Category Archives: lakes

Backyard birds: Comparing central New Mexico with northwest Lower Michigan

Moving across the country offers a unique opportunity to witness a diverse range of songbirds in one’s backyard. The amount of variation between the two ecosystems is substantial. While central New Mexico near Albuquerque is located at the northern edge … Continue reading

Posted in Animal rights, Animals, art, climate, deserts, diversity, ecosystems, education, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Great Lakes, lakes, land use, mountains, natural history, nature, pictures, rivers/watersheds, Science, songs, States, topography, tourism, Travel, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An out-of-this-world visit to the Very Large Array (VLA)

This past Thursday afternoon several of us had an exciting opportunity to visit the Very Large Array (VLA) in west-central New Mexico. Anyone who has watched the 1997 movie Contact starring Jodie Foster should be familiar with the VLA. More … Continue reading

Posted in aerospace, architecture, Astronomy, Communications, deserts, education, engineering, film, fun, geography, infrastructure, lakes, land use, Maps, mountains, movies, Outer Space, pictures, planning, product design, Science, Skies, spatial design, Statistics, technology, tourism, Travel, video, Wilderness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Mexico’s protected wildlife areas along the Rio Grande

As one of the corridors making up the Central Flyway, the Rio Grande Valley through New Mexico is host to a vast array of migrant birds flying seasonally through the state to breeding grounds further north or wintering areas both … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Animals, archaeology, civics, climate, culture, deserts, ecosystems, environment, geography, Geology, history, lakes, land use, Maps, mountains, natural history, nature, pictures, place names, placemaking, planning, recreation, rivers/watersheds, Science, Statistics, sustainability, topography, tourism, trails, Travel, urban planning, water, water conservation, water trails, Wilderness, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A single sidewalk can make a huge difference

It’s not often when one can witness the palpable difference infrastructure can make on the micro level. However, a small summer cottage beach neighborhood on Lake Wawasee, Indiana presents just such an opportunity. Here, the Natti Crow Beach neighborhood installed … Continue reading

Posted in Active transportation, Advocacy, art, bicycling, Biking, civics, Communications, culture, entertainment, family, fun, health, hiking, history, humanity, inclusiveness, infrastructure, lakes, land use, pictures, placemaking, planning, product design, recreation, spatial design, third places, transportation, urban planning, walking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Oklahoma’s impressive and surreal Great Salt Plains

Most everyone has heard of the Great Salt Lake and the accompanying Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Meanwhile, the Sooner State of Oklahoma has its own impressive salty ecosystem named the Great Salt Plains located in the north-central part of … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, archaeology, art, climate, culture, deserts, ecosystems, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, Geology, history, lakes, Maps, natural history, nature, North America, pictures, recreation, rivers/watersheds, Science, States, topography, tourism, Travel, water | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No desalination required – saving the Great Salt Lake

“Given the potential environmental, health, social, and political consequences of doing nothing or not doing enough, it seems to this retired planner that the truck and train tanker option in conjunction with strong water conservation measures should be employed at least as a stopgap measure until long-term solutions can be established.” Continue reading

Posted in Animals, cities, climate, climate change, deserts, ecosystems, education, environment, geography, Geology, health, history, humanity, infrastructure, lakes, land use, Maps, natural history, nature, pictures, planning, politics, pollution, rail, Railroads, recreation, rivers/watersheds, Science, shipping, spatial design, sprawl, States, Statistics, sustainability, technology, topography, tourism, Trade, transportation, Travel, urban planning, water, weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment