Environment

Valles Caldera National Preserve Delays Start Of Summer Hours; Opening Of Backcountry Vehicle Route

Daylight shines through where the spring runoff washed out a culvert. Nathan Plants/NPS

A section of the main route through the center of the preserve has been marked as unsafe to travel across. Photo by Nathan Plants/NPS

VCNP News:

JEMEZ SPRINGS — Due to seasonal staff hiring delays and road damage from spring runoff, Valles Caldera National Preserve will delay the start of its extended summer hours and will offer a reduced vehicle route.

A backlog in government background clearances has delayed the arrival of seasonal National Park Service staff needed to operate the extended hours during Read More

Local Rotarians Clean Up LAHS Memorial Garden

In preparation for summer, a crew of Rotarians worked in chilly and inclement weather Saturday to clear and clean the Memorial Garden at Los Alamos High School. The garden, which was supported by funding from the Rotary Club of Los Alamos and Los Alamos Public Schools, was dedicated in December 2012 to honor students who lost their lives while enrolled in high school. From left, Rotarians Chuck Tallman, Kurt Steinhaus, Mike Katko, Skip King with grandsons Blake and Ryder and Rotarian Oliver Morris. Photo by Linda King Read More

Science On Tap: A Conversation With Dr. Cathy Wilson About The Impact Of Thawing Arctic Permafrost

Creative District News:

The community is invited to join the Bradbury Science Museum and the Los Alamos Creative District for Science On Tap at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 20 at project Y cowork, 150 Central Park Square.  

This discussion will feature Dr. Cathy Wilson of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Dr. Wilson is an observational and computational hydrologist and geomorphologist working with the Lab’s Earth and Environmental Sciences Division. She also is the curator of an exhibit at the Bradbury Science Museum, “Climate Perspectives: Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Issues Temporary Closure Order For East Fork Trail 137 During Restoration Project

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) today issued an order temporarily closing a 3-mile segment of Forest Trail 137, also known as the East Fork Trail, to protect public health and safety while crews work on a 178-acre unit of the Southwest Jemez Mountains (SWJM) Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project.

The closure starts at the East Fork Trailhead off N.M. 4 and extends thre miles to the east. The restricted area includes the picnic area at the East Fork Trailhead and 300 feet on either side of that 3-mile segment of the trail.

Crews will be conducting mechanical Read More

PEEC: Full Moon Hike May 17

Join PEEC for a full-moon hike and potluck at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Beth Cortright from last spring’s full moon hike at Tsankawi Ruins. Courtesy/PEEC
 
PEEC News:
 
Take a full moon hike Friday, May 17 with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, astrophysicist Galen Gisler and hiker Jean Dewart Friday.
 
Before the hike, participants will gather at 5:30 p.m. at the Los Alamos Nature Center on Canyon Road for a social potluck dinner. Registration is required for this outing and space is limited, so sign up soon!
 
PEEC will provide
Read More

Office Of Natural Resources Trustee Finalizes Damage Assessment Plan For NASA White Sands Test Facility

ONRT News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE The New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee (ONRT) has finalized its Damage Assessment Plan (Plan) for the NASA White Sands Test Facility in southern New Mexico.
 
Groundwater beneath the facility was contaminated when hazardous substances were disposed of and released to the environment during earlier NASA operations. Implementation of the Plan will help determine the appropriate scale and scope of potential restoration compensation to New Mexico.
 
Based on this Plan, the ONRT will evaluate the impacts of releases of hazardous substances
Read More

Amateur Naturalist: What’s Happening To The Birds?

The Acorn woodpecker has a white ring around its eye and also is among the most commonly seen. Photo by Bob Walker

The Lesser goldfinch is the most commonly seen species in the lower forest habitat.  
Photo by Bob Walker

Robert Dryja
Los Alamos

We previously considered bird species that are generalists for breeding throughout the various habitats in Los Alamos County. The annual counts give the impression that these species as a group have been increasing in number over the years.

However there is one dominant species, the Evening grosbeak, which is increasing in numbers. The other less common Read More