Environment

3-D Models Help Scientists Gauge Flood Impact

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 20, 2017
Iowa Flood Center team performs one of the first 3-D RANS simulations of dam breaks in a natural environment. Courtesy photo
 
IFC News:
 
Heavy rainfall can cause rivers and drainage systems to overflow or dams to break, leading to flood events that bring damage to property and road systems as well potential loss of human life.
 
A team from the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) at the University of Iowa, led by UI Professor George Constantinescu, is creating 3-D non-hydrostatic flood models that can more accurately simulate flood wave propagation and account for the interaction between
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Daily Postcard: Hummingbird Spotted In Small Nest

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 20, 2017

Daily Postcard: A local hummingbird is spotted resting in a small nest built on the branch of a tree growing in Quemazon. Photo by Trisha Ancell

Daily Postcard: An adult hummingbird hovers near a pink flower growing in Quemazon. Photo by Trisha Ancell Read More

Cow Fire Ignites On Santa Fe National Forest

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 19, 2017

SFNF News:

The Cow Fire has consumed under an acre since starting Tuesday when lightning hit a single standing dead tree. The tree subsequently fell, and fire started creeping slowly down the slopes.

Although it remains small, the Cow Fire is putting out a lot of smoke due to the concentration of dead and down fuels. A rocky area on the north side of the fire is holding it, and green drainages to the east and west of the fire should help keep it from growing. Fire crews are monitoring the Cow Fire.

  • Start Date: July 18, 2017
  • Cause: Lightning
  • Size: Less than 1 acre
  • Location: On the Pecos Ranger District of
Read More

Celebrating Your Public Lands: ‘Made In America’ Week

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 19, 2017
BLM News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The Bureau of Land Management joins the Department of the Interior in celebrating the Trump Administration’s “Made in America” Week through July 22.
 
With responsibility for managing more than 10 percent of the nation’s land and 30 percent of its subsurface minerals, the BLM supports American-made goods and services in many ways.
 
“The BLM strives to be a good neighbor in the communities we serve, while providing opportunities for economic growth as well as traditional uses such as ranching, mining, logging, energy development as well as recreational
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Secretary Zinke On Idaho’s Craters Of The Moon; Washington’s Hanford Reach National Monuments

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 19, 2017

USDI News:

 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced July 13 that Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and Hanford Reach National monument in Washington are no longer under review and the Secretary will recommend that no modifications should be made to the monuments.
 
The monuments were under review in accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s April 26, 2017, executive order. The recommendation comes after review of public comments and conversations with stakeholders.
 
“When the President and I began the monument
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LANL: Simulation Reveals Universal Signature Of Chaos In Ultracold Reactions

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 19, 2017

A two-dimensional slice of the potential energy surface for the K + KRb reaction. The reaction proceeds from right to left. In the intermediate region a deep well is clearly visible which leads to chaotic motion. Image courtesy Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Findings have implications for quantum computing, other technologies

Researchers have performed the first ever quantum-mechanical simulation of the benchmark ultracold chemical reaction between potassium-rubidium (KRb) and a potassium atom, opening the door to new controlled chemistry experiments Read More

Officials Condemn Governor’s Position On Monuments

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 19, 2017
STATE News:
 
Mayors and County Commissioners near New Mexico’s two National Monuments under review by President Trump are expressing outrage at Governor Martinez’ recent letter supporting the potential reduction of New Mexico’s newest National Monuments.
 
In 2013 and 2014, President Obama established the Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monuments in Taos and Doña Ana Counties, following years of community efforts to achieve protection.
 
Both new National Monuments have achieved significant increases
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County: Tips To Be Bear Aware

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2017
COUNTY News:
 
Bears have been making their way into residential areas because of lack of food in the wild and ease of getting it out of trash roll carts.
 
  • Since garbage stored outside is the biggest attractant, storing garbage in a secure garage or shed until the morning of collection will virtually eliminate the chances of a bear visit*. If a bear does not find a food source, it will move on. Here are some safe practices for managing waste to minimize encounters with bears:
  • Avoid luring bears on to your property by maintaining any fallen fruit; stock
Read More

PEEC: Annual Dorothy Hoard Butterfly Count July 22

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2017
Local butterfly citizen science project led by Steve Cary is Saturday, July 22. Courtesy photo
 
PEEC News:
 
The community is invited to participate in the annual Annual Dorothy Hoard Butterfly Count July 22 to honor the memory of Dorothy Hoard by fluttering to three places around the Pajarito Plateau: atop a mesa, at a high altitude and along a stream. This event is for beginners, experts and everyone in between.
 
New Mexico butterfly expert Steve Cary will be present to help identify butterflies and discuss their life histories.
 
The first count is 9-10:45 a.m. at
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Planets & Galaxies At Los Alamos Nature Center Friday

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 18, 2017
 
PEEC News:
 
PEEC brings two great astronomy shows to the Los Alamos Nature Center this weekend.
 
At 7 p.m. Friday, July 21, Steve Becker will point out celestial objects that will be visible at the next Pajarito Astronomer’s Dark Night as well as some stars only visible from the southern hemisphere.
 
The full-dome film We are Astronomers will play at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23.This exciting, family-friendly movie connects us to the evolution of the Universe and explores the secrets of our cosmic chemistry. 
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SFNF Aerial Survey Begins Soon; No Drones, Please!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2017
SFNF News: 

  • Combination of low-flying aircraft and drones can be deadly

 
SANTA FE ― The annual aerial survey for insect and disease outbreaks on the 1.6- million-acre Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) begins any day and continues intermittently through Aug. 18. 
 
Forest Service airplanes and helicopters regularly fly over private, state, and National Forest System lands at low altitudes to perform a variety of natural resource management missions, including insect and disease surveys, remote sensing to acquire aerial images and data, and firefighting.
Read More

SFNF Declares Cajete Fire Controlled

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2017

SFNF News:

The Cajete Fire on the Santa Fe National Forest’s Jemez Ranger District was declared controlled at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, July 16, thanks to recent moisture that arrived with the monsoon season.

The 1,412-acre Cajete Fire, which started June 15 from an abandoned campfire, has been 96 percent contained since June 21.

Incident command determined that the uncontained 4 percent of the fire perimeter was not safe for firefighters to enter. The area near Los Griegos Peak is in the burn scar from the 2011 Las Conchas Fire and still contains multiple hazard trees, which can fall without warning. Read More

National Awards Recognize Los Alamos National Laboratory Leadership In Nuclear Safeguards

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 17, 2017

Nancy Jo Nicholas, Los Alamos National Laboratory’s associate director for threat identification and response, was recognized with the Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Service award by the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees were recognized today by the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management for their contributions to the nuclear safeguards profession.

Nancy Jo Nicholas, the Laboratory’s associate director for threat identification and response, was recognized with the Edway R. Johnson Meritorious Read More

Environmental Sustainability Board Meets Thursday

Submitted by Kirsten Laskey (ladp admin) on July 17, 2017

COUNTY News:

Final Agenda for the Environmental Sustainability Board meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 20 in room 110 the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.

1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL

2. PUBLIC COMMENT This section of the agenda is reserved for comments from the public on items that are not otherwise included in this agenda.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5. BOARD BUSINESS 
Food Waste Composting Presentation by Walter Dods

Discuss Bear Issues Regarding Trash Collection and Bear Resistant Containers 

6. REPORTS
A. Chair’s Report – John Read More

EPA Recertifies WIPP’s Continued Compliance With Radioactive Waste Disposal Standards

Submitted by Chris Clark on July 17, 2017
WIPP News:
 
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced July 13 the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) has been recertified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and remains in full compliance with applicable EPA regulations for transuranic radioactive waste disposal.
 
“This decision reconfirms WIPP’s long-term ability to safely isolate transuranic waste from the environment,” Todd Shrader, DOE Carlsbad Field Office Manager said. “I want to thank everyone who worked on the EPA Compliance Recertification Application. The recertification
Read More

Blue Beary Thanks Generous Los Alamos Community

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 17, 2017

Blue Beary is eating her breakfast and according to Dr. Kathleen Ramsay, she is healing nicely and is full bear! She and the Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation thank the Los Alamos community for its generosity in donating funds for her rehabilitation after ungoing surgery for a broken elbow. Photo by James Robinson Read More

ScienceFest Schedule Of Events Today!

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 16, 2017

ScienceFest News:

Schedule of ScienceFest events for Sunday, July 16:

FLIGHT OF THE ORIGAMI CRANES!
Los Alamos History Museum
Each year the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum receive thousands of donated paper cranes from around the world. Create YOUR crane to send to Japan at Culture and Collaboration: The Los Alamos/Japan Project, an exhibit on display at the Los Alamos History Museum until July 20. The Los Alamos History Museum will deliver community cranes to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August. For more information, contact Museum Director Read More

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