Los Alamos High School Giving Tree Topples Over
The Giving Tree at Los Alamos High School (LAHS) toppled over around 5:30 p.m. today. It was a beautiful willow growing on a prominent corner of the campus at 1300 Diamond Dr., but had been rotting inside and in its weakened condition could not withstand today’s wind gusts. ‘Lots of people saw it occur and Fire Truck 1 even stopped because they had driven by two minutes earlier while it was still standing’ local resident Alene Bennett said. ‘Then when they turned around, it was down. They looked around to make sure no one was injured, and finally allowed me to take a picture of them when I reminded themNew Mexico Department Of Transportation Hosts Public Meeting Webinars On Building Out Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
NMDOT News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) along with the assistance of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program invite the community to attend an electric vehicle infrastructure public meeting.
To collect feedback on EV infrastructure needs and potential locations, NMDOT will host regional webinars targeted at citizens and stakeholders in six areas of the State. Attendees will have a chance to better understand the NEVI program and its impact, ask questions, and provide feedback for the NMDOT on EV infrastructure needs and Read More
2022 Zero Waste Champions Of The Year Announced
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Environmental Services Division and the Environmental Sustainability Board announce the winners of the Los Alamos County 2022 Zero Waste Champion of the Year awards.
Each spring the County presents the Zero Waste Champion of the Year awards to promote environmental sustainability and zero waste in the community, as well as to encourage more local businesses and schools to participate. To become eligible, organizations must be nominated by a member of the community for contributing to sustainability, recycling and waste reduction.
The nomination Read More
County Eco Station Reaches Capacity To Store Concrete And Asphalt Materials … Can’t Accept More Until Further Notice
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Eco Station has reached its capacity to store concrete and asphalt materials and will not be able to accept more until further notice.
The County Environmental Services Division is working on a new contractual agreement with an outside vendor to continue concrete and asphalt recycling operations. Until this contract is in place, the Eco Station will be unable to accept concrete or asphalt for recycling or disposal.
The following list includes potential disposal sites for asphalt and concrete. Contact the businesses in advance to ensure they can accept more Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Containment Increases To 95 Percent
Courtesy/USDAFS
USDA Forest Service News:
Temperatures will continue to increase over the Cerro Pelado Fire area with relative humidity remaining in the single digits. Fire activity has been minimal along the perimeter. The fire has not spread for several days, even under adverse weather conditions.
The northwest side of the fire, near the Jemez Falls, has completed back haul of fire suppression equipment. The crews will mop up deep into the interior of the fire perimeter when it’s safe to do so. The section of the fire referred to as “the horseshoe” has been contained increasing containment Read More
BAER Specialists Complete Analysis Of Cerro Pelado Fire
BAER Specialists News:
SANTA FE – Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists from the USDA Forest Service and the US Department of Interior assessment teams have completed data gathering and analysis for the Cerro Pelado Fire.
SANTA FE – Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists from the USDA Forest Service and the US Department of Interior assessment teams have completed data gathering and analysis for the Cerro Pelado Fire.
The soil burn severity (SBS) map analyzes approximately 45,605 acres of the burned area. The map and the data display soil burn severity (SBS) categories Read More
Pajarito Astronomers: Dark Night At Overlook Park Tonight
Pajarito Astronomers News:
Los Alamos County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Divisions have partnered up with the Pararito Astronomers for the Dark Sky/Night program.
Anyone with an interest in star gazing and the chance to look for stars through a telescope is invited to come out tonight to Spirio Soccer Field at Overlook Park in White Rock.
Arrive at nightfall for viewing, or around sunset for setting up. If arriving at night and approaching Spirio Field, please use parking lights.
Bring a red flashlight for safety.
This gathering is weather permitting. Tonight we will be viewing the globular Read More
Daily Postcard: Slice Of Moon Viewed Over White Rock
Daily Postcard: A thin slice of the moon viewed early this morning over White Rock. Photo by Nancy Ann HibbsCounty Invites Public To Pueblo Canyon Trail Conceptual Plan Meeting June 1 Via Zoom
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Community Services Department (CSD) is working with Design Office, a professional consulting service to provide a conceptual design and layout to enhance and expand existing biking trails within Pueblo Canyon, and invites the community to join a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 1, via Zoom.
This meeting is a continuation of the meeting that was held the first week of May. Additional information about the project can be found on the Community Services Department Projects Page.
Community Services Department is considering the following bike trail Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham On Cause Of Calf Canyon Fire: ‘Pain And Suffering … Is Unfathomable’
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that a federal pile burn holdover ignited the Calf Canyon Fire, which merged with the Hermits Peak Fire to become the largest fire in New Mexico history:
“The pain and suffering of New Mexicans caused by the actions of the U.S. Forest Service – an agency that is intended to be a steward of our lands – is unfathomable.
“This is a first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility for the largest wildfire in state history, which has destroyed Read More
Cerro Pelado Post-Fire BAER SBS Map Released
Courtesy/USDAFS
BAER Specialists News:
SANTA FE – Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists from the USDA Forest Service and the US Department of Interior assessment teams have completed data gathering and analysis for the Cerro Pelado Fire.
The soil burn severity (SBS) map analyzes approximately 45,605 acres of the burned area. The map and the data display soil burn severity (SBS) categories of unburned/very low, low, moderate, and high. Approximately 67 percent of the acres are either unburned/very low or low SBS, while 32 percent sustained a moderate SBS and only 1 percent identified Read More
Investigators Determine Cause Of Calf Canyon Fire
USDA Forest Service News:
SANTA FE – Forest Service fire investigators have determined that the Calf Canyon Fire on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) was caused by a pile burn holdover from January that remained dormant under the surface through three winter snow events before reemerging in April.
A holdover fire, also called a sleeper fire, is a fire that remains dormant for a considerable time.
Smoke was reported April 9 from the vicinity of the Gallinas Canyon Wildland Urban Interface pile burn, which had concluded Jan. 29, and crews responded. Crews Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Update For Friday May 27, 2022
USDA Forest Service News:
The USDA Forest Service released the following update this morning on the Cerro Pelado Fire:
With critical fire weather expected over this holiday weekend, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team 3 would like to remind the public to be safe with fire and observe all closures and fire restrictions.
Temperatures will continue to increase over the fire area with lower relative humidity in the single digits. Fire behavior continues to be minimal across the fire area.
Crews will continue work on the northwest side of the fire near the Jemez Falls area. The crews will Read More
Los Alamos County Opens Some Trails For Public Access … Stage 3 Fire Restrictions Remain In Place
Click this link: interactive online map to find open trails, including paved trails in Los Alamos & White Rock. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Fire Chief and Fire Marshal are opening some County owned trails for public access during Stage 3 fire restrictions beginning today, May 27.
Now that the Cerro Pelado fire is more than 90 percent contained, Fire Department officials have had an opportunity to evaluate the County trail network and determined some trails can be opened for limited access.
Trails opening as part of the amended order include:
- Los Alamos – Pueblo
Santa Fe National Forest Closes Offices For Memorial Day
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — All Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) offices will be closed Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day and will resume regular business hours Tuesday, May 31.
Fire personnel, law enforcement officers and recreation staff will be patrolling the forest over the long weekend.
The SFNF implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions April 22, which remain in effect along with the Stage 3 forest closure that went into effect May 17. Know before you go. Always check for fire restrictions and closures in the area you plan to visit BEFORE you leave.
All National Forest System lands, recreation Read More
LANL News Roundup: May 16-23, 2022
Community: Supercomputing history unveiled at Bradbury Science Museum
A diverse crowd of computing experts and enthusiasts gathered at the Bradbury Science Museum recently to celebrate the opening of a revamped supercomputing exhibit. Leadership, designers, historians and scientists from the Laboratory’s past and present ate cupcakes and talked petaflop clusters while exploring the exhibit’s newest features and stories. Read the full article here. Courtesy/LANL
Science: Validation brings new predictive capability to global megafire smoke impacts
New research modeling smoke Read More
Daily Postcard: Early Morning View On Barranca Mesa
Daily Postcard: Early morning view recently on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Amanda Macdonald Read More
Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation To Help New Mexico Respond And Recover From Wildfires
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) to introduce two bills to support efforts in New Mexico and across the country to put fires out faster and better protect communities from post-fire flooding.
The Fire Suppression Improvement Act would help ease the burden on state and local governments who are shouldering the weight of increasingly devastating wildfires by expanding FEMA’s Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) to better support the pre-deployment of assets Read More
Cerro Pelado Fire Remains At 45,605 Acres & 92% Contained
USDA Forest Service:
The USDA Forest Service issued the following update today on the status of the Cerro Pelado Fire.
There will be warmer weather over the fire area today with sunny skies in the morning. There is zero percent chance of precipitation, and the maximum temperature will reach into the low 80’s.
Relative humidity will be in the low teens. Southwest winds are forecast. Fire behavior continues to be minimal across the fire area.
Incident Statistics:
- Size: 45,605 acres
- Containment: 92 percent
- Start Date: April 22, 2022
- Cause: Unknown
- Total personnel: 434
Fire Operations:
On the Read More
Zero Waste Team: Tips To Keep Bears Out Of Your Trash!
The Zero Waste Team offers tips on how to safely live with bears. Courtesy/LAC
ZERO WASTE News:
- Zero Waste Tip: A Fed Bear is A Dead Bear!
Keep food waste out of your trash roll cart until collection day. One option is to store food waste like meat scraps, wrappers that smell of food, cheese, fats, fruit, desserts, and other appealing food wastes in your freezer. This not only protects wildlife, it greatly reduces unpleasant odors for whoever has to take out the trash!
Paying attention to how we manage our trash can help keep bears and other wildlife safe, protect the environment, and conserve valuable Read More
