On Saturday, February 15th, the Otero Native Plant Society will have a field trip to Holloman Lake. All fieldtrips are free and open to the public. The lake is full, and with the weather warming up, it’ll be a good time for a walk. Come connect with other plant and nature lovers, enjoy the views of the area, see what plants are out there, and check out the lake. Wear walking attire, bring drinking water, and sun protection. Note that there are no facilities (restroom, shade, drinking water, etc.) at the lake.

About the lake, from the website Audubon: “Holloman Lake and the adjoining wetlands are located at the southwest corner of Holloman Air Force Base. The water for this system is mainly waste water from the airbase water treatment plant with sporadic contributions from rain. Holloman AFB decided to preserve an old sewage lagoon and to put in 3 or 4 dikes between it and Lake Holloman for a constructed wetland. Part of the effluent from the treatment plant is pumped into the lagoon and the treated waste water flows from this lagoon to Holloman Lake through the constructed wetlands. Holloman AFB manages the entire area. Holloman has received a number of awards and other recognition for its wetland area protection and this is likely to guard its biological integrity…. ornithological significance… An important shorebird area in the state and most important in the Tularosa Basin. It also provides habitat for many ducks in migration and winter. Shorebirds (particularly Wilson's Phalarope) in passage average 500 to 1000, while breeding Snowy Plover average 2 to 12.”

If you want to carpool from Alamogordo, we will be meeting at 9 a.m. at the Travis C. Hooser Ballfields at 2139 S Walker Ave, on the south end of Alamogordo. Or if you prefer to go directly to the lake, we’ll be there by 9:30 a.m. The entrance for the lake is past mile marker 203, and has a sign for “binoculars 61,” and can also be found on Google Maps.