Daily Postcard: Western Honey Bee Sprinkled With Pollen
Daily Postcard: A western honey bee sprinkled with pollen collects nectar from a spring flower recently in White Rock. Photo by Richard Skolnik Read More
Los Alamos County Moves Closer To Zero Carbon Goal With Adoption Of EV Charger Plan
Los Alamos County Council adopted an EV charger plan during its work session March 17. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
A plan for County-wide electric vehicle (EV) chargers was adopted March 17 during the Los Alamos County Council work session.
Having this blueprint in place for where to install EV chargers is another step forward to reaching the County’s goal of being carbon neutral.
As Los Alamos County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule said during the March 17 work session, “These plans are tools meant to help Read More
Wildfire Update: Unified Fire In Valencia County March 26
NMFD News:
Highlights: Yesterday, fire crews were able to extinguish interior smoke and widen and improve control lines across the four divisions of the Unified Fire, raising containment to 25%. More accurate mapping downsized the fire’s acreage to 300 acres.
Acres: 300.
Containment: 25% contained.
Start Date/Time: 10:49 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24.
Fuels: Grass, brush, timber and timber understory.
Cause: Under investigation.
Location: Madrone, east of I-25, south of Rio Communities in Valencia County.
Ownership: State and private.
Structure Threat: 35 homes within Read More
Significant Fire Weather Pattern Developing Next Week
Roads Reopen On Jemez And Cuba Ranger Districts
The Gilman Tunnels in Jemez Springs off State Forest Road 376. Courtesy/SFNF
The Cuba Ranger Station. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest’s (SFNF) Jemez and Cuba Ranger Districts announce that some roads will reopen to public motorized access Friday, March 27, following their annual seasonal closure.
Roads reopening Friday on the Jemez Ranger District:
- FSR 10
- FSR 144
- FSR 266
- FSR 289
- FSR 280
- FSR 314
- FSR 376 from Highway 126 to Gilman (FSR 376 North to San Antonio Hot Springs will remain closed)
- FSR 378
- FSR 534
Road reopening Friday on the Cuba Ranger District:
- FSR 70
Daily Postcard: Pollinator Visits Pasque Flowers In Rendija
Daily Postcard: Pollinator visits Pasque flowers Tuesday in Rendija Canyon. Photo by Richard HughesNNSA Issues Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement And Record Of Decision For Expanded Operations For Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) today issued its Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision to implement an Expanded Operations Alternative to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in the coming years.
The Record of Decision accompanies completion of LANL’s Sitewide Environmental Impact Statement, which followed the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate potential environmental impacts of three options for continuing LANL Read More
Lenticular Clouds Float Above Aspen Elementary School
Lenticular clouds are spotted floating above Aspen Elementary School early Tuesday evening in White Rock. Photo by Michael Smith Read More
Free Well Water Testing Available To Ruidoso Residents
NMED News:
LINCOLN COUNTY — Ruidoso residents who rely on private wells for drinking water can get their water tested free of charge this Saturday, March 28, through a joint event hosted by the New Mexico Environment Department and the New Mexico Department of Health.
Testing will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., at 2917 Sudderth Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345. The event is free to the first 100 participants or while supplies last. Well water tests typically cost about $150.
Residents must bring their own water samples to the event.
Well water tests typically cost about $150 but will be free to the first Read More
Forest Service: Reducing Fuels On Steep Slopes
Helicopter logging is a critical resource for reducing stand density across the significantly overgrown North Yuba project area. Bringing forests back to a more resilient state will allow trees to grow larger and healthier, reduce wildfire risk and improve wildlife habitat. Photo by Lauren Faulkenberry/Forest Service
USDA News:
Tahoe National Forest’s North Yuba watershed is a highly productive water source for downstream residents and the agricultural industry across northern California. Although it is the largest continuous unburned landscape in the Central Sierras, it is also Read More
Wildfire Notification: Unified Fire In Valencia County
NMFD News:
The New Mexico Forestry Division would like to update you on a wildfire that is requiring the attention of suppression resources in New Mexico.
Update: The Unified Fire was discovered at approximately 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 23 near Madrone, east of Interstate 25 and south of Rio Communities in Valencia County. The fire is active and running through bosque fuels including grass, brush, and timber. Fire crews are employing a full suppression strategy during this initial attack response period.
Multiple structures are threatened and smoke is visible from I-25 and the surrounding Read More
Daily Postcard: Beautiful Flowers Bloom On Grand Canyon
Daily Postcard: Beautiful flowers spotted blooming during a walk on Tuesday morning along Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock. Photo by VaLynn Purvis
Another view of beautiful flowers spotted blooming during a walk on Tuesday morning along Grand Canyon Drive in White Rock. Photo by VaLynn Purvis Read More
Future Outlook For CDT Southern Terminus
CDTC News:
SANTA FE — Deep in the Chihuahuan Desert of southern New Mexico, previously quiet places are receiving new attention. Namely, access to the southern terminus of Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) in southern New Mexico has undergone numerous changes during the past year, resulting in new infrastructure and requiring additional planning for some travelers.
Last summer, management of lands encompassing the CDT southern terminus monument was transferred from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the U.S. Army at Fort Huachuca with the creation of the New Mexico National Read More
Final Update For Nacimiento Wildfire—Now 100% Contained
Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
Location: The wildfire is in the Cuba Ranger District, south of New Mexico State Road 126 and the Nacimiento Mine
Start Date: March 22, 2026
Size: 18 acres
Containment: 100 %
Cause: Under investigation
Vegetation: Burning in oak, ponderosa pine, pinyon-juniper, and Douglas fir.
Resources: 60 personnel
Highlights: Fire crews remain actively engaged using a direct extinguishment strategy on the 18‑acre wildfire. On Sunday, firefighters, supported by large airtankers dropping retardant, were able to stop the fire’s forward progress. Handlines, along Read More
Daily Postcard: Colorful Red-naped Sapsucker Spotted Friday In Upper Water Canyon
Daily Postcard: A colorful Red-naped Sapsucker was spotted on Friday morning in Upper Water Canyon. Red-naped Sapsuckers are often seen during the spring and fall. They drill holes in trees in very neatly spaced rows, leaving the holes to fill with sap and then return periodically to drink the sap that has oozed out. Source: PEEC Bird Guide https://peecnature.org/learn/nature-guides/bird-guide/. Photo by Marc Bailey Read More
New Mexico OKs Labeling Of PFAS In Consumer Products
NMED News:
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SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Environmental Improvement Board today approved landmark rules requiring manufacturers to label consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS — the ‘forever chemicals’ often linked to serious health conditions including certain types of cancer — giving shoppers the ability to identify products made with PFAS.
In addition, the rules implement state law, which phases out and prohibits the sale of certain products containing PFAS.
“Today marks a monumental day for New Mexico, putting Read More
State Invests $13.5M In Trails, Programs, Recreation Economy
Climbing, hiking and tent camping are among the fastest growing activities in New Mexico. Courtesy/EDD
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico will invest $13.5 million in trails, watersheds and outdoor access as part of the FY 27 state budget signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, boosting the state’s $3.6 billion outdoor recreation economy.
The Outdoor Recreation Division of the Economic Development Department (EDD) will receive $3.5 million toward its Outdoor Equity Fund, the nation’s first-of-its-kind grant program dedicated to connecting underserved youth with outdoor experiences. Read More
Daily Postcard: Tree Blooms Overnight In White Rock
Daily Postcard: A tree that bloomed overnight is viewed Sunday in Piñon Trails in White Rock. VaLynn Purvis
Another view of the tree that bloomed overnight is viewed Sunday in Piñon Trails in White Rock. VaLynn Purvis Read More
Nacimiento Wildfire Ignited Today In Cuba Ranger District
The Nacimiento Wildfire began burning this morning in the Cuba Ranger District. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE— Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) fire managers were notified of a new wildfire start, named the Nacimiento Wildfire, this morning, March 22. The wildfire is in the Cuba Ranger District, located south of the Nacimiento Mine and south of N.M. 126.
Fire crews are actively engaged in a direct extinguishment strategy on the 17-acre wildfire. Large Air Tankers (LAT) were ordered to drop retardant and slow forward progression. As hot and dry conditions persist, both forest service Read More
Los Alamos National Laboratory Continuously Monitors Air
Map of all LANL’s air-monitoring locations. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) routinely measures the composition of matter in the ambient atmosphere at the Lab and in the community.
LANL has 68 radiological air sampling locations that continuously monitor the air, making it among the most thoroughly monitored environments in the world.
Details
- 43 ambient air-monitoring stations;
- 25 monitored exhaust stacks from Lab facilities; and
- 8 meteorological towers.
During events such as wildfires, the Laboratory conducts extra sampling to perform specialized Read More