Hello Flagstaff! I do hope you’re all enjoying this lovely autumn as we gear up for the holiday season. As I write this, it is another clear warm day, and I’m trying to remember the last time we had any rain. It’s been a while. I have been following the news of the California wildfires closely. Forty-two are dead, ranging in ages from 14 to 100. Almost 9,000 homes were burned. The economic impact will be in the billions. The effects won’t only be felt in the wine industry. Tourism and … [Read more...] about Addressing Climate Change Locally
climate change
Local Officials Urging Action on Climate Change
In a press conference hosted by Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, speakers sent a public message to U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), asking him to join U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for legislation on environmental warming. Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans told Flagstaff Business News before the press conference, “Northern Arizona should be a leader in climate change. We all should be concerned about climate change.” The mayor added that one of the Flagstaff City Council’s goals is to take … [Read more...] about Local Officials Urging Action on Climate Change
Boosting Biocrust
Most of us look at the ground and notice dirt, but soil scientists see a whole micro world of organisms that make up what they refer to as “Earth’s living skin.” “We call that very thin layer on the surface of the soil ‘biological crust,’ or ‘biocrust’ for short,” explained Northern Arizona University School of Forestry Assistant Professor Matt Bowker, Ph.D. “It’s held together by living organisms, mostly cyanobacteria and fungi, that weave through the soil. They make a platform that other … [Read more...] about Boosting Biocrust
Preparing for Wildfire Season
Last year, after experiencing one of the snowiest winters on record, we experienced three serious wildfires in our area. The first, Eagle Rock, burned north of Parks for several days in mid-June, eventually burning over 3,000 acres and requiring the commitment of hundreds of firefighters to suppress. Then, even as this fire continued, the Hardy Fire broke out here in town, consuming nearly 300 acres right at the back door, literally, of Little America. Despite forcing the evacuation of many … [Read more...] about Preparing for Wildfire Season
