Environment

Spotted Towhee Perches On Tree Branch At Bandelier

A spotted towhee perches on a tree branch at Bandelier National Monument. Spotted towhees are common in the park especially on the brushy mesatops. This bird has a distinct call and is often heard but not seen. Courtesy/Sally King/NPS Read More

NWS: First Of Two Winter Storms Forecast To Cross New Mexico Late Monday Through Tuesday Morning

Courtesy/NWS

Courtesy/NWS

NWS News:

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque reports that the first of two winter storms is now forecast to cross New Mexico late Monday through Tuesday morning.

Quick showers moving north through western New Mexico Monday morning will give way to more widespread showers through western New Mexico Monday afternoon. These will spread into the Rio Grande Valley and northern mountains by sunset. Snow levels quickly fall to valley floors Monday night.

Highest accumulations of 8-12 inches will focus along west-facing slopes of the northern mountains. Read More

Daily Postcard: Bandelier Celebrates 107 Year Anniversary

Daily Postcard: Feb. 11, 2023, marked 107 years since Bandelier National Monument was born into existence through the auspices of the Antiquities Act of 1906. President Woodrow Wilson signed the legislation Feb. 11, 1916, to create a 22,400-acre National Monument. After over a quarter of a century of political wrangling and efforts to protect the archeological sites found on the Pajarito Plateau, finally, at least some of them had federal protection. Bandelier’s boundaries were increased in 1932, 1961, 1963, and again in 2014. The monument encompasses over 33,000 acres of mesas, canyons, Read More

Afternoon Scenes At Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill

View this afternoon at Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill. Courtesy/pajarito webcam

View of Beginners Lift this afternoon at Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill. Courtesy/pajarito webcam

View this afternoon of the old Lodge deck. Courtesy/pajarito webcam

View this afternoon at Pajarito Mountain Ski Hill. Courtesy/pajarito webcam Read More

New Mexico Historic Sites To Support ‘The Great Backyard Bird Count’ Feb. 17-20

New Mexico Historic Sites are hosting guided bird tours and collecting tallies Feb. 17-20. Courtesy/Eldon Vita

NMHS News:

SANTA FE — The Great Backyard Bird Count flies into New Mexico!

New Mexico Historic Sites (NMHS) will be hosting guided bird tours and collecting tallies Feb. 17-20, in Coronado Historic Site (CHS), Jemez Historic Site (JHS), and Los Luceros Historic Site (LLHS) as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count.  

“Enjoying the birds who share our New Mexico Historic Sites is a great way to see the site in a new way,” said Elisabeth Stone, regional manager for CHS and JHS. “Nothing beats Read More

Cornell Lab Of Ornithology: Get Ready For Great Backyard Bird Count With Q&A Webinar Wednesday Feb. 15

Cornell Lab of Ornithology News:

Join the Cornell Lab of Ornithology YouTube livestream webinar 1-2 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Feb 15 and learn how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Register here.

(A YouTube livestream page will be provided when you register and click ‘submit.’)

Looking for a great way to celebrate and support birds with a global community? Look no further than the Great Backyard Bird Count. This annual, four-day bird counting event is right around the corner.

During a live Q&A session, experts from Audubon, Birds Canada, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will Read More

County ESB Holds Hybrid Meeting Thursday Feb. 16, 2023

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.

This meeting is open to the public.

Find the agenda to this meeting here: Feb. 16, 2023 ESB Agenda.

Find the link to this meeting here.

Webinar ID: 856 5695 1187 Read More

EM-LA Manager Michael Mikolanis Shares Field Office Mission And Work With Kiwanis

EM-LA Manager Michael Mikolanis speaks to Kiwanis Tuesday at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Environmental Management-Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) might be considered the “red-headed stepchild” of the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office but its work is no less important, the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos learned Tuesday during its meeting at Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church.

EM-LA Manager Michael Mikolanis described his office as the “red headed stepchild” because while the Read More

New At Purgatory: Bluegrass, Balloon Glow, Fireworks…

Courtesy/Purgatory

PURGATORY News:

DURANGO, CO — Purgatory Resort announces a new event series for the 2023 ski season.

The Helluva Weekend is a celebration of mountain culture in Southwest Colorado, set in the stunning San Juan Mountain. Events and activities include a Balloon Night Glow, an Alpenglow Snowshoe tour, live music, fireworks, and family-friendly activities on the mountain.

“So far, it’s been a helluva season, and we have a lot to celebrate this winter,” Purgatory General Manager said, Dave Rathbun. “This event brings together locals and visitors, and furthers our Read More

NNSA Approves Start Of Construction For Plutonium Pit Production Subproject At Los Alamos National Laboratory

Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Dr. Marvin Adams

NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) reached an important milestone on the Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Project (LAP4), approving Critical Decision-2/3 – Approve Performance Baseline/Approve Start of Construction – for the 30 Base Equipment Installation subproject.

LAP4 is an integral part of NNSA’s plan to re-establish the nation’s capability to produce plutonium pits for its nuclear weapons modernization program, a capability lost when Read More

Embracing Food Sovereignty With Zuni Youth Enrichment Project

Courtesy/Zuni Youth Enrichment Project

Courtesy/Zuni Youth Enrichment Project

STATE News:

ZUNI — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project in the Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico, has a special motto for its year-round Food Sovereignty programming.

That motto is “We Grow, We Share, We Eat, We Save” and it is deeply rooted in Zuni culture and traditional values.

Every year, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tribal Practices for Wellness in Indian Country, Native American Agriculture Fund, New Mexico Department of Health and Newman’s Own Foundation, the nonprofit organization Read More

Prescribed Fire Planned On Santa Fe National Forest

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) plans to implement a prescribed burn (debris piles) on the Cuba Ranger District starting as early as Wednesday, Feb. 15.

The Deer Lake project is approximately 110 acres and is adjacent to NM Highway-126 east of Cuba between mile-markers 7 and 9.5.

Recent snowfall in the burn area provides conditions that help limit fire from spreading to adjacent vegetation. Burning will be spaced out during the month of February when conditions are favorable. Upon completion of burning operations, the burned piles will be monitored throughout the winter. Read More

Heinrich, Luján Reintroduce Cattle Market Reform Bill

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are original cosponsors of the bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023. 

The legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information, including permanently authorizing a cattle contract library.

“Consolidation in the beef supply chain has led to record profits for the big four meatpackers, while New Mexico families struggle to put food on the Read More

Daily Postcard: Rocky Mountain Elk Grazing Near Bandelier

Daily Postcard: Rocky Mountain elk are spotted Tuesday grazing in the Jemez near Bandelier National Monument. It’s been a good year for snow in the Jemez Mountains near Bandelier so the elk are migrating just a bit downhill for more leisurely grazing. Driving into or through the park, especially early or late in the day, visitor may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of these Rocky Mountain elk. Courtesy/BNM Read More

PEEC: Introducing First Family Astronomy Time Feb. 11

PEEC’s first-ever Family Astronomy Time is 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the nature center. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Get ready for the Pajarito Education Center’s (PEEC) first-ever Family Astronomy Time (FAT!) at the nature center 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

For $10 per family, elementary-aged kids and their guardians will explore the fascinating world of space and astronomy.

During this first FAT! session, the group is heading to the Moon – explorations will begin with a full-dome movie about the NASA Artemis Mission – which will return humans to the Moon with the new Space Launch System and Read More

TWST Hosts Grassroots Freeride Competition

Asher Tawil earns his first gold medal in his debut competition in the under 10 boys category. Courtesy/Paula Knepper

Athletes celebrate victories at the Taos Grassroots Freeride Competition Saturday. From left Vincent Brady in 5th place, Dusty Elsasser in 2nd place, Ian McLean (8th grader Los Alamos Middle School), Seamus Campbell in 3rd place, and Grey Elsasser in 4th place. Courtesy/Paula Knepper 

By PAULA KNEPPER
Taos Winter Sports Team

In collaboration with Taos Ski Valley, Taos Winter Sports Team (TWST) hosted a grassroots freeride competition for skiers and snowboarders 18 years Read More

Daily Postcard: Park Rangers On Snowmobiles At Valles Caldera National Preserve

Daily Postcard: A park ranger stands in knee-deep snow between two snowmobiles on South Mountain Feb. 3 at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Most areas are covered in an icy crust from melting and refreezing. Early afternoon seems to be the sweet spot for skiers and snowshoers who wish to avoid the crusty conditions. Valle Grande snow depth is still averaging about 18 to 24 inches, with higher amounts present in the Cabin District. While rangers were patrolling on snowmobiles last weekend, they set some ski tracks from the Cabin District up to South Mountain (pictured here) and across to Valle

Read More
Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems