Environment

SFNF: Macho Fire Update May 25

SFNF News:

The hotshot crew worked on containment today by mopping up and cold trailing, a method of controlling smoldering fire by feeling the edge of a burning area with the hand and digging out or trenching around burning spots.

This is the final news release on the Macho Fire unless conditions change significantly.

Start date: May 23, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Location: Macho Canyon on Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), about 12 miles northwest of Pecos

Size: Less than 1 acre 

Resources: 1 hotshot crew

Fuels: Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and heavy dead and Read More

Kristen Honig Of Los Alamos On Her Recent Visit To Geldingadalir Volcano Eruption Underway In Iceland

A group watches as lava travels through one of thevents’ down the Geldingadalir volcano in Iceland. Courtesy/Kristen Honig 

Kristen Honig poses in front of still very hot, hardening lava in Iceland. Courtesy/Kristen Honig

A perfect shot of the Geldingadalir volcano erupting in Iceland in April. Courtesy/Kristen Honig 

By KRISTEN HONIG
Los Alamos

Iceland started accepting vaccinated tourists without quarantine in early April, so as soon as I completed my second shot and waiting period, I headed out for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Iceland was actually the last trip I took prior Read More

SFNF: Lightning Sparks Macho Fire Near Pecos

Map of the Macho Fire sparked by lightning Sunday about 12 miles northwest of Pecos. Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire personnel are implementing a full suppression strategy on the Macho Fire sparked by lightning Sunday about 12 miles northwest of Pecos.

Since the fire is in steep terrain with limited access, fire managers are utilizing a helicopter to make repeated water drops on the fire.

Start date: May 23, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Location: Macho Canyon on Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), about 12 miles northwest of Pecos

Size: Read More

Daily Postcard: Downy Woodpecker Visits ‘Warbler Pond’

Daily Postcard: A male Downy Woodpecker spends time Sunday at ‘Warbler Pond’ on the grounds of a residence on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan

Daily Postcard: Downy Woodpecker on a tree Sunday on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Selvi Viswanathan Read More

Registration Open For PEEC Summer Camps And Clubs

Registration is now open for PEEC’s summer camps and clubs. From mountain biking, to gardening, to outdoor adventure camps, children will explore the outdoors with PEEC educators. Courtesy/PEEC

PEEC News:

Have a great adventure with the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) summer camps and clubs!

Starting in June, PEEC is offering a variety of camps and clubs for kids entering 1st through 12th grades. From mountain biking, to gardening, to outdoor adventures, your children will love exploring the outdoors with PEEC educators. Participants will learn about local wildlife, Read More

Cuervito Fire Crews Clean Up Interior Pockets Of Fuel

SFNF News:

The Cuervito Fire received less moisture than some of the surrounding area overnight, and unburned fuels on the interior were active Sunday.

Crews used hand ignitions on the interior to reinforce control lines, putting up some smoke in the process. The crews continued securing line and mopping up for the remainder of the day.

Start date: May 9, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Location: 9 miles east of Pecos and 3 miles southwest of the Barillas Lookout on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF)

Size: 1,621 acres after implementing management strategy to add Read More

AGU: Yellowstone National Park Is Hotter Than Ever

Dendrochronologist Karen Heeter samples a tree in Shoshone National Forest, just outside the boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Courtesy/G. L. Harley

AGU News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yellowstone National Park is famous for harsh winters but a new study shows summers also are getting harsher, with August 2016 ranking as one of the hottest summers in the last 1,250 years.

The new study drew upon samples of living and dead Engelmann spruce trees collected at high elevations in and around Yellowstone National Park to extend the record of maximum summer temperatures back centuries beyond instrumental Read More

Daily Postcard: Rose-breasted & Black-headed Grosbeaks

Daily Postcard: A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, left, and a Black-headed Grosbeak dine on seeds recently at a birdfeeder on the deck of a local residence. Rose-breasted Grosbeak are chunky birds that use their stout bills to eat seeds, fruit and insects. They also frequent backyard bird feeders, where they eat sunflower seeds with abandon. Most common in the eastern part of the country, the sweet, rambling song of the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a familiar voice of eastern forests. Source: allaboutbirds.org. Photo by Rebekah Butcher Read More

Springtime Comes To Guaje Pines In Los Alamos

The trees and grass are beautiful shades of green this morning as spring comes to Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

View this morning of the serenity at Guaje Pines Cemetery. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

View this morning of the treelined road in Guaje Pines Cemetery. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Leads Colleagues In Introducing Electrifying America’s Future Resolution

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led 13 Senate Democrats in introducing the Electrifying America’s Future Resolution to advance the vision of widespread electrification of appliances and machines in American homes and businesses.

The resolution has received widespread support from more than 100 organizations and nonprofits.

VIDEO: Heinrich, Senate Democratic Colleagues, Rewiring America Announce New Plan For Widespread Electrification In U.S. [HD DOWNLOAD Read More

Strong Winds Taking Toll On Local Trees And Fencing

Recent strong winds in the area are taking a toll on local trees such as this one spotted today at the Los Alamos County Golf Course. The fence also suffered damage. Photo by Delbert Romero/ladailypost.com

View shows proximity of clubhouse to damaged tree today at the golf course. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

View showing extent of damage to fencing caused by wind blown branches. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A tree today on Rover Boulevard toppled by wind near Del Norte Credit Union in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

AFRL Engineer Graduates First-Ever Space Test Course

AFRL Space Test Fundamentals course graduate Evelyn Kent prepares for one of her course highlights – a glider ride. Kent is a member of the small cadre that graduated from the first STF course held at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB in California. She is taking along the ‘Fly Like a Girl’ patch given to girls STEM. Courtesy/AFRL

AFRL engineer Evelyn Kent holds her Space Test Fundamentals course diploma with the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate headquarters at Kirtland AFB in the background. Courtesy/AFRL

AFRL News:

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE — Air Force Research Laboratory astronautical Read More

SFNF: Crews Continue Monitoring Cuervito Fire

SFNF News:

Crews continued securing line and monitoring the Cuervito Fire today, keeping an eye on interior pockets that are continuing to burn ground-level vegetation at low intensity.

A 90 percent chance of precipitation tonight is expected to bring widespread showers and thunderstorms to the area with winds out of the south at 25 to 35 mph. Drier air is expected to move in Sunday, with clear skies forecast for next week.

Start date: May 9, 2021

Cause: Lightning

Location: 9 miles east of Pecos and 3 miles southwest of the Barillas Lookout on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe Read More

NMED Seeks To Fill Three Division Director Positions

NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is seeking qualified applicants to lead three of its divisions.

The directors of the Water Protection Division (WPD), the Resource Protection Division (RPD) and the Environmental Health Division (EHD) are critical to advancing the Department’s mission of protecting public health and the environment.

Division directors take a leadership role in protecting New Mexico’s land, air and water by developing environmental policy as well as directing resources and operations. Maintaining a robust portfolio, the division directors Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators Calling On FDA To Set Limits On PFAS In Bottled Water

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján joined Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and nine senators in calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set standards on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in bottled water to ensure bottled water products are safe for drinking.

PFAS are pervasive and persistent chemicals that accumulate in people’s bodies over time, and exposure to these chemicals has been linked to cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and other serious health conditions.

“Despite the clear and present Read More

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