Environment

Daily Postcard: Signs Of Autumn Creeping Into View

Daily Postcard: A Virginia Creeper is showing fall colors Thursday in White Rock. Virginia Creepers remain attractive through the summer and in the autumn turn bright purple or red before falling off the vines. It is one of the earliest vines to color in the fall. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More

Carbon Free Power Project Advances To Next Phase

An image describes how the carbon free power project would operate. Courtesy image

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

Los Alamos County’s Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) will advance into the next phase.

The motion to approve continuing the project passed 5-2 during Tuesday night’s County Council meeting. Councilors Randall Ryti and Antonio Maggiore opposed the motion.

With this approval, the project’s next phase includes a financial commitment from the County totaling $1,046,849 to prepare the Combined Operating License Application (COLA), according Read More

Investigation Reveals Lightning Sparked Medio Fire

Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT

MEDIO FIRE Update:

After a thorough investigation at the point of origin, fire investigators have determined that the Medio Fire was caused by a lightning strike Monday Aug. 17.

The Medio Fire has now consumed 2,939 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

After multiple days of challenging work Read More

AFRL And University Of Alaska Fairbanks Sign Strategic Education Partnership Agreement

An AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate student intern performs a space experiment. Courtesy/AFRL

KAFB News:

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE — The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Directorates in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) are pleased to announce they have signed a five-year Education Partnership Agreement (EPA) that will enable scientific collaboration between AFRL and UAF.

“I am delighted to sign this partnership agreement with a great educational institution,” said Dr. Kelly Hammett the director of the Directed Read More

Conservation Voters New Mexico Endorses Large Slate Of Candidates In 2020 General Election

CVNM News:

SANTA FE — Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), through its coordinated political action committee CVNM Action Fund, endorsed 53 conservation champion incumbents and challengers in the 2020 general election for the state Legislature.

The list includes 33 House candidates, for eight of whom this marks their initiation into legislative politics. Among the Senate candidates, five are new to the legislative electoral process. 

“This is the largest group of endorsements CVNM Action Fund has ever made,” said CVNM’s Political and Policy Director Ben Shelton. “It is a testament Read More

BPU, Council Vote To Continue In Carbon Free Power Project 

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Council voted five to two Tuesday evening for the County to continue on to the next phase of the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP). Council Vice Chair Randall Ryti and Councilor Antonio Maggiore voted against the measure.

Members from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) voted three to two Aug. 19 in favor of the measure.

The CFPP is a proposed project to construct a nuclear electric generating facility to be sited at Idaho National Laboratory that uses small modular reactor technology. Los Alamos County has subscribed to 11.2 megawatts from the planned 720-megawatt Read More

Crews Make Progress Along Southwestern Flank Of Medio Fire

Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT

MEDIO FIRE Update:

The Medio Fire has consumed 2,702 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Successful burnout operations and handline construction has allowed fire managers to increase containment to 21 percent. The Santa Fe National Forest has implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions.

  • Start
Read More

Seed Stuffing Squirrel Lifting Spirits Around Los Alamos

A Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel spotted Tuesday lifting spirits around Los Alamos and here in the Jemez stuffing seeds into its’ cheek pouches, no doubt practicing for the next Chubby Bunny challenge. Photo by Marc Bailey

A Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel stuffing seeds Tuesday in the Jemez. Photo by Marc Bailey Read More

New Mexico Game & Fish: Fishing With Ben Allen

From left, Cooper, Ben, and Justin with a largemouth bass they caught in 2018. Courtesy/NMGF

NMGF News:

In this week’s Game & Fish weekly report:

Fishing with Ben Allen

At 11 years old, Ben Allen is an accomplished bass fisherman with the drive and determination to be one of the best. Ben is an Albuquerque native who has been fishing as long as he can remember and who literally jumps at the opportunity to fish anywhere for anything.

He has dreams that are bigger than the fish that he catches, and angling has helped him develop goals that should serve him well later in life.

Ben, with his younger brother Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Aug. 26, 2020

By GEORGE MORSE
Sports And Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post

The Medio Fire in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Santa Fe National Forest has been visible from Los Alamos since Aug. 17 and by Tuesday had grown to 2,702 acres. The fire has been burning in rugged terrain, making efforts to contain it difficult.

Santa Fe National Forest officials issued a closure order Aug. 22 for the area affected by the Medio Fire. The public is asked to avoid the area so as not to hamper firefighting efforts. For updated conditions on the Medio Fire and other wildfires in New Mexico, visit the website: nmfireinfo.com. Read More

The Family YMCA Resumes In-Person Fitness Classes

The Family YMCA Fitness Classes. Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

YMCA News:

The Family YMCA resumed live fitness classes for its member today in conjunction with the governor’s early August health order that allows this at 25 percent of room capacity.

Wellness Director Emily Schmidt said that the Y’s ongoing virtual, and pre-recorded on-demand classes (at laymca.org) continue to be free to community and Y members, but that the live classes are only open to members. 

Schmidt said last week Y staff solidified the new fitness schedules and cleaning protocols for live classes.

To ensure the safety Read More

Medio Fire Consumes 2,702 Acres At 18 Percent Contained

Medio Fire progression map. Courtesy/ SAIMT

MEDIO FIRE Update:

The Medio Fire has burned 2,702 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

Successful burnout operations and handline construction Monday has allowed fire managers to increase containment to 18 percent.

With support from the National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, the Silver Read More

Reminder: New Mexico Department Of Transportation Will Remove Campaign Signs Posted On State Road Right-Of-Ways

NMDOT News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation reminds residents and candidates and campaigns that state law prohibits any person from placing, maintaining or displaying any unauthorized sign upon any highway. 

Especially during election years, signs are often posted on state road right-of-ways. New Mexico Criminal and Traffic Law 66-7-108, under the title “Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals and Markings,” states specifically that no political sign postings are allowed on state-maintained right-of-ways, which are typically defined by fencing on rural routes Read More

County Utility Pole Testing Begins Aug. 31 For 2 Months

Starting Aug. 31 at the ski hill, two crews will bore into, check shavings and dig around the base of wooden poles looking for signs of rot. Courtesy photo

COUNTY News:

Alamon, under contract to the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities, will test the integrity and strength of wooden utility poles in Los Alamos County for a period of two months.

Based on the findings, preventative maintenance on a compromised utility pole may be undertaken immediately.

Starting Aug. 31 at the ski hill, two crews will bore into, check shavings and dig around the base of wooden poles looking for signs of rot. Poles Read More

Daily Postcard: Virginia Warbler On Barranca Mesa

Daily Postcard: A Virginia Warbler is spotted recently feeding on insects on a shrub at the edge of Barranca Canyon on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan

Here the Virginia Warbler is seen in a pond at a residence on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan Read More

Firefighters Begin Burnout Ops As Medio Fire Hits 2,432 Acres

SFNF News:

Firefighters are planning to begin burnout operations today along the southern, western, and northern edges of the Medio Fire, which has burned 2,432 acres off the Rio en Medio Trail on the Española Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) between the Rio Nambe and the Rio en Medio, approximately 2 miles north of the Village of Rio en Medio, 2 miles east/southeast of Nambe Reservoir and 5 miles north/northwest of the Santa Fe Ski Basin.

These planned operations will likely result in increased air traffic, smoke and fire activity in these areas.

This strategy is intended Read More

Search
LOS ALAMOS

ladailypost.com website support locally by OviNuppi Systems