Snowfall up this year

    New Mexico is enjoying above-average snowpack across most of the state. Currently, the state's snowpack ranges from 82 to 269 percent of normal. The NRCS Snow Survey is the federal program that measures snow and provides streamflow forecasts across the West.

The agency plans to release updated information on snowpack levels and summer streamflow forecasts in the February Basin Outlook Report, available online at the website: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/bor.pl

In addition to skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers looking for fresh powder for their weekend activities, water managers across the state keep an eye on snow levels as well.

“Approximately 60 percent of our New Mexico water supply comes from snowmelt,” said NRCS Hydrologic Technician Wayne Sleep. “Because of this, local communities, reservoir managers, irrigators, and many others pay close attention to our winter snowpack.”

    In addition to measuring snow depth and measuring weather and climate at more than 50 remote, high-elevation sites in New Mexico, NRCS measures the water content in the snowpack.

As of Feb. 2, snowpack in the Mimbres River Basin contained 246 percent of the average water content for this time of year. In contrast, the Mimbres measured at 51 percent of average water content this time last year.

    “The ongoing snowfall and weather in February and March will be important factors affecting water supplies for the remainder of the year,” said Sleep.

 

Shingles vaccine ready for elderly

    The New Mexico Department of Health is working with the New Mexico Pharmacy Association to provide free Shingles vaccine to adults 60 and older who are uninsured, underinsured or cannot afford to pay the co-pay for the vaccine. The department is paying for the 5,670 doses of Zoster through one-time federal stimulus funds awarded to the department's Immunization Program.

    Vaccine will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until all the limited supply is gone. The vaccine is currently available at the following locations (other locations may be available at a later date). Some clinics have open times to receive the vaccine and others have a specific day scheduled. For a complete listing of times, look up http://www.immunizenm.org/Public/shingle_vaccine.shtml.

The department recommends one lifetime dose of Zoster vaccine for all people age 60 and older. Shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash due to acute infection with the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.

     The department received $1.36 million in federal stimulus money to buy vaccines and to fund operational expenses for the following one-time pilot projects: coordinating K-12 school flu vaccination clinics and shingles clinics for older adults, administering tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine to new parents to protect their newborns, and increasing the immunization registry's capability and capacity for pandemic flu response and tracking.

    The department's immunization budget for this fiscal year is $10 million in state and federal funds. The federal government also allocates $32 million for New Mexico to buy children's vaccine each year.

 

Family center gets youth money

    Governor  Bill Richardson and Jon Goldstein, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico  Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department announced today that the Youth Conservation Corps awarded 32 grants to programs throughout the state  in the amount of $3.1 million. The grants create approximately 650 jobs for unemployed residents between the ages of 14 and 25 years who are in-school or out-of-school youth for summer and seasonal projects.

     “The Youth Conservation Corps is a great program that provides employment to New Mexico youth while improving the state's natural resources and communities,” said Governor Richardson. “I am pleased that through these grants, hundreds of young New Mexicans will find much needed jobs.”

Secretary Goldstein agreed, adding, “The Youth Conservation Corps has become an important work force for many communities.  Our youth earn wages and they also are given an opportunity to develop an appreciation of natural resources, cooperation, hard work and accomplishment.”

    Two projects in Cibola County were selected.

    Future Foundations Family Center will receive $38,036 while the Ramah Navajo School Board, Inc., will get $73,315.

Civil servant succumbs

    Governor Bill Richardson signed an executive order lowering flags across the state in honor and mourning of Maralyn Budke, 73, who passed away in January after a long battle with cancer. Budke worked for the state for more than 20 years, including 14 years as director of the Legislative Finance Committee.

    She was raised in Amarillo, Texas, and later came to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico, where she earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in political science.  She worked for the Legislative Finance Committee from 1959 to 1967 and then went on to become the Chief of Staff for Governor David Cargo.  Then in 1968, Budke was named the first female Director of the LFC where she served until her retirement in 1982. A few years later, Dudke came out of retirement and returned to the role of Chief of Staff, this time for Governor Garrey Carruthers. When she came out of retirement, she took a $1 annual salary.

    Budke was well known for her philanthropic efforts and her love of animals. She served for more than 10 years on the Hospital Board of Trustees and Clinical Operations Board for UNM; worked with and helped grow the Santa Maria El Mirador, a non-profit organization dedicated to the developmentally disabled community for 25 years and held a leadership role with Sangre de Cristo Animal Protection.