Lake levels rising across central eastern NM
Last updated 7/10/2021 at 3:20pm
Lakes in central eastern New Mexico have been looking less thirsty as the region has enjoyed a reawakening of the monsoon season.
The level rise at Conchas Lake, about 30 miles west of Tucumcari, was just short of a foot from June 30 to Wednesday, according to information from the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks water depth and lake volume daily.
The new water in Conchas was enough to reopen some boat ramps that had been shut down this summer because of low water level, according to Toby Velasquez, deputy director of New Mexico State Parks.
Amarillo hits the road: Officials prepare for potential increase in summer travel
In the summer of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was relatively new at that point, increasing the precautions of individuals to travel and explore outside their own community.
However, as more and more individuals are vaccinated, and as cases decrease, the summer of 2021 is expected to be full of individuals traveling and exploring, as they did prior to the pandemic.
This bump in travel and tourism is what entities like the Amarillo Convention and Visitors’ Bureau are expecting, stressing the “wide open spaces” of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle.
Hope Stokes, the director of marketing for the bureau, said what they are seeing is individuals being interested in cities that are large enough where there are things to do, but small enough to where they can be spread out and not be as close to others, as safety precautions against COVID-19 are still encouraged.
Lake Hefner is a popular spot to get outdoors, but something lurking in the water could make you sick. If you re on the shoreline and you see the algae that looks like pea-green soup, it s bluish-green kind of color, it may have an oily sheen on top of it, that s going to identify the blue-green algae to you, said Leigh Ann Kitsmiller, laboratory manager for the City of Oklahoma City.Blue-green algae have been identified on the southwest side of the lake. Kitsmiller told KOCO 5 the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality was notified immediately and the area was treated. They treated the southeastern, southwestern side of Lake Hefner on Monday, she said. In this particular case, Kitsmiller said the blue-green algae bloomed because of rainfall and nutrients from the Canadian River that flows into the lake. Lake Hefner is one of Oklahoma City s seven drinking water reservoirs, but officials said the water is OK to drink. By the time it goes through the treatment process, th
By: Mike Glover
HARRAH, Oklahoma -
It had become pretty common to see bald eagles near OG&E’s Horseshoe Lake power plant in Harrah. In fact, the company has worked with Sutton Avian Research Center’s bald eagle team to observe the birds.
But then COVID hit and visitations to the property were suspended. So, in addition to his responsibilities as a senior envirochemist with OG&E, Jason Childress gained the title of “bald eagle observer.”
Childress would essentially become an extension of the survey team. He would stay in constant communication with the team sending them video and pictures of the birds.
Yesterday was one of those days where I found myself with an itch to roam the Panhandle. And as it turned out, with fortune in my favor and my trusty digital editor at my side, I ended up in Borger, Texas. The purpose of the trip was simple: get photographs of the famed Borger Hotel.
Michael J. Rivera/TSM
As I am someone who enjoys tales of what once was and photographing what now is, the Borger Hotel building fascinated me. However, I ll save that for another day.
Why? Well, because instead of walking across downtown towards the Borger Hotel, myself and our digital editor, Sarah, ended up walking right into Borger s 95th anniversary celebration. We couldn t believe the dumb luck of our timing. What a treat.