three geology students to conduct

Antarctic Ice Shelf Sings As Winds Whip Across Surface

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 17, 2018

Study co-author Rick Aster during a station installation trip on the Ross Ice Shelf, holding a broadband seismometer. These sensitive sensors were buried at depths of two meters (6 feet) to record micro-scale seismic motions of the ice shelf in three dimensions over the course of two years. Courtesy/Rick Aster.

Researchers lay the conduit that connects the seismometer to the solar power system (background) and recording components at a Ross Ice Shelf seismic station. Courtesy/Rick Aster

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Winds blowing across snow dunes on Antarctica’s Ross Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Oct. 17

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 17, 2018

By GEORGE MORSE

Sports Editor

Los Alamos Daily Post

The weather turned sharply cooler this past weekend and there was some good precipitation in the form of rain at lower elevations and snow higher up in the mountains.

This should improve the fishing conditions in our lakes and trout should be actively cruising the shallows looking to feed heavily in preparation for winter. The moisture also will benefit the trout in our rivers and streams, raising streamflow levels and lowering water temperatures.

A good example would be the Pecos River from the town of Pecos upstream

Daily Postcard: Fall Colors Surround UNM-LA

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 17, 2018

Daily Postcard: The colors of fall surround the campus at UNM-LA, 4000 University Dr. To learn more about UNM-LA, click here. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

PEEC: Learn How Black Bears Have Responded To Jemez Mountain Wildfires

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

Learn how black bears have responded to wildfires and forest restoration treatments in the Jemez Mountains during a talk by James Cain at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

The community is invited to learn how local black bear populations have responded to recent wildfires in the Jemez Mountains. Biologist James Cain will lead the talk at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

He will discuss his research on recent wildfire impacts on black bears and how they have responded to subsequent forest restoration treatments. This talk is Read More

BLM: Wood Permit Sales In Northern New Mexico

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

Courtesy/USFS

BLM News:

SANTA FE ― In order to make it easier for members of the public to obtain fuelwood permits for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managed lands, the BLM will sell fuelwood permits on certain days in Northern New Mexico.

Starting 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 15, Oct. 16, Oct. 23, and Oct. 24, the BLM will be available at the U.S. Forest Service’s Canjilon Ranger District. For directions, call 575.684.2489. Note that the BLM can only accept cash and checks for these permit sales.

The BLM also sells fuelwood permits at their field offices in Albuquerque,

BLM Taos Field Office Plans Prescribed Burns Near Tres Piedras And Cerro Areas

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

BLM News:

TAOS – The Bureau of Land Management will conduct prescribed fires in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument during an approximate one-month period, beginning Oct. 22.

The burns are at Cerro Montoso and Cerro del Aire, 12 miles northeast and 4 miles northeast of Tres Piedras, respectively, and in the Guadalupe Mountains, approximately 1 mile south of Cerro.

Smoke may be visible from the surrounding communities, the monument, and highways N.M. 522, US 285 and US 64. Timing of the burns is dependent upon weather and burning conditions.

The purpose of the project is to improve forest Read More

N3B Awards $1.5 Million In Cleanup Work To TerranearPMC/Envirocon

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

Potential cleanup contractors tour TA-21 in August to get an idea of the scope of work, which includes removing old fencing, telephone poles, hundreds of tons of cement and rebar, other contaminated and uncontaminated above-ground debris, and decontaminating two facilities (background) and six excavators. Courtesy/N3B

N3B News:

Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) has awarded a subcontract to TerranearPMC of Los Alamos and teaming partner Envirocon of Missoula, Mont., to perform cleanup activities at Technical Area-21, a former research site at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Read More

Interior Department ‘Open Science’ Directive Echoes Environmental Protection Agency Effort

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

The directive on ‘Promoting Open Science’ was issued by Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, pictured above at the Bureau of Land Management’s Rio Grande Gorge Visitor Center in New Mexico. Courtesy/DOI

DOI News:

In a directive titled “Promoting Open Science” released late last month, the Department of the Interior outlined steps it plans to take to increase the transparency of its decision-making.

Those steps include requiring the department’s offices to make the data from scientific studies they use to develop regulations publicly available, with certain

Daily Postcard: Ashley Pond Park In October

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 16, 2018

Daily Postcard: A view of Ashley Pond Park Friday afternoon from Central Avenue in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

LANL: Three Los Alamos Medal Winners Changed The Course Of Science

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

From left, Paul Whalen, Geoffrey West and John M. Pedicini are awarded the Los Alamos Medal—Los Alamos National Laboratory’s highest honor. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory today announced that three individuals have been awarded the Los Alamos Medal, the Laboratory’s highest honor, for groundbreaking contributions to science and national security. John M. Pedicini, Paul Whalen and Geoffrey West were selected for their distinguished achievements that have impacted the success of the Laboratory, either through mission accomplishments or enhancing Read More

Sipapu Ski Resort Receives 5″ Of Snow Overnight

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

View today of Sipapu Ski Resort, scheduled to open Saturday, Nov. 17. Courtesy/Sipapu Ski Resort

Sipapu Ski Resort. Courtesy/Sipapu Ski Resort

SIPAPU News:

Sipapu Ski Resort near Taos received 5″ of snow overnight and there’s more in the forecast over the next 10 days!

The mountain team is watching the forecast for optimal conditions to begin snowmaking. Sipapu Mountain Manager John Paul, is excited about the cold forecast to drop the soil temperature, providing better insulation for any natural or man-made snow!

Sipapu’s opening day is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. Read More

It’s Snowing Hooray!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

The statue at Mesa Public Library appears happy with today’s snowfall! Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com Read More

Hike Kitchen Mesa At Ghost Ranch Saturday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

Hike Kitchen Mesa Trail at Ghost Ranch with Bill Priedhorsky of the Los Alamos Mountaineers. Meet the group at 8 a.m., Saturday at the nature center to carpool to Ghost Ranch. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Hike Kitchen Mesa at Ghost Ranch this Saturday, Oct. 20 with Bill Priedhorsky of the Los Alamos Mountaineers.

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center is partnering with the Mountaineers to offer this outing. Kitchen Mesa is a beautiful gypsum-capped high point that stands above the headquarters of Ghost Ranch. Space is limited for this hike and registration is required Read More

BLM Begins San Pedro Thinning Project

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

San Pedro area hazardous fuels thinning begins around Oct. 17. Courtesy/BLM

BLM News:

TAOS – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will begin hazardous fuels thinning in the San Pedro area beginning around Oct. 17 and carry on until Nov. 30.

The thinning project is expected to take 2-6 weeks; however, the exact timing is subject to weather and ground conditions.

The San Pedro fuels reduction project is located on BLM lands on the south side of N.M. 344, approximately one mile east of the intersection of N.M. 14 and N.M. Thinning and piling will be conducted on Township 12N Range

Snow Blankets Cars In Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

Snow blankets cars this morning in the Chapel Apartments parking lot on Rose Street. Photo by Victoria Rygh Read More

Snow Falling Across Los Alamos Area Until Noon

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 15, 2018

Snow is falling this morning in Los Alamos and the surrounding area including Aster Street in White Rock. The National Weather Service predicts snow will continue to fall until about noon today followed by a 40% chance of rain showers and a high near 38 and a low tonight around 29 with patchy freezing fog after midnight. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More