Environment - Los Alamos Daily Post

Prescribed Burn Planned On Santa Fe National Forest Coyote Ranger District

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 20, 2016

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest hope to take advantage of conditions next week to conduct a prescribed burn on the Coyote Ranger District. The 5,041-acre French Mesa treatment area is located approximately 10 miles north of Gallina.

Hand ignitions may begin as early as Monday, May 23, but that window is dependent on favorable conditions, including fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts. Once ignitions have started, crews hope to treat up to 150 acres per day

Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource Read More

Video Game Tournament At Planetarium May 24

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 20, 2016

Free Super Smash Bros. video game tournament at the Los Alamos Nature Center May 24. Courtesy/PEEC.

PEEC News:

The Los Alamos Teen Center and Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) are hosting a video game tournament at 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 24.

Video games will be projected on a 10’ x 20’ screen in the planetarium dome at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road. This event is free and open to the public and no registration is required.

For more information about this and other PEEC programs, visit www.peecnature.org, email programs@peecnature.org or call 505.662.0460. Read More

County Halts Weed Spraying Due To Citizen Concerns

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 20, 2016

COUNTY News:

Due to concerns voiced by citizens regarding the use of herbicides as a weed management tool, the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Division has postponed indefinitely spraying in the following turf areas:

Rover Park;
East Park;
Community Soccer;
Myrtle Green;
Ashley Pond;
Fuller Lodge;
Aquatic Center;
Western Area;
Urban Park;
Barranca Mesa; and
North Mesa Sports Complex.

County ordinance requires weed abatement, due to health and safety, and general appearance of the common areas in the community, and so County departments and divisions are continuing their weed Read More

Udall, Heinrich Advance Funding For National Labs, Water Projects, WIPP In Energy And Water Appropriations Bill

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 18, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined the Senate, in a 90-8 vote May 12 to pass the fiscal year 2017 funding bill for Los Alamos and Sandia national labs, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and several New Mexico water projects.

The Energy and Water Appropriations Act is critical for New Mexico and supports U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs nationwide. Udall helped write the legislation as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. A final version of the bill now must be worked out with the U.S.

Interior Department Expands Buy-Back Program Across Indian Country

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 18, 2016

DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Following extensive outreach with tribal leaders and American Indian landowners, Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor announced an expanded schedule for implementing the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Program) at 63 additional locations from 2018 through mid-2021.

Since it began making offers in December 2013, the Program has paid more than $740 million to individual landowners and restored the equivalent of nearly 1.5 million acres of land to tribal governments.

The expansion brings the number of locations

Environment Department Launches Review Process For Water Protection Regulations

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 18, 2016

NMED News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Environment Department’s Ground Water Quality Bureau will host an informational public meeting 2-4 p.m., Friday to launch the review process and public dialogue for proposed revisions to water protection regulations at the Runnels Auditorium at 1190 St. Francis Dr. in Santa Fe.

The current ground and surface water protection regulations can be found at 20.6.2 of the New Mexico Administrative Code.

The meeting will describe the forthcoming review process, highlight areas of the regulations that are under consideration for revision,

Udall On New Standards To Combat Methane Pollution

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 17, 2016

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON D.C. ― Thursday May 12, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rules for new and modified oil and gas wells, which limit emissions of methane, a potent heat-trapping greenhouse gas that, combined with other pollutants, has been linked to cancer, lung ailments, and other public health problems:

“Natural gas waste has cost New Mexico taxpayers and oil and gas producers millions of dollars — while contributing to a methane hot spot the size of

County Installs Spring Flower Baskets Downtown

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 17, 2016

Los Alamos Landscape workers install spring flower baskets Monday along Central Avenue in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

Photo by Chris Clark/ladailypost.com

Taos Author Speaks At Los Alamos Nature Center May 17

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 16, 2016

Author and hiker Cindy Brown takes in the view from Chimney Rock. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Hear from author Cindy Brown about hiking in Northern New Mexico at the Los Alamos Nature Center Tuesday, May 17. Courtesy/PEEC

Come get ready for spring hiking! Writer Cindy Brown will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 at the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road.

Brown is the author of the Taos Hiking Guide, published last summer, and has been the hiking columnist for The Taos News for the last five years. With the coming of spring, it is time to think about getting outside on the trails Read More

Los Alamos Is Latest EM Field Office To Transition To Energy.Gov

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 16, 2016

EM Los Alamos Field Office Manager Douglas E. Hintze

DOE News:

The EM Los Alamos Field Office today introduced a new user-friendly website with a sleek, simple design that delivers timely information about the legacy cleanup activities underway at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Previously, EM’s Los Alamos cleanup efforts were featured on the laboratory’s website. Now, the EM field office, just over a year old, has launched its own website with the goal of increasing transparency by providing more resources that stakeholders, residents, media, and other members Read More

Explore Heavens At Planetarium Show May 20

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 16, 2016

Photo of bright blue, newly-formed stars taken with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Courtesy Hubblesite.org

PEEC News:

Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is providing an astronomy show in the Los Alamos Nature Center planetarium at 7 p.m. Friday, May 20. Galen Gisler will use images and data from star clusters visible in the February skies to illustrate concepts in stellar evolution and discuss how chemical elements are synthesized in stars.

This astronomy show is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are available by calling or stopping by the Nature Center. Read More

Bandelier Recruiting For Youth Corps Jobs

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 14, 2016

Bandelier Preservation Corps 2015. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

For young people looking for an active, outdoor job for the summer, Bandelier National Monument is recruiting for two crews – the Bandelier Conservation Corps (BCC) and the Bandelier Preservation Corps (BPC). Opportunities are available for men or women, ages 16-25.

The BCC will be engaged in thinning and fuel reduction projects, trail work, and assisting the park maintenance crew with projects and special events. The BPC will be assisting with preservation programs, doing graffiti mitigation

PEEC: Local Expert Leads Monthly Wildflower Walks

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 13, 2016

Wildflower expert Chick Keller (right) leads a wildflower walk for PEEC. Photo by Josip Loncaric

PEEC News:

At 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 16, Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s Jemez Mountain Herbarium curator, Chick Keller, will lead a Wildflower Walk to introduce people to spring wildflowers. These monthly outings will be easy walks to identify some of the wildflower beauties found in and around Los Alamos.

Wildflowers along Quemazon trail. Photo by Yvonne Keller

Each month Keller will pick a different trail, depending

Registration Opens For PEEC’s Summer Geology Program For Kids

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 12, 2016

Kids will love the hands-on activities and field trips provided by the summer Pebble Pups program. Courtesy photo

PEEC News:

Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is helping kids explore geology this summer by hosting a Pebble Pups program for youth ages 5 to 9.

This eight-week program helps kids embark on a journey to learn about rocks, fossils, and local geology through active games and activities with Patrick Rowe of the Los Alamos Geological Society and Kate Cleveland, an experienced PEEC educator.

From 4:30 p.m.

Los Alamos County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden Fair June 11

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 12, 2016

Carlos Valdez is giving a mini-talk at the 2013 Fair. Photo by Bob Walker

LACMG News:

The Los Alamos County Master Gardeners will be hosting a Garden Fair, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, June 11, at the Demonstration Garden on Central Ave, across the street from the Mesa Public Library.

Tours of the garden, a plant sale, children’s activities, and information on four garden topics will be offered to the community. There is no cost for attending this event. Docents will be located throughout the garden to talk with visitors about

PEEC: Astronomy Planetarium Shows May 13 & 20

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 11, 2016

Bright blue, newly-formed stars taken with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Courtesy/Hubblesite.org.

PEEC News:

Do you want to learn more about the cosmos? Do you ever wonder how we know about distances in space or how stars are created or how elements are formed?

Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is providing astronomy shows in the Los Alamos Nature Center planetarium at 7 p.m., Friday, May 13 and 20.

Each astronomy show will investigate a different aspect of the cosmos and allow participants

Los Alamos Ranks 3rd For Biking In Smaller Cities

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 11, 2016

SOE News:

The City of Los Alamos was just ranked third for biking in smaller sized cities in the US.

Survey results were pulled from the U.S. Census over a five-year period to provide us a glimpse into which cities’ residents are taking an eco-friendly approach to their daily commutes.

SaveOnEnergy.com, dug into this data and ranked which areas have the highest percentage of green-minded commuters in the U.S.

View the recognition here.

Annual Trimec Spraying May 16 Through May 27

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on May 11, 2016

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Parks Division will be spraying herbicide for weed control Monday, May 16 through Friday, May 27.

Target areas include:

Rover Park;
East Park;
Community Soccer;
Myrtle Green;
Ashley Pond;
Fuller Lodge;
Aquatic Center;
Western Area;
Urban Park;
Barranca Mesa; and
North Mesa Sports Complex.

Notices will be posted in the areas to be sprayed at least 72 hours prior to spraying, and will remain until spraying has been completed.

Areas will be sprayed with Round-Up and EndRun Broad Leaf Weed Killer. For more information, call the Parks Division at Read More

Valles Caldera National Preserve Plans Prescribed Burn For Valle Grande

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 10, 2016

NPS News:

The Valles Caldera National Preserve is planning to implement a prescribed burn project on the preserve that will begin as soon as Wednesday, May 11 and be completed within two to three days.

The prescribed burn will target up to 1,471 acres of grass in the Valle Grande, adjacent to N.M. 4 between mile markers 39-42. Traffic delays may occur during the ignition phases of the burn, but we do not anticipate any road closures. If conditions permit, burn operations will occur during mid-day in order minimize impacts to morning and afternoon commuter

PEEC: Mysteries Of The Unseen World Saturday

Submitted by Chris Clark on May 10, 2016

An aphid, up close and personal from Mysteries of the Unseen World. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Embark on a journey into unseen worlds and hidden dimensions at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 14 in the Los Alamos Nature Center.

Mysteries Of The Unseen World, a full-dome, original production by National Geographic Entertainment and Days End Pictures, lets us see nature from a new perspective.

Mysteries Of The Unseen World uses innovative high-speed and time-lapse photography, electron microscopy, and nanotechnology to transport

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