most recent week - Oct 1, 2014 6:00 PM – Oct 8, 2014 5:00 PM
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Hello Ukraine
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Rocky Mountian Forests at Risk
I came across this report that seems worth passing along. Something to think about while we wait for the Rio Grande National Forest to come out with their overdue Environmental Assessment of the Red McComb's Alberta Park land swap proposal.
This seems a fitting reminder that we are living in the 2010s and our natural and business world is rapidly changing before our eyes - beware of 1980s speculative pipe dreams - their time has passed into yesteryear. The future needs as much of the Rio Grande River watershed and riparian system protected as possible.
Red McComb's plan only promises destruction of that all important high mountain watershed and biologically productive wetlands with unavoidable damaging consequences to all down stream users of the interstate, international Rio Grande River.
Rocky Mountain Forests
at Risk
http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/09/Rocky-Mountain-Forests-at-Risk-Full-Report.pdf
Confronting Climate-driven Impacts from Insects, Wildfires, Heat, and Drought
Americans revere the Rocky Mountains for their aesthetic, environmental, and economic value. The Rockies are home to some of the crown jewels of the national park system, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
This report documents the latest evidence on how climate change is already disrupting the forests of the Rocky Mountain region and what scientists project for the decades ahead, and suggests how we can best meet these challenges.
Lead authors
Jason Funk Stephen Saunders
Contributors
Todd Sanford Tom Easley Adam Markham
September 2014
http://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2014/09/Rocky-Mountain-Forests-at-Risk-Full-Report.pdf
Confronting Climate-driven Impacts from Insects, Wildfires, Heat, and Drought
Americans revere the Rocky Mountains for their aesthetic, environmental, and economic value. The Rockies are home to some of the crown jewels of the national park system, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks.
These parks alone receive 11 million visitors each year and generate more than $1 billion annually in visitor spending. Another 60 million people visit the region’s 37 national forests each year.
Today, however, the forests of the Rocky Mountains are facing a triple assault: tree-killing insects, wildfires, and heat and drought. If allowed to continue unchecked, these stresses and their impacts could fundamentally alter these forests as we know them.
Human-caused global warming is driving these detri- mental effects by bringing hotter and drier conditions, which not only cause their own effects but amplify those of other stresses. An exceptionally hot and dry stretch from 1999 to 2003 produced unusually severe impacts on the region’s forests. If these trends continue, even hotter and drier con- ditions could become commonplace, leading to even greater effects on Rocky Mountain forests.
Today, however, the forests of the Rocky Mountains are facing a triple assault: tree-killing insects, wildfires, and heat and drought. If allowed to continue unchecked, these stresses and their impacts could fundamentally alter these forests as we know them.
Human-caused global warming is driving these detri- mental effects by bringing hotter and drier conditions, which not only cause their own effects but amplify those of other stresses. An exceptionally hot and dry stretch from 1999 to 2003 produced unusually severe impacts on the region’s forests. If these trends continue, even hotter and drier con- ditions could become commonplace, leading to even greater effects on Rocky Mountain forests.
Lead authors
Jason Funk Stephen Saunders
Contributors
Todd Sanford Tom Easley Adam Markham
September 2014
[ contents ]
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iv Figures, Tables, and Boxes
-
v Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
5 A Cherished Landscape at Risk
Chapter 2
9 Increases in Tree-Killing Insects
Chapter 3
13 Increases in Wildfires
Chapter 4
19 Impacts of Heat and Dryness on Forests
Chapter 5
24 Effects on Iconic Tree Species of the Rocky Mountains
Chapter 6
38 Present and Future Climate Change in the Rocky Mountains
Chapter 7
44 What We Can Do
47 References
Monday, July 28, 2014
Paul Bauer, "The Rio Grande - A Guide To The River's Geology"
A little something about the Rio Grande River,
with appreciation to http://JourneySantaFe.com.
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Paul Bauer, "The Rio Grande - A Guide To The River's Geology" (2/10/2013)
Published on Feb 10, 2013 by OccupyNewMexico
Presented at Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe, NM
as part of the Journey Santa Fe weekly lecture series -- http://journeysantafe.com
Paul Bauer is a principal geologist and associate director at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources at New Mexico Tech. He received a Ph.D. in geology from New Mexico Tech in 1988. He served as manager of the state's Geologic Mapping Program for 12 years, and was coordinator for the New Mexico Decision-Makers Field Conferences for 10 years, a program designed to bridge the gap between earth scientists and policy makers in New Mexico.
Since his first Taos Box rafting trip in 1980, he has spent much of the last 30 years investigating the geology and hydrogeology of north-central New Mexico. He has led many field trips to the area, including educational whitewater rafting tours. His current research is focused on using geologic field studies to describe the evolution of the mountains and basins of northern New Mexico, and the hydrogeologic conditions of the Upper Rio Grande region.
He has co-authored a series of geologic quadrangle maps of Taos County, has written a wide variety of books and articles on the geology of the region, and in 2007 completed a study of the springs of the Rio Grande gorge.
In 2011, he combined an enthusiasm for whitewater adventures with an interest in earth science education by publishing the award-winning book The Rio Grande: A River Guide to the Geology and Landscapes of Northern New Mexico.
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Monday, May 26, 2014
Climate Change and the Forests of the West (Keeling Lecture)
The Keeling Lecture
Climate Change and the Forests of the West
UCTV - Perspectives on Ocean Science
Uploaded on Jun 10, 2010
Dr. Steve Running, a Regents Professor in the College of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Montana, discusses the paradox of why forests in the West are growing faster while simultaneously suffering from higher die-off rates.
Running was the IPCC lead author on a 2007 WG1 report analyzing North America's contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide and its impacts on the global climate.
Series: "Perspectives on Ocean Science" [6/2010] [Science] [Show ID: 18197]
Running was the IPCC lead author on a 2007 WG1 report analyzing North America's contribution to atmospheric carbon dioxide and its impacts on the global climate.
Series: "Perspectives on Ocean Science" [6/2010] [Science] [Show ID: 18197]
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introduction to the "Keeling Curve" and CO2 observations…
and how that ties into understanding global growth patterns
introduction to the "Keeling Curve" and CO2 observations…
and how that ties into understanding global growth patterns
28:30 Great satellite view of ten years worth of the whole Earth's seasons unfurling.
32:20 two week longer growing season in Northern US
33:50 April snow pack (snow water equivalent) 1950 - 2000
33:50 April snow pack (snow water equivalent) 1950 - 2000
34:30 Tim Barnett, et al. 2008 paper, Western States spring snowpack 1950 - 2006
(Montana March temps are up 7°F )
38:00 Wild fire - Westerling, et al. 2006 - fire season 78 days longer - increased fires above 6500ft
43:00 Bark Beetles and warming winters
45:30 Montana absolute low temps have warmed 15°F in past 15 years!
48:40 Raffa, et al. - bark beetle study
49:00 Van Mantgem, et al 2009 - Background mortality rates Western forests
51:00 Stability of natural carbon sinks?
… Carbon Monitoring
53:30 Planetary Boundaries
55:00 A thank you to David Keeling.
Blast from the past: The Village at Wolf Creek, It’s A Scandal
I stumbled acrose this today and reread it and feel OK about what I was trying to get across. Parts of it are dated so I won't drag it up to the top of the pile, but I will link to it. And yes, the original swap did turn out to be plenty up and up... still McComb's changing his intentions and sneaking in that Village monstrosity, none of that was right - and soured the entire deal.
And this thing should have been settled long ago in favor of Alberta Park being left alone to continue functioning as the invaluable productive biological national resource that it is.
Leave it as it is! A productive habitat, wetlands, fens, storage and filter to source waters of the international Rio Grande River.
Why not McCombs enterprises?
Monday, May 12, 2014
Colorado Fracking Site Flooding September 2013, etc.
This is slightly off topic, except for sane land use/appreciation/protection aspect and it's another Colorado issue.
I'm embarrassed it took me so long to notice the video.
Fracking Ground Zero Tour - Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfNPVdi8VGU
I'm embarrassed it took me so long to notice the video.
Published on Sep 17, 2013
Follow ClimateState on facebook for climate research https://www.facebook.com/ClimateState
Historic flooding across large portions of Central and Eastern Colorado has caused an unprecedented amount of damage. Along with the rise in water levels came elevated concern over the tens of thousands of frack wells that scar the region's landscape. In one of the hardest hit areas, Weld County, there are over 20,000 frack wells alone.
To check out a video of Marcellus Shale Earth First blockading an active hydraulic fracturing drill site click here: http://vimeo.com/rewilding/msef-block...
Colorado Floodwaters Cover Fracking And Oil Projects: 'We Have No Idea What Those Wells Are Leaking' http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013...
Colorado flooding forces thousands more evacuations
"Biblical" rains trigger flooding that kills 3 in Colo.
PHOTOS: The Deadly Toll Of Colorado's 'Biblical' Flood, So Far
Two Major Storms Lash Mexico - 41 Dead Amid "Historic" Floods
Thousands ordered to evacuate as typhoon lashes nation
Anti-copyright: you can use any part of this in any way that you'd like. http://vimeo.com/7468356
2
2
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfNPVdi8VGU
Published on Jan 22, 2013
The frenzy to power continued economic and population growth means drilling and fracking for oil and gas is no longer "out of sight, out of mind." Energy companies want to drill in urban areas of Colorado. Citizens from these communities took the "Bring Your Own Gas Mask" tour of a rural area in Garfield County - to see what life in the oil patch will be like.
In part two, local resident and oilfield veteran Rick Roles shares his tragic experiences. Be sure to also see part one, in which resident Thomas Thompson welcomes the visitors and shares his nightmares. To follow this issue, "like" this facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/frackbusters
In part two, local resident and oilfield veteran Rick Roles shares his tragic experiences. Be sure to also see part one, in which resident Thomas Thompson welcomes the visitors and shares his nightmares. To follow this issue, "like" this facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/frackbusters
Monday, March 31, 2014
Village at Wolf Creek EIS release update 3/31/2014
After the Durango Herald's article and considering March has come and gone, I contacted Mike Blakeman, Public Affairs Specialist for the Rio Grande National Forest to ask him about the Village At Wolf Creek Landswap Environmental Impact Statement and received the following reply.
Thank you for the information Mr. Blakeman.
Hi Peter,
When it comes to the VWC land exchange EIS, everything takes longer than you expect. As you know, many people have been expecting the RGNF to release the VWC FEIS and ROD for a while now. After a thorough review of the EIS, Dan (Dan Dallas - Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor) has determined that additional analysis is needed before he can make an informed decision.
In particular, Dan asked the team to expand their review associated with developments that are accessed next to ski areas on public lands. We don’t currently have a timeline, but we hope to have the work completed by early summer.
As a reminder, Dan stated early on when the EIS was first initiated that the process would take as long as is needed in order to complete a thorough analysis on which he could base his decision. NEPA requires Dan to take a “hard look” at all aspects of the environmental and social issues associated with the proposed project.
He asked for a more in-depth look and further analysis upon review of the draft EIS documentation prior to making a final decision.
Hope that helps.
Mike Blakeman
Public Affairs SpecialistIndeed it does.
Thank you for the information Mr. Blakeman.
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