Environment

Los Alamos Scientist Claudia Mora New President Elect Of Geological Society Of America

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Los Alamos Scientist Claudia Mora

LANL News:

The Geological Society of America (GSA) recently tapped Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Claudia Mora as president elect.

Mora is a stable-isotope geochemist whose research spans the traditional fields of geology, soil science and climate science. At Los Alamos, she heads the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division’s (EES) largest group, Earth System Observations. This group’s research is broad and far-reaching, intersecting geology, ecology and atmospheric sciences.

“GSA welcomes Dr. Mora and we are confident that she will Read More

Letter To The Editor: A Few Numbers For Rain Harvest

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By RICHARD NEBEL
Los Alamos

I have been harvesting rainwater for several years here in Los Alamos, and I know many other people have been doing the same. 

Before investing in a system to do that, it’s worthwhile to run the numbers. First of all, we have about 18 inches of rainfall annually in Los Alamos. For a typical home, that translates into about 20,000 gallons of water that hits your roof every year.

A standard water sprinkler puts out about 5 gallons a minute. I water my garden for about half an hour every other day. That’s 150 gallons per watering. I would like to store enough water to Read More

PEEC Class Teaches How To Identify Wildflowers

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Local wildflower, dusky penstemon. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

What a difference a little rain makes. The roadsides and hillsides are green, and yellow, red, pink and purple flowers dot the landscape.

“How to Identify Wildflowers” is the name of a five-week class offered 5:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, July 14 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

This is an opportunity to get outside, to be curious, and learn more about the area and the flora. Longtime residents and experts Craig Martin and Teralene (Terry) Foxx will teach the class.

Foxx is a plant ecologist, writer and artist. She taught plant Read More

Rattlesnake Museum Talk At Nature Center July 15

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Rattlesnake. Photo by Bob Myers

PEEC News:

Living in New Mexico means sharing the outdoors with many different kinds of reptiles.

To help explain how humans can cohabitate with these scaly neighbors, join Bob Myers, director of the International Rattlesnake Museum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday July 15 at the Los Alamos Nature Center.

Discover what snakes and other reptiles live in New Mexico, how to identify them, what to do if you find a dangerous species in your backyard, some stories and legends about snakes, and snakebite prevention and treatment. Come to learn more about these fascinating creatures Read More

Global Synthesis Of Large Wildland Fires Shows Ecological Benefit

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Natural fire mosaic, southwest Oregon, 10 years post-fire. Courtesy/Geos Institute
 
SCIENCE News:
 
ASHLAND, Ore. ― Twenty-five leading fire scientists from around the world released a new synthesis “The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature’s Phoenix” published by Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. 
 
For the first time extensive documentation from around the world reveals that forests and other plant communities need a variety of
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Governor Announces KAFB Jet Fuel Spill Treatment

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Gov. Susana Martinez
 
STATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday July 1, Gov. Susana Martinez announced that the U.S. Air Force is now pumping and treating water from a jet fuel leak first detected at Kirtland Air Force Base in 1999.
 
While previous administrations failed to hold the Air Force accountable, Gov. Martinez’s administration has worked closely with the Air Force to facilitate the clean-up.
 
“Protecting our precious water supply is non-negotiable,” Martinez said. “We have taken the necessary steps to begin addressing the Kirtland fuel
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Amateur Naturalist: Looking And Caring For Ospreys

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An osprey parent flying from its nest. Photo by Robert Dryja

 

By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos

We are fortunate in that Fenton Lake is not too distant from Los Alamos. It is the home of a nesting pair of Ospreys. Ospreys have been reported there regularly since 1989.

Ospreys are a fish eating species of eagle and Fenton Lake provides one source of fish. The nearby Seven Springs Fish Hatchery had been a second source. The fish hatchery has long narrow breeding tanks where trout are raised. An osprey simply had to swoop along the length of a tank to pick up a trout. This easy source of food lasted until fencing Read More

NMED Terminates Compliance Order For Chupadero

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NMED News:
 
SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announces it is terminating the Administrative Order issued to Chupadero Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association (MDWCA) for violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
 
Chupadero MDWCA is a Community Public Water System in Santa Fe County serving a population of 160 residents.
 
The NMED Drinking Water Bureau issued Administrative Order No. 2014-ACO-06, to Chupadero MDWCA May 2, 2014 due to failure to submit a corrective action plan within 30 days of receiving notice
Read More

PEEC Summer Family Evening Is All About Goats

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Goats like this one will visit the Nature Center Wednesday, July 8. Courtesy/PEEC
 

PEEC News:

What is it like to raise goats on a small scale farm? What uses are there for goat milk?

At this week’s Summer Family Evening at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 at the Nature Center, Jessie Ross of Gypsy Mountain Ranch and Deb Wood of Second Bloom Farm will be around to answer these questions. 

Learn how to make cheese, lotion, soap, and more. Even better, the presenters will bring some of their goats – both big and small – to demonstrate the different breeds that thrive on the Pajarito Plateau.

Summer Read More

NASA Grant To Help Control Mosquitoes

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NASA News:
 
BROOKINGS, S.D. ―  When it comes to fighting West Nile virus, it’s all about timing.
 
Through a three-year NASA grant, two South Dakota State University researchers will help mosquito control officials use mosquito surveillance and environmental data to target West Nile virus.
 
People notice the nuisance mosquitoes that come out early in the season, but the Culex tarsalis mosquito, which carries West Nile, is active later in the season and later in the evening, explained SDSU biology professor Michael Hildreth.
 
Since 2003, he has helped
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