Environment

Amateur Naturalist: The World Of Small Canyons, Part 3

A spring is releasing its clear water down a canyon wall. The iron in the water then is being used by bacteria to support its life. The orange color is a by-product of the bacteria’s digestion. Photo by Robert Dryja

By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos

We have reviewed in prior articles the geologic characteristics of Upper Pueblo Canyon and the impact of the Cerro Grande Forest fire on the landscape. Flash floods have a dramatic impact on the canyon but there are subtle impacts as well.

Upper Pueblo Canyon descends 1,300-foot in elevation along its length. Surface water flows quickly but sub-surface water Read More

Hundreds Of Budding Engineers Across New Mexico Participate In GSK Science In The Summer Program

As part of the GSK Science in the Summer™ program, hundreds of students in central and northern New Mexico tackled challenges in electrical, biomedical, environmental and structural engineering through at-home experiments, videos and live virtual events. Courtesy/NMMNHS

Students in central and northern New Mexico participate in the GSK Science in the Summer™ program through at-home experiments, videos and live virtual events. Courtesy/NMMNHS

NMMNHS News:

This summer, hundreds of students in central and northern New Mexico tackled challenges in electrical, biomedical, environmental Read More

NOAA Announces $7.3 Million For Marine Debris Removal, Prevention, Ecosystem Health, Research And More

Plastic bags and other debris on a New England shoreline. Courtesy/Audubon Society Seabird Restoration Program

NOAA News:

NOAA announced $7.3 million in Fiscal Year 2021 grants supporting 25 projects to address the harmful effects of marine debris on wildlife, navigation safety, ecosystem health, and the economy.

With the addition of non-federal matching contributions, the total investment in these marine debris projects is approximately $14.7 million. The grants, selected after a rigorous and competitive review process, are spread across 14 states and territories, as well as 8 international Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Requests $7.1 Million Budget Increase For FY-2023 To Spur Clean Energy Investments Across State

NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney

NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is requesting a budget increase of $7.1 million for Fiscal Year 2023 to spur clean energy investments across the state while aggressively mitigating the impacts of climate change.

“Investing in climate solutions is investing in clean energy jobs,” Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said. “We are requesting additional resources to drive environmental protections and our economy.”

NMED’s budget includes funding to implement a clean fuel standard that will decarbonize fuels used in the transportation Read More

Daily Postcard: Bobcat Strolls Around Valles Caldera

Daily Postcard: A bobcat is spotted strolling through the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP), which is home to a variety of wildlife including prairie dogs, coyotes, badgers, black bears, eastern mountain bluebirds and golden eagles. The VCNP also has the second largest elk population in New Mexico. Roughly 7,000 elk live in the Jemez Mountains with an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 in the VCNP, according to the state game and fish department. Early morning and evening hours are when animals tend to be feeding and thus are more easily seen in the VCNP. But the number and variety of animals one sees Read More

Beauty Of Late Summer Roses Lift Spirits Around Town

Late summer roses blooming Friday afternoon on Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock are lifting spirits all around Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A late summer rose blooming Friday afternoon on Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock is lifting spirits all around Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A late summer rose blooming Friday afternoon on Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock is lifting spirits all around Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A late summer rose blooming Friday afternoon on Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock is lifting spirits all around Read More

Daily Postcard: Plumbeous Vireo Searching For Insects

A Plumbeous Vireo searches for insects in a tree Wednesday at a residence on Barranca Mesa. This is a common summer bird in the Rocky Mountain region, typically nesting in middle-elevation woodlands, often among oaks. When feeding, it works rather deliberately along branches, searching for insects. Its nest, a bulky cup suspended in the fork of a twig, is often easy to find. This bird was formerly lumped with the Blue-headed and Cassin’s vireos under the name Solitary Vireo. Both parents feed their nestlings, which leave the nest about 2 weeks after hatching. Source: Audubon.org. Photo Read More

Cone Zone: Week Of Sept. 13, 2021

COUNTY News:

Public Works Projects: 

The projects listed in this section are being managed by County Public Works staff through contractors.

For more information, please e-mail lacpw@lacnm.us, call 662-8150, or visit the “Projects/Public Works” link at www.losalamosnm.us. Please slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Please note the below information is based on a schedule provided by the contractors and may change due to weather or other delays.

Canyon Rim Trail Underpass

The current highway detour will be shifted to the north side of NM502 allowing the contractor Read More

Dark Sky Program At Spirio Field In White Rock Tonight!

Pajarito Astronomers News:

Los Alamos County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Divisions have partnered up with the Parjarito 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 (if it’s partly cloudy it will happen, Read More

35th Santa Fe Century Bike Ride Is Back At New Railyard Venue After Pandemic Pause

The 35th Santa Fe Century Bike Ride rolls out from Santa Fe’s Railyard Oct. 10. Courtesy/SFC

The 35th Santa Fe Century Bike Ride rolls out from Santa Fe’s Railyard Oct. 10. Courtesy/SFC

SFC News:

Now just a month away, the 35th edition of New Mexico’s largest bicycling event has been upgraded and is set to roll out from Santa Fe’s iconic Railyard Sunday, Oct. 10 after being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

“For over 35 years the Santa Fe Century has been a rite of passage for cyclists throughout the Southwest, from first-timers to weekend warriors and ex-professionals everyone loves Read More

Daily Postcard: Flower Of Spotted Saxifrage In The Jemez

Daily Postcard: A Flower of Spotted Saxifrage [Saxifraga bronchialis] is seen Aug. 20 at the East Fork of the Jemez River, downstream from the Las Conchas Trailhead. These flowers are only about 3/8-inch across, so easily overlooked. The spots are only visible if you get your eye very close. Note that on each petal, the dots start light yellow at the inner end, and get progressively darker further toward the outer end. Photo by Randal Pair Read More

Community Invited To Take Survey To Determine Interest In Research Park On Old Nuclear Waste Dump On DP Road

This 1946 photo shows original nuclear weapons were developed in very rudimentary buildings. Courtesy photo

By RICK NEBEL
Tibbar Plasma Technologies, Inc.

Los Alamos

Starting in January 2022, Los Alamos County is planning to replace/extend utilities along DP Road down to the old TA-21 site. The County owns 10 acres of property along the south side of DP Road that it received from LANL for development. This is primarily an old nuclear waste dump dating back to WW2 that the lab cleaned up at a cost of $250,000,000.

My understanding is that this property is zoned C-3 (heavy industrial) and that the Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 8, 2021

By GEORGE MORSE
Sports And Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post

There seems to be some confusion among anglers as to what is the difference between a native trout and a wild trout.

A native tout is a species of trout that has evolved in and historically inhabited the stream, river or lake it was caught in.

A wild trout is one that was spawned in the wild, but may not necessarily be of a species that is native to the area.

Here in New Mexico, we have two species of trout that are considered “native” to the state. The species found here in the Jemez Mountains around Los Alamos is the Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The other Read More

Los Alamos Leader Named DOE Sustainability Champion 

Sustainability team members chat under one of the Laboratory’s solar workstations. From left, Shannon Blair, Genna Waldvogel, Cindy Dilworth, Jesse Freedman and Monica Witt. Not pictured are Dalinda Bangert, Olivia Bell, Joseph Klose and Adam Collins. Courtesy/LANL

Monica Witt

LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) Sustainability Manager Monica Witt has received a 2021 Department of Energy (DOE) Sustainability Award for being a Sustainability Champion.

Under her leadership, the Laboratory has reduced energy use by 8.3 percent since 2015 and water consumption by more Read More

Pajarito Mountain Celebrates Labor Day Hosting Forearm Fatiguing Enduro Style Race On Labor Day Sunday

Haiden Jorgenson (sophomore Los Alamos High School) crushing the technical rock garden at the conclusion of May Day. Courtesy/Los Alamos Mountain Bike Team 

Diego Hinojosa, left, and Nikolai Nelson (sophomores Los Alamos High School) geared up for a day of fast descents. Courtesy/Los Alamos Mountain Bike Team 

By PAULA KNEPPER
Coach Los Alamos Mountain Bike Team

Pajarito Mountain celebrated Labor Day by hosting a forearm fatiguing enduro style mountain bike race Sunday. Over 130 cyclists descended on Pajarito Mountain for a long weekend of adrenaline-fueled mountain bike riding down Read More

Kristen Honig Of Los Alamos Visits Maasai Mara In Kenya

Sunset in the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Photo by Kristen Honig

Maasai Warriors standing on either side of photographer Kristen Honig of Los Alamos were assigned to guard her the entire time she was in camp and walk her to her tent and guard it while she slept at night. Courtesy photo

By KRISTEN HONIG
Los Alamos

If you had told me 9 months ago that I would take two international trips during a worldwide pandemic, I would have said you were out of your mind. But the development and distribution of a COVID vaccine has made travel possible again for adventurous (or crazy) souls. Although traveling during a pandemic

Read More
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