State

Entire Rio Grande Basin Remains Focus For Potential Flooding

September 16, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Courtesy/NWS

NWS News:

National Weather Service: The Rio Grande basin, from northern New Mexico to Brownsville remains the focus of concern for potential flooding this week due to three distinct events ongoing in the region:

The ongoing rainfall over New Mexico;

Heavy rainfall leading to reservoir releases in the Rio Conchos basin in northern Mexico; and

Potential impacts from Hurricane Ingrid in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

In New Mexico, widespread heavy rainfall has ended. However, saturated soils across the region means that only light to moderate amounts of rainfall will produce additional

Valles Caldera Welcomes Back Two Trustees

September 15, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

VCT News:

JEMEZ SPRINGS – The Valles Caldera Trust board of trustees has rescheduled its meeting in public to Sept. 26 at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder in Pojoaque instead of the originally planned Sept. 19 date in Espanola.

The meeting is pushed back a week to accommodate the return of Dr. Melissa Savage and Dr. C. Kenneth Smith to the board of trustees. The White House recently announced President Barack Obama’s intent to nominate both former trustees for reappointment to the board. Their previous terms expired in January 2013.

By statute each trustee position is filled with a specific Read More

Support Limits on Carbon Pollution

September 15, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

RAMONA MAICZYNSKI

Albuquerque

This summer, New Mexico saw deadly wildfires and yet more extreme drought.

Now, a new report reveals the biggest culprits causing the global warming pollution, which scientists warn will bring even worse extreme weather in the future.

Environment New Mexico Research and Policy Center finds that power plants are New Mexico’s single largest source of carbon pollution, responsible for over half of our carbon emissions. What’s more, the Four Corners Power Plant, outside Farmington, is the 15^th most carbon polluting plant in the nation.

I urge New Mexico’s leaders, Read More

Bandelier Bridge To Be Reinstalled Tuesday

September 14, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Installation of bridge created by Cadillac Fabrications in May 2012. Courtesy photo

Bandelier News:

Tuesday, Sept. 17, Bandelier National Monument will be re-installing the steel bridge that allows vehicles to cross Frijoles Creek.

A crane, accompanied by trucks carrying the two halves of the bridge and the crane’s counterweights, is scheduled to arrive in the Visitor Center area about 7 a.m. and by about 10:30 a.m. the procedure should be finished.

It will then take a couple of days for the park maintenance staff to prepare the bridge approaches and the areas across the creek for use. Read More

Letter to the Editor: PRC Should Leave Renewable Energy Policies in Place

September 14, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By DOMINICK LAWTON

Environment New Mexico

The Public Regulation Commission is preparing to rule on how much New Mexico invests in renewable energy, and clean energy advocates argue that the PRC’s proposed changes would harm renewable energy development in the state. Looking at the facts, we have to agree.

New Mexico is the second-sunniest state in the country, but we currently get less than two percent of our electricity from the sun, lagging behind cloudy states like New Jersey. Our state needs to move toward a new, thriving clean energy economy, and not stay tethered to fossil fuels, which Read More

Governor Declares State of Disaster Due to Flooding

September 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Susana Martinez signed an executive order declaring an emergency due to the floods caused by heavy rains in the past days.

The declaration covers the entire state of New Mexico and makes funding available to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to assist local communities in recovery efforts.

“Through this Executive Order, I have directed state government resources to ensure the safety and well being of everyone affected by these heavy storms,” Martinez said. “As the heavy rains continue, I encourage all New Mexicans Read More

Bandelier Sustains Flooding – Set to Reopen Monday

September 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Bandelier flooding. Photo by Sally King

BANDELIER News:

Bandelier National Monument experienced two large flood events, one late afternoon Thursday, Sept. 12 and the other this morning.

Flooding in Frijoles Canyon prompted Superintendent Jason Lott to close the monument for the safety of visitors due to debris on trails and the potential for flooding throughout the weekend. Bandelier staff will begin clean-up efforts as soon as rains subside and hope to re-open the monument by Monday, Sept. 16.

This morning, heavy rains caused flash flooding more severe than any recent

Bandelier is Closed Due to Flooding

September 13, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Staff Report

Park Superintendent Jason Lott just confirmed that Bandelier National Monument is closed due to flooding. The park will likely be closed Saturday as well, he said.

“Our Flood Protection Plan has been effective … there has been no damage to our buildings or archeological areas that we are aware of at this time,” Lott said.

Lott added that no injuries have been reported as a result of this morning’s flooding and that all personnel are accounted for. Read More

NMED Issues Recall Notice for Chobani Greek Yogurt

September 12, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMED News:

RECALL NOTICE

DATE: Sept. 12, 2013

SUBJECT: [X] FOOD RECALL – CLASS I

PRODUCTS: Chobani Greek Yogurt with “Best By” date codes between Sept 11-13 and Oct 07-13 (see list of products and UPC codes below)
MANUFACTURER: Chobani, Inc
RECALLED BY: Chobani, Inc
DISTRIBUTION: Distributed nationwide from its Twin Falls, Idaho facility and delivered to consumers through retail and club stores
QUANTITY: Unknown

REASON: The product containers displayed bloating and swelling, and there have been unconfirmed reports of illness associated with the product. The company continues its investigation Read More

Heavy Rain Potential Persists into Weekend

September 12, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Courtesy/NOAA

NWS News:

The National Weather Service in Albuquerque has provided an updated outlook regarding the possibility of additional heavy rain and increasing thunderstorm-related impacts Thursday into Saturday.

The break across central and western areas will be short-lived. It is now looking very likely that areas of the central and eastern New Mexico could see event total rainfall amounts in the 6 to 10 inch range with isolated higher amounts.

Overview: Record-setting rainfall that impacted much of central New Mexico late Tuesday shifted into eastern New