Environment

Albuquerque Wildlife Federation & Los Amigos De Valles Caldera To Conduct Ecological Restoration Project

August 17, 2015 by Submitted by Chris Clark

AWF News:

Albuquerque Wildlife Federation (AWF) is teaming with Los Amigos de Valles Caldera (Amigos) to host a weekend-long volunteer project, Aug. 14-16, in the Valle Seco section of the preserve.

Volunteers from both groups will be working to improve integrity of Sulphur Creek and adjoining wetlands in the area via stream restoration work and repairs to enclosure fencing. The August event is the second such collaborative project between AWF and Amigos in the Valles Caldera in 2015.

“We’re very excited to get back to this beautiful,

Sunset Scenes Over Los Alamos And White Rock

August 17, 2015 by Submitted by Chris Clark

This past weekend, Phillip Noll sent some beautiful sunset photos from the Los Alamos/White Rock area to the Los Alamos Daily Post to share with the public. Please visit his website www.ravenmountain.com. Photo by Phillip Noll

Photo by Phillip Noll

WIPP: Radiological Contamination Mitigation Continues

August 17, 2015 by Submitted by Chris Clark

Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) personnel will complete the installation of the brattice cloth and salt barrier tthis week on a 570-foot section of floor in the WIPP underground.

The installation process includes rolling the brattice cloth out to cover the entire surface area of the floor and securing it to the ribs (walls) and in the center of the drift (access tunnel). Once the cloth is in place, it is covered with six to eight inches of mined salt to create a walking/driving surface.

This ensures radiological contamination

New Mexico, Colorado Delegations Urge President To Direct Federal Resources To Gold King Mine Response

August 17, 2015 by Submitted by Chris Clark

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Members of the New Mexico and Colorado congressional delegations are urging President Barack Obama to direct any and all appropriate federal resources to help respond to damage from the Gold King Mine spill that occurred last week in the Animas River.

Communities in both states along the affected rivers are working quickly to minimize the short-term and long-term public health and economic challenges caused by the tragic spill.

Recovering from the spill will take a full and coordinated approach from the Environmental Protection

LANL: Young, Jupiter-like Planet Discovered

August 16, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Jupiter-like planet. Couresy/LANL

LANL News:

A team of researchers has discovered a Jupiter-like planet within a young system that could provide a new understanding of how planets formed around the sun.

The new planet, called 51 Eridani b, is the first exoplanet discovered by the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), a new instrument operated by an international collaboration headed by Bruce Macintosh, a professor of physics in the Kavli Institute at Stanford University. It is a million times fainter than its star and shows the strongest methane signature ever detected on an alien planet, which should Read More

Ban Lifted On Water Supply Connection To Animas And San Juan Rivers And Public’s Recreational Use

August 16, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NMED NEWS:

Governor Susana Martinez’ Long-Term Impact Review Team in Place

FARMINGTON – New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn, Game and Fish Department Director Alexa Sandoval and Health Department Secretary Retta Ward Saturday lifted the ban on San Juan County’s drinking water systems’ supply connection to the Animas and San Juan Rivers and on the public’s recreational use of the rivers.

The ban is lifted with certain prudent health practices, following the Aug. 5 Gold King Mine Spill.

“Because the waters of the Animas and San Juan Rivers are now meeting all applicable Read More

Governor Announces Long-Term Impact Review Team to Monitor EPA-Caused Spill In Animas River

August 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Effects of the massive 3 million gallon waste spill in the Animas River flowing through Aztec last week. Photo by Randy Foster

STATE News:

FARMINGTON — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced the creation of a multiagency, long-term impact review team to monitor the effects of the massive 3 million gallon waste spill in the Animas River that EPA officials have admitted to causing.

After touring the spill by helicopter for the second time in less than a week, the Governor made the announcement with cabinet secretaries and directors of the New Mexico Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Game Read More

Conditions Are Perfect For UNM-LA Mushroom Hike

August 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Boletes mushrooms. Courtesy/UNM-LA

UNM-LA News:

The recent rains have made local mountainsides green, wildflowers dot the mesa tops, and the wild mushrooms abundant if one knows where to look.

That’s why UNM-LA Community Education is excited to offer a mushroom hike 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Experienced mushroom forager Thomas Peña is leading the hike.

“This year’s precipitation is going to be a real boon for the mushrooms,” Peña said. “Normally, the area where we hike is quite green and lush, but this should be a banner year.”

This one-day outing will have students hiking in the beautiful Read More

Wildflower Walk With Chick Keller Aug. 17

August 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Los Alamos wildflower. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

With the continued rain, we’ve been having lately, beautiful wildflowers abound. Join PEEC’s Jemez Mountain Herbarium curator, Chick Keller, for a Wildflower Walk at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 to discover what some of them are and where they can be found.

This will be an easy walk to identify some of the wildflowers that can be found in and around Los Alamos. The group will meet at the Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road, and the group will carpool to the trail that Keller will select based on what is blooming at the time. The walk is free and there Read More

Experts Present ‘Coyotes In Our Midst’ At Nature Center

August 14, 2015 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

A coyote spotted in Corrales. Photo by Project Coyote

PEEC News:

From deserts to mountains, coyotes are one of the most adaptable species in New Mexico. However, not everyone welcomes the resilience of this local predator.

To learn more about this canine, meet New Mexico Project Coyote representative, Judy Paulsen, and Project Coyote Science Advisory Board Wildlife Biologist Dave Parsons, as they speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Los Alamos Nature Center, about the challenges and opportunities coyotes provide to both urban and rural communities.

This presentation reveals the fascinating Read More