This gallery contains 25 photos.
As I was leaving Ruidoso heading NW I passed through the remains of the Little Bear Fire. One of the most destructive wildfires ever in New Mexico, it burned 44,000 acres and destroyed 254 structures, the most of any one fire in NM history. Originally sparked by lighting, the fire took a turn for the worse on […]
So I made the drive from Odessa, Texas to Ruidoso, NM. On the way I passed several landmarks of note regarding energy/environment in the Southwest. The first was the site of the new Waste Control Specialists’ plant that disposes of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) - the only commercial facility in the United States licensed to dispose of […]
Driving through Texas Hill Country in the center of the state I am always reminded of how pretty it is, especially when viewed from the enhanced comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle. The rolling hills outside of Austin tumble lower and lower giving way to a semi-arid steppe and widening sky. On either ends of Hill […]
Midland, Texas - hometown of George W. Bush and the hub of the current Permian Basin oil and gas boom. Since the mid-1980s, when a surge in energy prices fueled Midland’s growth, the area has struggled. But now with the increased use of fracking and other means of reaching unconventional oil and gas resources, the region […]
Summer in Austin is a hot, humid, sweaty affair that revolves around staying cool. Hence the legendary spot Barton Springs Pool holds in the hearts of many Austinites. The fourth larger spring in Texas, this man-made pool is fed by natural springs and stays relatively cool year round.
As I head towards West Texas and the greater Southwest, I’m sure there will be many an opportunity to reflect fondly on the prospect of a cool dip in the springs.
Side note: In the wake of the recent Fish and Wildlife Service decision not to place the dunes sagebrush lizard, found only in New Mexico and West Texas, on the endangered species list, salamanders in Central Texas are facing a rejuvenated push to keep them off the list as well.
Earlier this week U.S. Rep. John Carter, a Texas republican, said that
