Eco-Culture Research Gallery Presentation

NM Environmental Policy Initiatives Lecture, 12/4/08

Check out photos of the Expand your Ride Event.

A big thanks to Nichole for taking a few photos at are bike safety event last month. Hope you enjoy looking at them. http://s139.photobucket.com/albums/q302/ncarnevale/bikes/

Return of the Sandhill Cranes Celebration Weekend

WHAT: Return of the Cranes Celebration

WHEN: November 15th and 16th | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Open Space Visitor Center | 6500 Coors Blvd NW between Montaño and Paseo del Norte at the end of Bosque Meadows Rd.

FEE: Free

CONTACT: Jodi Hedderig | Parks & Recreation Dept., Open Space Division | 505-897-8831 | jhedderig@cabq.gov | www.cabq.gov/openspace. The Open Space Visitor Center prepares 24 acres of agricultural fields as wintering grounds for a variety of migratory birds including Sandhill cranes. The Rio Grande Valley area has been and continues to be the ancestral winter home of both the Sandhill crane (Grus Canadensis) and the Whooping crane (Grus Americana). On any given day, up to 400 cranes can be observed foraging for food in the fields while hawks, kestrels and eagles hunt for food from the sky. These animals are charming to watch as they posture and assert their dominance or as they play in courtship. They keep close tabs at an onlooker rarely at a distance closer than 40-50 feet so it is wise to bring binoculars. Join us on November 15th and 16th to celebrate their show-stopping and graceful presence with a variety of events designed to complement and celebrate the cranes’ arrival.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, 15th
10am: Local Naturalist will discuss the life history of cranes. Learn about their journey over miles and time.
1:30 pm & 3:00 pm: “Love in the Bosque”, the original musical play by Phil Bock. A story of love, jealousy and deception told by a family of Sandhill cranes with a supporting cast of coyote, duck and goose.
4:00 pm: Enjoy the beautiful sounds of flutist Bonnie Schmader on the back patio as the sun drops away from the day and the cranes prepare to return to the river for the evening. Bring a blanket and/or chairs and a cooler for a late day picnic on the lawn. Bring a blanket and enjoy our musical venue. Special extended hours for this event until 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 16th
9:00am: Guided bird walk into the Bosque.
11:00am: “Raptors of the Rio Grande Valley”, presentation and live birds from Hawks Aloft. 2:00pm: Renowned wildlife photographer, Jerry Goffe will show slides and discuss his experiences photographing Sandhill cranes and other wildlife. Bringing this appreciation for nature and love of animals closer to home, he is not only associated with Albuquerque Open Spaces, as well the Rio Grande Nature Center, but is a volunteer, guide and photo instructor at Bosque Del Apache, NWR. Jerry hones his skills photographing a wide variety of images under the clear blue New Mexico skies, plus leads photographic tours to Alaska and Costa Rica every year.

Mesa Del Sol: New Urbanism in Albuquerque

"Mesa Del Sol will be located just outside of downtown Albuquerque and is comprised of twenty square miles of land, 3,200 acres of which are said to remain as open space.' Albuquerque is famed for it's 300 days a year of sunshine, was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the best places for businesses and careers in the U.S., is just under a three hours drive from world class skiing in Taos, and is a short two hour flight from L.A.' Mesa Del Sol's New Urbanism approach means that virtually everything you need will be within walking distance -- stores, work, schools, homes, and parks etc.'

Mesa Del Sol's first completed building is LEED certified and occupied by a solar company.' Their site says that the community will embrace the idea of sustainability by conserving water, promoting walking instead of driving, promoting renewable energy use, and offering recycling
programs.'

The community is in the beginning stages and while no homes or lots are for sale yet, home prices are estimated to start at a reasonable $150,000 to upwards of $700,000.' Homes will be Energy Star certified.'

One feature I was surprised to see in the renderings was double-lane roads running down the middle of the community, something that I have not seen in many green communities.' Perhaps this is necessary due to the size of the community and it certainly gives off a more urban feel, but I think it distracts a bit from the walking theme of the community.' The other element that I prefer to see utilized by green urban communities is the re-use of previously developed land instead of development of a completely new tract of land.' But again, with the size of this project, that probably would not have been an option.'

Overall, there is a wealth of information to take in on Mesa Del Sol's site.' This is a truly impressive large-scale project.' It will be wonderful to watch this community emerge as homes,
businesses, and the town-centers begin to develop.' Visit Mesa Del Sol's site to learn much more about the community and to sign-up to be kept up to date with the project.

All renderings credit: Mesa Del Sol."

(Via jetson.green.)

Anouncement of Examination: Master's Exam/Project and Thesis Defense (Ryan Weiss)

School of Architecture and Planning

Community and Regional Planning and Water Resources

Title: Fluvial Geomorphic Response to In-Stream Structures: the Effects
of Design, Planning and Restoration of the Comanche Creek Catchment,
New Mexico, USA.

Date: November 12, 2008

Time: 11:00 AM

Location: SAAP, RM. 327

Committee Chair: Dr. William Fleming

Committee Members: Dr. David Henkel, Jr., Abraham Franklin


Abstract:
Anthropogenic impacts to the Comanche Creek catchment of northern New
Mexico have resulted in impaired water quality and aquatic habitat for
Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Federal and state policies promulgating
collaborative, multi-stakeholder watershed-based restoration endeavors
have driven the implementation of in-stream, riparian and upland
treatments in the catchment. This research addresses restoration
endeavors through a review of stream channel and watershed planning,
policy and restoration. Drawing upon case studies from current
literature, policies driving watershed restoration and the use of
in-stream structures to improve aquatic habitat and water quality were
reviewed. A stream hydrograph was extrapolated utilizing streamflow
evaluations from a hydrologically similar gaged catchment. Analysis of
fluvial geomorphic trends was completed through field observations and
channel geometry surveys of cross-section, longitudinal profile and
substrate throughout reaches impacted by in-stream structures. Trends
in fluvial form and processes at discrete locations indicate response
to present flow and sediment regimes. Downstream trends in channel
geometry suggest overall disequilibrium within the catchment. Data does
not reveal whether goals and objectives of in-stream structures and
overall catchment restoration endeavors have been achieved. Monitoring
over multiple spatial and temporal scales and a post-project appraisal
are recommended for objective determination of success or failure of
restoration endeavors. Critical data analysis and reporting to funding
agencies by both restoration practitioners and scientists is proposed
for policy review and development at federal and state levels to
further refine collaborative watershed-based restoration endeavors.

Announcement of Master's Project Defense of Ruji Rajbhandari

School of Architecture and Planning

Community and Regional Planning Program

Title: Monitoring Water Quality and Riparian Health in the Rio la Casa
Forest Restoration Project,Mora County, New Mexico

Date: November 4, 2008

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: George Pearl Hall RM. P130

Committee Chair: Prof. William Fleming

Committee Members: Prof. Jose Rivera, Andrew Erdmann


Abstract:
Fire suppression for many years has been created smaller trees and
denser forests. These conditions act as fire fuels as well as
decreasing the health of the forest. Increased density not only
affects the health of forest but also has an impact on communities due
to fire hazards. In response to these concerns, a mechanical fuel
reduction project is being implemented in the Walker Flats areas in
Mora County.The project is a Collaborative Forest Restoration Program
funded by the U.S. Forest Service. This program involves many
different stakeholders including the United States Forest Service, the
Santa Fe National Forest, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico
State University, New Mexico Highlands University, La Jicarita
Enterprise Community (as contractor) and other state, local,
non-profit and educational agencies. The goal of this study is to
monitor changes in watershed health, riparian health and water quality
in response to forest thinning in Walker Flats area.

Local Food Rebuilds Small Town (And Inner-City) America

"La Finquita Community Garden via Nuestras Raíces

Our uncertain times, both economic and environmental, have businesses, individuals and all levels of government scrambling for a positive way forward. On one end of the solution spectrum is the short-sighted U.S. financial bailout. On the other end are thousands of far-sighted individuals, community groups, neighborhoods, and towns, planting, growing, preserving, cooking, and eating food grown in their own (literal and figurative) backyard..."

(Via TreeHugger.)

Wetland Restoration: The Best Alternative to Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technologies?

Image from doortoriver

"While widespread wetland destruction could unleash the mother of all 'carbon bombs,' scientists are discovering that the restoration of these vulnerable ecosystems could provide a valuable bulwark to climate change by creating a worldwide network of potent carbon sinks. A $12.3 million research project to capture and store carbon by growing tules and cattails in wetlands launched by the U.S. Geological Survey this..."

(Via TreeHugger.)

Minnesota Piloting "Productive Conservation on Working Lands"

"Wise people in the US State of Minnesota are working on an program for rural landowners and/or farmers who would like a way to maintain bio-diversity without fully 'idling' present, or prospective, cropland. It's called the Productive Conservation on Working Lands or 'PCWL' program. Instead being stuck with the binary choice of using wet or erodible acres to feed the ethanol beast, versus a 5-year contract to keep land in 'conservation reserve' (currently the only taxpayer supported program for protecting nesting game birds and other wildlife), farmers can 'kill two birds..." (More Via TreeHugger.)

New Mexico Forestry and Climate Change Workshop

New Mexico Forestry and Climate Change Workshop

New Mexico Forestry and Climate Change Workshop
November 20, 2008, 8:15 am—5:00 pm
Albuquerque Grand Hotel
Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Online registration form.
• Student scholarships available. Click here to apply on line.
• Workshop agenda.
  
• Staying overnight? Click here for info about group hotel room rates.
  

Workshop Goal

The goal of the workshop is to provide foresters and other natural resource professionals with information about climate change's projected impacts on New Mexico's forests to incorporate into their management decision making. Forest managers, researchers, landowners, students, activists, and the general public are encouraged to attend.

Working Group Approach

We’ve organized four working groups, each comprised of researchers and forest managers focusing on one of New Mexico’s dominant forest types (bosque, piñon-juniper, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer/aspen). Leading up to the workshop, each working group will develop a 45-50 minute presentation about the projected impacts of climate change on their assigned forest type, including practical on-the-ground knowledge and management considerations for use by resource managers. The presentations will occur sequentially, with each followed by 30 minutes for open discussion, so all workshop attendees can participate in all sessions. The workshop will also include a plenary overview session about climate change and New Mexico's forests.

Workshop Registration

Registration for the daylong event will cost $40 before October 15 ($45 after October 15) and includes a luncheon with a guest speaker(s), morning and afternoon coffee breaks/refreshments, and a conference packet. Click here to register.

For more information about this workshop, please contact:

Howard Gross
The Forest Guild
505-983-8992, x42
howard@forestguild.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ken Smith
New Mexico Forestry & Watershed Restoration Institute, NM Highlands University
505-426-2081
kensmith@nmhu.eduThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Funding for the New Mexico Forestry and Climate Change Workshop is provided by the Biophilia Foundation, Thaw Charitable Trust, New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute, US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service Region 3, the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office, and Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation.

Writing Across Communities

Fellow students,

We invite all UNM graduate and undergraduate students to attend our
first meeting of the semester and to consider joining the Writing
Across Communities Alliance!

When: Wednesday, 9/17 at 11:00 am
Where: Higher Grounds

Who we are: WAC is a multidisciplinary organization which seeks to
promote writing as a mode of thinking, learning, and teaching across
the disciplines and among communities outside of the university. We are
currently getting ready to host the 2008 Civil Rights Symposium, and
every semester WAC holds tutoring workshops for student writers. We are
also always looking for new ways to promote writing across communities.
Some ideas for future projects include fostering collaboration between
speakers of English as a second language and native speakers, outreach
to communities outside of the university, and building relationships
among academic departments across UNM. We encourage creativity and
ideas of all sorts!

If you are interested in joining WAC but can’t make this meeting,
please email me off list at ivesle@unm.edu with your availability, and
we will adjust meeting times to best fit the schedules of everyone
interested.

Look forward to seeing you then!
Lindsey Ives and Katie Denton, WAC Alliance

The 1st Annual Urban Farm and Harvest Festival

September 27th, 2008, 2pm – 7pm at the Open Space Visitor Center

Did you know that in addition to other important public lands such as the Sandia Foothills Open Space, the Petroglyph National Monument and the Rio Grande Valley State Park, the City of Albuquerque Open Space Division preserves over 366 acres of farmland within the Albuquerque area?

“Since the purchase of the Candelaria Farm Preserve in 1977, the City’s Open Space Division has proven to be one of the key local agencies involved in the protection of agricultural lands in Albuquerque,” says Mayor Martin Chavez. “Our achievements in farm preservation provide another example of why we have one of the most celebrated Open Space programs in the nation.”

WHAT: A Celebration of Open Space, urban agriculture, local food, and community with music, fun, workshops, and more!

WHEN: National Public Lands Day, September 27th, 2008, 2pm – 7pm

WHERE: Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors Blvd NW. The Visitor Center is located east of Coors at the end of Bosque Meadows Rd, which is between Montano and Paseo del Norte.

COST: FREE

See below for more details!

Open Space is proud to be a part of Albuquerque’s agricultural heritage, and this year we’re celebrating with a unique event for the whole family. For the inaugural year of this event, we’ve joined forces with local farmers, local businesses, and conservation organizations to bring attention to the importance of preserving our agricultural heritage. During this event you can:

• Visit with local farmers
• Participate in free workshops
• Talk to local organizations working to preserve agriculture
• Learn more about Albuquerque’s Open Space program at our beautiful Visitor Center
• View birds and wildlife at the Visitor Center’s 24 acre farm and wildlife preserve

ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES including live music, arts and crafts for the kids, face painting and henna art by Have on Art, food demonstrations, apple harvesting, an apple cider press, and more!

MUSIC!

Enjoy the following performers on the grassy lawn overlooking our 24 acre working farm/wildlife preserve:

• 2:30 – 3:30 pm: Big Daddy Long Loin/Recycle Man ("One Man Big Band")
• 3:45 – 4:45 pm: Aztec Dancers (drumming and dance)
• 5:00 – 6:00 pm: The Rivet Gang (Bluegrass)
• 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Antares (Jazz and Blues)

Workshops and Demonstrations:

Throughout the day you can participate in free workshops including a composting demo, wild plant harvesting, water harvesting, and more!

For more information about the event, call 452-5216, or see www.cabq.gov/openspace.

Email: kswanson@cabq.gov

Formatting Your Thesis/Dissertation Manuscript Workshop

This is the link to register for the following workshops: http://www.career.unm.edu/students/graduate_workshoplisting.php

If you are graduating with Master?s-Plan I-Thesis,MFA Dissertation,or PhD Dissertation for the FALL 2008 or Spring 2009 terms, the Office of Graduate Studies in collaboration with the University Libraries is implementing the ETD (electronic theses/dissertations) program. During implementation, students have the option to submit their thesis manuscript either by paper manuscript procedure or by electronic (ETD) submission procedure. The University of New Mexico will have ONLY Electronic Dissertations starting the Summer 2009 term which will be implemented into the academic year 2009-2010 UNM Catalog.

Formatting Your Thesis/Dissertation Manuscript

1st Workshop: September 23,2008,Tuesday
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Lobo A/B, Student Union Building (SUB),Third Floor

2nd Workshop: October 1, 2008,Wednesday
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Lobo A/B, Student Union Building (SUB),Third Floor

This workshop will prepare the graduate student to format a thesis or dissertation manuscript by understanding the elements of the Front Matter and incorporating the body of the research into a printed unbound manuscript. Also, instructions for the additional forms and fees will be discussed, which are necessary for the final approval process with the Office of Graduate Studies to meet the Zimmerman Library bindery standards. Please note: Pre-register students are guaranteed a slot.
If the workshop is full ,walk-in participants will be accommodated as space allows.

Presented by: Doug Weintraub, Graduate Programs Coordinator, Office of Graduate Studies.

Please, email Doug Weintraub, Graduate Programs Coordinator-OGS, at dwein@unm.edu if further questions are necessary.

New Mexico EGB annual Scholarships

The New Mexico Emerging Green Builders (EGB) annual scholarships to attend the US Green Building Council’s Greenbuild Conference are available now!

Apply today for your chance to go to Boston November 19-21 http://www.greenbuildexpo.org/.

These scholarships provide a unique learning opportunity for individuals that are interested in sustainable design and development and would like to take an active role in the EGB.

The application deadline is September 7, 2008.

To apply:
Become a student member of the NM USGBC Chapter http://www.usgbcnm.org/,
Provide a copy of your current schedule or proof of graduation within the past 5 years,
Fill out the attached electronic application,
Tell us why you would like to attend Greenbuild and how you intend to contribute to sustainable design and development
Commit to future involvement in the EGB and to presenting a luncheon program on Greenbuild as well as a short article on the conference (see application for details).

Return the application and required information to emurph_1999@yahoo.com with EGB Scholarship in the subject line.

Feminist Research Institute Reception

The Feminist Research Institute invites you to its Fall reception:

Friday, September 12.
5-7 p.m.
UNM Masley Art Gallery

Please join the Feminist Research Institute for appetizers and conversation at the opening of Through Feminist Eyes, a juried art exhibition. All faculty and graduate students who are interested in feminist research, women's issues, and/or the study of gender and sexuality are welcome to attend. This will be an opportunity to greet new faculty as well as familiar colleagues and to contribute your ideas for events and programs in the upcoming year.

The exhibition, co-sponsored by FRI, was juried by Judy Chicago and Meinrad Craighead, who selected 23 works by 12 artists from over 30 submissions. The artists, comprised of faculty, staff, and students at the University of New Mexico main and branch campuses, are Krista Cibis, Victoria DeBlassie, Sarah Hartford, Julianne Harvey, Topher House, Mara Pierce, Jill Rounds, Julia Sapir, Nina Stephenson, Jean Stevens, Jennifer D. Van Horn, and John Zimmerman. The exhibition runs from Sept. 12 - Oct. 3.

Please RSVP to femresin@unm.edu or 277-1198 by Friday, Sept. 5. Also, please feel free to share this information with colleagues who may be interested in attending. We look forward to seeing you there!

Feminist Research Institute
University of New Mexico
(505)277-1198
femresin@unm.edu

Call for Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS
47th International Making Cities Livable Conference on
True Urbanism: Cities for Health & Well-Being
Portland, OR, May 10 – 14, 2009
Co-sponsored by The City of Portland & Portland Metro Planning Council

Proposals should be prepared for blind peer review. State title of p aper, name of author, affiliation, full contact information on cover email. Attach Word file with abstract (200 – 250 words).
Please send to: Suzanne.Lennard@LivableCities.org

Deadline for submission: October 15th, 2008
For more information, see www.LivableCities.org
An international conference for city officials, practitioners and scholars in planning, urban design, transportation planning, architecture, landscape architecture, health policy and social sciences from many parts of the world to share ideas, and establish working relationships.
Paper topics include:
Urban Design & planning for physical & social health ** Planning pedestrian & bike networks ** Active living & the walkable, bikeable city ** New achievements in urban transit ** Transit oriented development ** Land use principles for the healthy city ** Beautiful cities & well-being ** Psychological effects of the built environment ** Urban housing to integrate diversity ** Mixed-use urban fabric & infill ** Urban villages/Suburban towns ** Redesigning suburban malls as village/town centers ** Designing town squares for social life & civic engagement ** Teaching health & planning ** Achieving LEED Gold ** LEED Neighborhood Development ** Community participation in architecture and urban design ** Regional planning for sustainability ** Traditional urban planning ** Historical models ** What can we learn from Europe?

CRP GSA Graduate Research Symposium

Check back soon for a list of presenters and schedule!!

24 Hour Vigil for Health and Wholeness

24 Hour Vigil for Health and Wholeness
noon to noon
begins on Monday, April 14th ends on Tuesday April 15th 2008
@ Los Alamos National Laboratory

In terms of your health and wholeness—including water, earth, air, people, plants and creatures—how does the profession of nuclear work impact your community’s spiritual, physical and cultural life? Why Pray on These Days? New Mexico and her people face new assaults from uranium mining, the nuclear fuel chain, and the plans for more robust weapons of mass destruction. This is the place to participate in spiritual healing, prayers and wisdom-seeking around this concern. These days are the time when tax payments are due to the IRS, who lets the US congress use the funds for more war and more nuclear weapons. Sponsored by Trinity Nuclear Abolitionists For information, transportation ideas, etc. please call: 505-242 0497

The longest walk fundraiser