Environment

Bear Goes After Hummingbird Feeder On 35th Street

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 1, 2017

This bear is spotted around 5 p.m. today drinking from this hummingbird feeder in the back yard of a home on 35th Street. Courtesy photo

This bear is spotted around 5 p.m. in the back yard of a home on 35th Street. Courtesy photo Read More

PEEC Offers Discussion Course To Explore Creating Climate Change Solutions

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 30, 2017
PEEC brings another Northwest Earth Institute discussion course, Change is our Choice, to Los Alamos. Courtesy photo
 
PEEC News:
 
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is bringing another discussion course developed by the Northwest Earth Institute to Los Alamos. 
 
Change is our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions is a five-week discussion course where participants will learn about climate change and how to take action to mitigate its causes and effects in their own lives, our community, and our world.
 
This course meets at the
Read More

Bandelier Hosting Sixth Annual Naturalization Ceremony On Fourth Of July

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 30, 2017
A previous year’s Naturalization Ceremony at Bandelier National Monument. Courtesy/NPS
 
NPS News:
 
For Americans, July 4th is traditionally a day to celebrate freedom and independence. 
 
For the sixth year, Bandelier National Monument is proud to partner with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to host a naturalization ceremony at the park on that day. Sixteen candidates, after working for years to fulfill their requirements, will be taking the oath and becoming the newest citizens of the United States.
Read More

Celebrate Fourth Of July On Santa Fe National Forest But ‘Know Before You Go’

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 30, 2017
SFNF News:
 
SANTA FE ― The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is ready to welcome the large number of visitors who traditionally celebrate Independence Day weekend in the great outdoors. 
 
But if you decide to take advantage of the recreational opportunities on the SFNF, it’s always good to “Know Before You Go” (https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/know-before-you-go).
 
The SFNF remains in Stage 1 fire restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in developed campgrounds and picnic areas with established fire rings and grills.  Smoking is restricted to enclosed
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Los Alamos Nature Center’s Summer Holiday Hours

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 30, 2017
Water Canyon is one of the beautiful hikes that is part of the second Passport to the Pajarito Plateau. Photo by Beth Cortright
 
PEEC News:
 
The Los Alamos Nature Center will be closed Tuesday, July 4, which is a great time to use the free Los Alamos Trails App to find a fun hike.
 
Take your Passport to the Pajarito Plateau with you, find the rubbing plates, and get even closer to your next prize. There are different prizes for hiking two, five, eight, 12 and 16 trails in the passport booklet. It is fun for all ages.
 
The Los Alamos Nature
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BLM Taos Field Office Announces Emergency Fire Prevention Closure Of San Pedro Mountains

Submitted by Kirsten Laskey (ladp admin) on June 30, 2017

BLM News: 

 

Taos – Due to increased risk of human-caused fire and current fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Taos Field Office is temporarily closing public lands into or upon the San Pedro Mountains in Santa Fe County.

 

 Closure warnings have been posted at the entrances to the San Pedro Mountains. This order will remain in effect until July 29 or until the area receives significant moisture.

 

A map and copy of the fire prevention order are available at www.blm.gov/new-mexico.

 

Exemptions to this order: Any Federal, State, local and/or military Read More

They’re Back! Tent Caterpillars Munching Aspens Again

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 29, 2017

Photo by Tom W. Coleman, Ph.D.,/USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection

Photo by Tom W. Coleman, Ph.D.,/USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – If you drive up New Mexico State Highway 475 (the road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin) anytime soon, you will probably notice something going on in the aspen groves that create one of the most popular vistas on the Santa Fe National Forest.

To the casual observer, the aspens may appear to be dying. But those bare branches signal the return of the western tent caterpillars, native defoliators whose larvae feed on a variety of hardwood Read More

DOE Renews Grant To NMED

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2017
DOE News:
 
CARLSBAD, NM ― The Department of Energy ‘s Carlsbad Field Office yesterday renewed a grant with New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) by extending the project period five years to June 30, 2022. The five-year renewal cost is estimated at $2 million.
 
Through the grant, the DOE provides funding to NMED to conduct non-regulatory environmental oversight and monitoring to evaluate activities conducted at DOE’s facilities.
NMED will evaluate the adequacy of DOE facility activities related to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s environmental monitoring.
Read More

Tales Of Our Times: Old Mines Tell Candid Stories

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 29, 2017
Tales of Our Times

By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water

Preface

 
The story below is one I wrote in 1993 for New Mexico Citizens for Clean Air & Water. In 1997, I submitted the article to Governor Gary Johnson as part of my technical credentials, from which he nominated me to serve five years as a public member of the New Mexico Mining Commission.
 
In 2015, a three million-gallon spill of waste water from the old Gold King Mine near Silverton in western Colorado made national news by coloring some 100 miles of the Animas River an eerie orange. The spill broke loose
Read More

Newnam Best Predictor In This Week’s Pace Race

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2017
ACRR News:
 
Almost 40 runners and walkers took to one, two, three or four mile pace race courses on Barranca Mesa. All finishers were treated to cool watermelon and cold grapes.
 
In the one mile course around Navajo, Los Pueblos and Barranca Roads, Brian Newnam had the best prediction, only 1 second off his prediction for an adjusted delta of 3 seconds off.
 
Other good predictors were Katie Gattiker with an adjusted delta of 21 seconds, Diego Leonard with an adjusted delta of 39 seconds, Kieran Gattiker with an adjusted delta of 42 seconds, and Leeza Trudolyubov with an adjusted
Read More

Local Expert Leads Monthly Wildflower Walk July 3

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2017
Wildflowers along Quemazon trail. Photo by Yvonne Keller
 
PEEC News:
 
The recent rains have brought out a variety of different flowers, transitioning our landscape into the colors of summer. At 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s Jemez Mountain Herbarium curator, Chick Keller, will lead this year’s first summer Wildflower Walk.
Wildflower expert Chick Keller, right, leads wildflower walks for PEEC. Photo by Josip Loncaric
 
These monthly outings will be easy walks to identify some of the wildflower beauties found
Read More

Environmental Services Offers Help To Recycle Glass Correctly

Submitted by Kirsten Laskey (ladp admin) on June 29, 2017
Office Specialist Tiffany Pegoda checks out material deposited in the glass roll-off dumpster at the Los Alamos County Eco Station Tuesday. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
 
Cardboard boxes and plastic bags were mistakenly tossed in with glass recycleables. Office Specialist Tiffany Pegoda said people tend to use a disposable container to haul their glass to the recycle bin but instead of removing the glass from the container, everything gets tossed into the bin. The Eco Station does offer free yellow plastic tubs to hold glass recycleables. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com 
Read More

Udall: EPA’s Budget Proposes ‘Offensive’ Widespread Cuts Threatening Public Health, Clean Air, Clean Water

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2017
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 27, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), demanded that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt explain the administration’s dangerous and “offensive” proposal to slash funding for programs essential to the EPA’s core mission of protecting clean air, clean water, and public health.
 
Read More

Nuclear Crisis Group Urges Steps To Prevent Nuclear Conflict

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2017
NCG News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Global Zero’s Nuclear Crisis Group (NCG), a newly-formed team of seasoned diplomats, military leaders and national security experts from nuclear-armed and allied countries, released a set of urgent recommendations to avoid the use of nuclear weapons and called on national leaders to act now to reduce the unacceptably high risk of nuclear conflict.
 
The report comes as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Washington to discuss, among other things, the escalating crisis on the Korean Peninsula. Specifically:
Read More

Letter To The Editor: Carbon Dividends

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 28, 2017
By PAUL O. FREDERICKSON
Los Alamos

Carbon Dividends. Many scientists in Los Alamos have a clear understanding that climate change is very real, and cite several observable effects as evidence. One of these effects is the very rapid increase in the number of record amounts of rainfall across the country, or record drought severity, or record heat spells, or record cold spells, various examples of instability in our climate.

See below for more in the way of evidence, but first we want to call everyone’s attention to a possible solution.

The June 20 edition of the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Read More

Ashley Pond Algae Treatment Continues

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 28, 2017

COUNTY News:

Parks Superintendent Jeff Humpton provided an update today regarding recent activity to treat algae in Ashley Pond. The algae has been noticeable to visitors who inquired about whether or not the pond water was “healthy” and was first identified as an issue last year.

The County contracted with a specialist, Jason Rector from Wildcat Environmental, to help with pond management. Last fall, Rector treated the algae in the pond with a product that is an environmentally friendly, safe algaecide. Additionally, the County released 30 sterile grass carp into the pond. The carp Read More

Los Alamos Nature Center Summer Family Evenings Presents Santa Fe Botanical Gardens Event

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 28, 2017

The Santa Fe Botanical Gardens brings plants and hands-on activities to the Los Alamos Nature Center. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

The Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s Summer Family Evenings program presents a plant-inspired experience with the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens at 6:30 p.m., .Wednesday, July 5 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. 

Activities inclue planting a seedling to take home, a family-friendly scavenger hunt and discovering how to make one’s garden thrive in northern New Mexico.

A representative from the Santa Fe Botanical Gardens will share her knowledge Read More

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