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October 21, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update October 21, 2014

Early voting started yesterday. In Harris County alone, over 60,000 people have already voted or returned ballots by mail*. Three cheers for you if you are an early voter! If not, decide now when you will vote, how you will get to the polling place, and what you will vote for.

If you want to learn more about the elections, I encourage you to read the Voters Guide prepared by the League of Women Voters of Houston. You will quickly see how important environmental issues are in this election. I have been closely reading candidate answers to questions such as these:

  • According to the National Climate Assessment report, climate change effects are happening here and now. What steps, if any, should the [U,S.] Senate take to establish environmental regulations to curb the effects of climate change?
  • Texas is among the five states receiving federal funding through the Restore Act passed by the Senate in 2011. How should this funding be used to improve the existing threats to Texas coastal lands?
  • How do you propose to grow a business-friendly state while maintaining the environment?
  • Drilling rules were written to increase well productivity. What types of fracking rules are needed and how should they be enforced?

Other questions (and answers) address Texas education curriculum, wetlands, future water needs, failing infrastructure, access to healthcare for women, and transportation.

While this election may not appear, at first glance, to have a strong environmental focus, it has the potential to have a tremendous impact on the environment. Use your vote to support environmental initiatives, and make a difference.

* Kudos to Montgomery and Wharton Counties, our local counties who, like Harris County, have posted information about how many people voted in the first day of early voting.

 

CEC NOTES

Kung Fu Saloon Drink for A Cause
CEC has been chosen as the benefiting charity for Kung Fu’s monthly charity happy hour. On October 30, join CEC from 4 pm-7 pm. 15% of happy hour drink sales will come to CEC! Be sure to come by and have a drink with us. Kung Fu is located on Washington Avenue, between Dettering and Reinerman streets.

 

COALITION NOTES

  1. HREG Solar Energy Workshop Series. The Houston Renewable Energy Group will be hosting a series of workshop during the month of October. Topics to be addressed by field experts include tax implications, costs, community solar, and sustainable design. Workshops will be available during the day and evening, and the Houston Community College’s renewable energy trailer will be on-site for demonstrations for all ages. All workshops are free, open to the public and will be held at IKEA Houston. http://houstonrenewableenergy.org
    • October 21, 2014 (6-9pm): Community Solar
    • October 23, 2014 (6-9pm): Disaster Recovery
    • October 30, 2014 (9am-12pm): Solar Demonstration and Tutorial
  2. Yard Sign Campaign – Water Conservation. As the seasons change, it’s important to be mindful of outdoor lawn and landscape irrigation. Lawn and landscape irrigation is one of the largest discretionary uses of municipal water in our region. An easy way to protect our water supply for both people and the environment is to reduce outdoor watering. To help raise awareness of water conservation, a coalition of Gulf Coast and Montgomery County water providers, municipalities, and water conservation groups urge residents to use water wisely by reducing or stopping outdoor irrigation during the fall and winter months. The campaign encourages residents to take a voluntary pledge to reduce outdoor lawn irrigation. By signing the pledge, residents receive a yard sign with the message of “This yard is helping to conserve our water supply.”  The signs are free and available for pickup at Galveston Bay Foundation in Webster, TX or at the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District in Conroe, TX. For more information on the water conservation pledge and pickup locations visit galvbay.org/flows.
  3. BPA’s 11th Annual Symposium: “Get Out to the Bayou and… Swim?” Sink or swim? Houston is known as the Bayou City since it is home to 22 watersheds. Why don’t we see people swimming, splashing around, or sitting on the banks? If you’re wondering the same thing, then head out to Bayou Preservation Association’s 11th annual Symposium, “Get out to the Bayou and… Swim” on Thursday, October 23, 2014, from 7:30am – 4:00pm at United Way. For just $50 a person and $35 for students or teachers, this year’s event will dive into the topic of swimming in the bayous and will feature keynote speakers Dr. Stephen L. Klineberg, Gary Garrett, Robert Rayburn, Susan Darcy, Jeff Taebel, Charlie Jenkins, Barnaby Evans, Pat Walsh, Mike Talbott, John Blount and Scott McCready. Learn more and register at www.bayoupreservation.com.
  4. Wings Over Water Gala. Join the Houston Audubon for a night of dining, dancing and honoring conservation heroes in Texas at their Wings Over Water Gala on October 24, 2014, at pm. There will be a cocktail reception, followed by a full buffet meal and silent and big board auctions. Live entertainment will be provided by Jazz Avenue. Cocktail attire, coat and tie required. General Admission begins at $150. Purchase tickets at www.houstonaudubon.org.
  5. Self -Watering Container Gardening. If you have limited or no garden space, want to garden with kids and seniors, or while sitting down in a chair, DIY self-watering containers are the answer. Learn to create a container for your vegetables and small fruits that will virtually water itself. Plants will always get the proper amount of water, and will use up to 60% less water than regular containers. Learn how to make them with Urban Harvest on October 25, 2014, 9-11:30am at the University of Houston. Registration is $50. More at http://urbanharvest.org.
  6. West Reach Tree Planting and Clean-Up Event. The Greens Bayou corridor Coalition is hosting their annual West Reach Tree Planting and Clean-Up Event on October 25, 2014. They will be planting more than 80 trees and need all hands on deck! There are volunteer opportunities for people of all abilities, including helping with check-in and runners to provide supplies to those planting trees. Volunteers can sign up on the Eventbrite page: https://westreach2014.eventbrite.com. Volunteers can also help recruit people and get updates on the event (i.e. weather alerts and potential cancellations) at www.facebook.com.
  7. 2014 Edible Garden Tour. The Edible Garden Tour was created by Blackwood Land Institute to inspire and educate Houstonians to create an urban edible garden of their own. Come out and spend a marvelous fall day with your family, friends and neighbors meeting the pioneers of urban horticulture. Learn with your friends and family and visit as many of the 10 featured gardens as you wish. The tour will held on October 25, 2014, from noon-6pm. www.blackwoodland.org
  8. AIA Houston Home Tour. Open to the public, the AIA Houston Home Tour showcases the finest residential architecture in the Houston area, as designed by licensed architects. Houses are chosen to showcase a variety of design styles demonstrating that excellence in design is not limited by size or dollars. The AIA Houston Home Tour attracts 3000+ people each year and many more read about it in publications such as the Houston Chronicle, CultureMap, and Houston House & Home Magazine. The tour will be held October 25-26, 2014, noon to 6pm each day. Tickets are $25 per person, $20 for bike riders, $10 Single House. Find more details at https://aiahouston.org.
  9. 42nd Annual BikeHouston Moonlight Bicycle Ramble. Come out and ride the night with BikeHouston on October 25, 2014, for the 42nd Annual Moonlight Bicycle Ramble! Since 1973, thousands of riders have lit up the streets of Houston for this amazing fully-supported bicycle ride. Starting from the George R Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston at 11:59 pm, the Ramble will have an 8-mile and 20-mile route. Prizes awarded for best costume and best lighted bike. All riders are required to wear a bicycle helmet and have lights on their bikes. The cost is $25 until the day of the ride. Same day registration is $35. Your paid registration helps to support BikeHouston and includes a commemorative t-shirt, route map, coupons from area vendors and entitles you to SAG support in case you need it. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
  10. No Commercial Development for Exploration Green! After nearly a decade of working to fulfill a vision of a Clear Lake public green space to alleviate flooding, foster nature conservation, clean run-off water and provide recreation opportunities, the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) has signed a Conservation Easement agreement with the Galveston Bay Foundation to conserve and protect the nearly 200 acres of the Exploration Green from commercial development in perpetuity. That means forever. Working with the CLCWA today is a new non-profit organization, Exploration Green Conservancy, established to organize and create those parts of Exploration Green that are not flood control. With a board of local volunteers, the conservancy, like earlier town hall meetings and volunteer committees, provides an avenue for local residents to participate in planning, organizing, working with trees, trails and other projects, and maintaining the Green Space. Other partners in addition to Galveston Bay Foundation include Trees For Houston, Texas Coastal Watershed Program, SWA Architecture and Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam; all key to the success of Exploration Green. Read the entire press release at Exploration Green News Release.
  11. CWI/EAR: Social Marketing for Natural Resource Profession​als. There will be a  two day Social Marketing Seminar for Natural Resource Professionals, on October 28-29, 2014. The Web is now 25 years old from the first design by Tim Berners-Lee to what we know today in 2014. Things have changed dramatically in design, writing standards, and search ability. In addition, smart devices have outsold desktops significantly in the last 5 years. What does that mean to those in outreach and education? Come find out at the workshop. Registration is $40 for day one, $50 for day two, or $80 for both days. Learn more at www.h-gac.com.
  12. How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Our dynamic coastline is changing faster than ever before. Changes are visible over the last 50, 30 and even 10 years. The environmental, social and economic impacts of coastal change are readily measurable and are increasing. These impacts can make us less resilient, particularly when more intense conditions affect our coastal state. The effects result in even greater impact beyond our coast. The Shell Center for Sustainability presents How Sustainable is the Texas Coast? Are we in a “state of denial”? A workshop that presents the most recent scientific data modeled by a team of multidisciplinary researchers working together to measure what these effects will mean to us. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, at McMurtry Auditorium in Duncan  Hall, on the Rice University campus. More at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
  13. Bird Nerd Workshop. There is an upcoming Bird Nerd Workshop, which will be held on November 1, 2014, 9-11am at the Texas City Prairie Preserve. This workshop will feature Dr. Susan Heath from the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory as she presents on Banded Birds! Dr. Heath will give a presentation on the history, science, and benefits of banding birds along with the protocol for identifying and reporting a bird band sighting! This will be followed by a short exercise in identifying bands in the field at the Prairie Preserve. This is a free workshop and available to anyone wanting to learn more about band sightings and proper ways to report them. Anyone interested can register by emailing TERN@audubon.org.
  14. The Woods Project Fall Luncheon 2014. Enjoy lunch with The Woods Project and its students as they share how their outdoor experiences have made a positive change in their lives – building self-confidence and other critical skills for success in school and beyond. This is your chance to sit with a student and hear their summer trip story first hand. Chris Barbic, founder of YES Prep and current Superintendent of Achievement School District in Tennessee, will be our keynote speaker and will be sharing his thoughts on what low income students need in order to be successful in school and in life. Register for this event, which will be held on November 4, 2014, 11:30am-1pm at the Junior League of Houston. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.thewoodsproject.org.
  15. White Oak Bayou Association Annual Meeting. White Oak Bayou Association will be hosting their annual meeting on November 5, 2014, 6-8:1pm at the Historic Heights Firestation. Dr. George Guillen, Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at UHCL and Executive Director of Environmental Institute of Houston will speak on the ecology of Houston’s bayous. His research focuses on the interrelationship of channel morphology, habitat diversity, water quality and ecological health. The presentation will include a discussion of what channel restoration in White Oak Bayou can realistically achieve in terms of ecological revitalization. This meeting is open to the public. Please RSVP to tgall@tjgall.com.
  16. Native Prairie Plant-a-thon. Volunteers are needed to plant 2,500 native coastal prairie grasses and forbs. This event will help the Sheldon Lake State Park continue the restoration of 400 acres from farmland to native prairie habitat and reestablish the diverse wildlife that it once had. Located in northeast Harris County, Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is visited by thousands of children and adults each year who take guided nature walks, study ecosystems, go fishing, experience pond ecology, and see alternative energy in action. Restoring this prairie will enhance the educational programs at the Learning Center. You are invited to be a part of the ongoing restoration work on the Sheldon Prairie on November 8, 2014, 8am-noon. More at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
  17. Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center. The Annual Banquet of the Houston Peace and Justice Center will be held on November 8, 2014, from 6-9:30pm at the University of Houston Hilton Hotel. Medea Benjamin, founder of Code Pink, will be accepting the Houston Peace and Justice Center’s annual National Peacemaker Award, and she will be the keynote speaker at HPJC’s annual awards dinner this year. Call Bill Crosier at 713-641-4941 or visit www.hpjc.org for more information.
  18. Coastal Resiliency Panel & Community Dialogue. The AIA Houston Urban Design Committee and the Houston Galveston Area Council will host a panel discussion and community dialogue on coastal resiliency on November 10, 2014, at 6pm at the George R Brown Convention Center. Representatives from Texas A&M University in Galveston and the SSPEED Center at Rice University will discuss their research and proposed solutions for storm surge protection in the region. Tom Colbert, AIA, and Chuck Wemple, HGAC, will moderate the panel in a collaborative conversation to include a Q&A with the audience. This event is free and open to the public. More at https://aiahouston.org.
  19. Prairie Month! October 6, 2014 to November 15, 2014 is Prairie Month! Join the conservation community for a series of fun and informative events in 
the Greater Houston region, celebrating and restoring 
our prairie heartland! Find an event near you by visiting http://prairiepartner.org.
  20. Gulf Coast Bioneers. Gulf Coast Bioneers, a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event, is a local Houston event that supports building resilience from the ground up by showcasing and participating in local breakthrough environmental and social justice solutions while strengthening community bonds. The Bioneers is a national, non-profit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and the planet. Bioneers has two goals:
    Connect people with solutions by popularizing breakthrough ideas and practices. Grow social capital by catalyzing, connecting and strengthening strategic networks, and community-based alliances. The conference will be held on November 2, 2014, at the Blackwood Land Institute. EXPLORE practical solutions and innovative social strategies to restore our ecosystems and revitalize our community. LEARN how experienced, passionate, and pragmatic professionals here in Houston are developing cutting-edge solutions that work. CONNECT with others like you: on-the-ground innovators, change agents, and thought leaders from business, education, government, and the community. BE INSPIRED by Gulf Coast area speakers and speakers from the national Bioneers conference held in California. Learn more and register at http://gulfcoastbioneers.org.
  21. 34th Annual Martyn Farm Harvest Festival. November is quickly approaching and that means time for one of the most anticipated festivals in the Greater Houston area. Each fall since 1981 the Martyn Farm at Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Boulevard, has given visitors the opportunity to turn back the clock to circa 1900 to a simpler time on the Texas Gulf Coast. This annual harvest festival will be held on November 8-9, 2014, 10am-4pm. The community is invited to join the festivities, which include a pie-eating contest, wood carving, wagon rides, food, musical performances, and a General Store with home-made food and handmade toys and gifts! There is a $7 entry fee for adults; $3 for children (4-12) and seniors (60+). www.abnc.org
  22. Feedback on Cedar Bayou Watershed Protection Plan. Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is looking for comments on their working draft version of the first 4 chapters of the Cedar Bayou Watershed Protection Plan. Your feedback helps ensure that the contents reflect the discussions and values of the community over the course of the project. Comments must be supbitted by November 10, 2014. Please email any comments to Justin Bower at justin.bower@h-gac.com, or call him directly at 713-499-6653. Learn more at www.cedarbayouwatershed.com.
  23. Energy Corridor Recycles Day. Energy Corridor Recycles Day will be held on November 15, 2014, 9am-2pm. You know you’ve got them. Motorola flip phones, stereos with blown amps, computers struggling to run Windows 95, rear projection televisions with the red color malfunctioning, and VCRs with “The Breakfast Club” tape stuck inside. They are everywhere, taking up space, sitting unused with potentially toxic metals that have no business discarded into landfills, left along roadsides or stashed in garages. Get ready to properly dispose of all those outdated electronics cluttering up your home and office. This is your chance to help remove the potential environmental threat of improperly disposed televisions, computers, telecommunications equipment, hard drives, game consoles and other electronics that can be laced with heavy metals. www.energycorridor.org
  24. Jones Park Tree Planting Party. Fall planting season is here! Help re-establish native trees to areas in Jones Park on November 15, 2014 and December 13, 2014, from 9am-1:30pm. Wear long pants and sturdy, closed-toed shoes (preferably hiking boots), and prepare to get dirty! Bring a refillable water bottle, gloves, and tools like shovels, axes, loppers, and hand pruners, if available. Park staff will provide tools as needed. For more information or to sign up contact Rose Belzung Holmes at rbelzung@hcp4.net or call 281-446-8588. Pre-registration is required! Planting Party Flyer (3)
  25. Save the Date! 20th Annual Twilight Gala: Turning a New Leaf. Join Nature Discovery Center for the 20th Annual Twilight Gala, helping the greater Houston community discover, enjoy and value nature. For nearly three decades, the Nature Discovery Center has been sparking interest in science and nature, developing critical thinking tools, enriching educational opportunities for children, improving the teaching of science for teachers, and nourishing the inquiring minds of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children. This year’s Twilight Gala fetes all that is new and renewed at the Center. From the fresh renovation of the 89-year-old Henshaw House to the renewal of the grounds for all of those that spend time in the four-acre outdoor classroom, Russ Pitman Park. The gala will be held on November 21, 2014, at the Houstonian Hotel. Learn more and purchase tickets online at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
  26. Save the Date! H-GAC Fall Planning Workshop: Low Impact Development. Mark your calendars and plan to join the Houston-Galveston Area Council annual Fall Planning Workshop, to explore the world of Low Impact Development (LID). The workshop will be held on December 5, 2014, at the H-GAC offices.
  27. Our Great Region Implementation Network Surveys. H-GAC is working on a follow-up report to the Implementation Network event (August 27) that provides an assessment of the region’s capacity and momentum to implement the strategies in the Our Great Region 2040 plan. They are asking those who were unable to attend the Kickoff event in August to help out by providing information about your organization’s current initiatives and challenges in implementing the strategies presented in Our Great Region 2040. The questions in the surveys mirror the exercise that attendees of the event completed. Each survey represents one of the plan’s Big Idea focus areas. You may take as many or as few as you like. Each survey will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete. To be included in the asessement, please complete the surveys no later than October 16, 2014.
  28. Earth Day Art Contest. Earth Day celebrates our planet’s wonders. Show what you see when you think of clean air, water, and land. Show your vision of how we can honor, celebrate, and protect our environment. Students in grades 3 through 12 in the Houston area should enter their artwork by January 31, 2015. Find the rules at www.earthdayhouston.org.
  29. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue. Matter and Meaning: Exploring the Religion and Science Dialogue is the culminating public event of the Religious Understandings of Science (RUS) study. This day-long conference will include breakout sessions on Religious and Scientific Dialogue on Human Genetic Reproductive Technologies and Religious Responses to Environmental Concern. Keynote panelists include Alejandro Chaoul (University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), John Evans (University of California San Diego), Katharine Hayhoe (Texas Tech University), Ronald Numbers (University of Wisconsin-Madison), John Mark Reynolds (Houston Baptist University), and Norbert Samuelson (Arizona State University). The event will be held on October 24, 2014, at 8:30am at Rice University. More at http://events.rice.edu.
  2. 16th Annual Trinity River Butterfly Count. In conjunction with the Butterfly Enthusiasts of Southeast Texas, the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting the 16th Annual Trinity River Butterfly Count in northern Liberty County on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Areas to be surveyed include the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Tarkington Prairie, and Gaylor Lake area. Participants will meet at 9am at the Valero Gas station located at the intersection of Hwy 105 and Hwy 321, six miles south of Cleveland. Bring a lunch and shoes that can get wet. This event is open to anyone with an interest in learning about butterflies. The event is expected to end around 3pm. There have been nearly 80 species of butterflies documented over the past 15 years. For further information, please contact Stuart Marcus at 936/336-9786 or stuart_marcus@fws.gov.
  3. OktOHBAfest. Come out for music, bites, and beer at the 3rd annual OctOHBA fest! Performers include Paul Ramirez Band and Annika Chambers. Halloween costumes are highly recommended! Get ready for a night of fun on October 25, 2014. It’s $40 for all you can eat and drink! www.ohbaonline.org.
  4. Opening of “Reflectio​ns on Nature.” The French Consular Residence will open the new art exhibit titled Reflections on Nature with a day-long open house featuring artist talks, musical performances and other animations on October 26, 2014, from 10am-4pm. The exhibit, Reflections on Nature, will offer a unique look at nature through the eyes and styles of several artists. The exhibition inside the residence will be complemented by a new selection of door sculptures from TFAA’s Open the Door plus a sampling of words derived from their recent poetry contest. www.consulfrance-houston.org.
  5. TPWD CO-OP Grant Writing Workshop. The Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) Grant Writing Workshop provides information about the CO-OP grant requirements and hands-on assistance with the new Recreation Grants Online (RGO) application system. The next grant deadline is February 1, 2015. The Houston Workshop will be held on October 28, 2014, 9am-1pm at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Region 4 Headquarters (14200 Garret Road). RSVP at www.signupgenius.com. This workshop is free.
  6. Grand Opening: Houston Community Toolbank. The Houston Community Toolbank invites you to their grand opening! Come out for FREE food and drinks and of course, the debut of the massive new tool warehouse, now serving the Houston nonprofit community. Learn about the variety of tools available and the lending program. Win great door prizes while you mingle with volunteers, sponsors, donors and the media! The grand opening will be held on October 28, 2014, 4-7pm at the Houston Community Toolbank (1215 Gazin Street). RSVP at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  7. Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update. There will be a public meeting regarding the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program Update on October 29, 2014, at 6:30pm at the Bear Creek Community Center. The purpose of the meeting is to update area residents and business owners about the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program as part of a continued communication initiative by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. The Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program’s primary objective is to maintain public safety by ensuring the dams we own and operate are safe and that risks to the public are minimized. The update will begin at 6:30 p.m. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers representatives will be available to answer questions immediately following. Learn more at www.swg.usace.army.mil.
  8. Turtle Island Restoration Network New Office. The Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) has opened an office in Galveston in the newly renovated historic Sears Building at 2228 Broadway. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on September 29, 2014, by the Galveston Historical Society. The Galveston-based Sea Turtle Action Center is a hub for all of the TIRN Gulf of Mexico activities. It serves as a volunteer and outreach center in the heart of historic Galveston, Texas. If you would like to volunteer with the office, donate artwork or services please email joanie@seaturtles.org or call (409) 795-8426. More at https://seaturtles.org.
  9. Creatively Green Family Arts Festival. NRG Energy, Inc. and Young Audiences of Houston are pleased to announce the NRG Creatively Green Awards Program. This program will award two schools in Houston with an engaging and dynamic family festival that offers parents and children the chance to participate in hands-on art-making to better understand the importance of environmental sustainability. Winning schools receive the unique opportunity to host a family festival worth up to $7,000 – featuring Young Audiences artists – that will celebrate imagination and creativity while promoting a better understanding of individual and community responsibility to protect our planet. Learn more about the program at http://media.wix.com. Applications are due by November 3, 2014. Apply at http://survey.constantcontact.com.
  10. Texas Stormwater Innovation Conference. The new green infrastructure paradigm offers opportunities for environmental improvement and cost savings but if the critical issues of performance, reliability and maintenance are not addressed this paradigm shift will not achieve the goals that inspired it. The Texas Stormwater Innovation Conference is a multi city tour that seeks to provide insight on Low Impact Development and explores Next Generation solutions that address these key issues in stormwater management. The conference will be in Houston at the Norris Meetings & Events Center on November 7, 2014, 8am-3:15pm. The cost is $35. Attend to be a part of the discussion of various solutions and opportunities in green infrastructure to promote greater implementation of Low Impact Development. www.constructionecoservices.com
  11. Financing Sustainable Water. Developing rate structures that successfully balance revenue management, resource efficiency and fiscal sustainability is becoming more challenging than ever in a world of scarce supply, volatile weather and declining demand. Learn from experts about the newest resources and strategies that can help water managers to navigate these challenges at the workshop on November 12, 2014, 9:30am-2:30pm at United Way. Registration is $30, and lunch and meeting materials are provided. Participants will receive in-depth training on the new Alliance for Water Efficiency Sales Forecasting and Rate Model, an innovative, free and user-friendly tool that can help managers explicitly model rate structures and effects on revenue and water use. Learn more and register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  12. Biennial Scientific Symposium. Register now for the Children’s Environmental Health Institute’s Eight Biennial Scientific Symposium: Prenatal Environmental Exposures as a Determinant of Early Childhood Disease. Hear global experts challenge us to elevate critical  thinking on ways to address the prevention of environmental health risks to children. Keynote speakers Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, and Philippe Grandjean, MD, PhD, among other distinguished speakers will provide prevention-oriented research on how toxic chemicals in the environment harm our ability to reproduce, negatively affect pregnancies, and are associated with numerous health problems and chronic disease. The symposium will be held November 13-14, 2014, at McKinney Roughs Education Center, close to Austin Texas. Learn more and register at http://cehi.org.
  13. Climate Leadership Summit. The Climate Leadership Summit will be hosted in Houston and presented by the Rainforest Action Network. The goal of the conference is to bring together leaders involved with all aspects of environmental justice to learn strategies for implementation, hear from experts on the issues, and network to develop a stronger force to fight for environmental protection. The summit will be held December 13-14, 2014, at Sharespace (2201 Preston St). More at www.ran.org.
  14. 2015 School Garden Grant. Created in partnership with FoodCorps, the School Garden Grant program provides a $2,000 monetary grant to a K-12 school, or a non-profit working in partnership with a K-12 school, to support a new or existing edible garden on school grounds. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2014. Learn more at www.wholekidsfoundation.org.
  15. Progress in Preparing for Climate Change. The Georgetown Climate Center has a new online tool that shows the progress states are making in preparing for climate change. The planning process typically results in a document called an adaptation plan. Learn more and find the map at www.georgetownclimate.org. Texas currently has no state-led adaptation plan, but has one regional plan developed by H-GAC in 2008. Read about it at www.georgetownclimate.org.
  16. International Low Impact Development Conference 2015. The countdown to the LID Conference 2015 has begun. Don’t miss this incredible three-day event to learn the latest advances, tools, trends, and network with industry leaders and Stormwater resource practitioners from about the world. The International Low Impact Development Conference 2015 will be held January 19-21, 2015. This conference will highlight new and continuing work including research developments and community adoption of LID throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, this conference will focus on the application of LID technology in the Southwest region of the US and will also include a mini-symposium on arid region LID. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CNN’s 2013 Hero of the Year, Chad Pregracke, whose presentation will be “Helping to Clean America’s Rivers: From the Bottom Up.” Learn more at http://content.asce.org.
  17. Save the Date! 2015 HAUFC Tree Planting Competition. The Houston Area Urban Forestry Council is in the process of planning the 2015 Tree Planting Competition. The date is already set for Saturday, February 7, 2015. The planting competition once again will be held in partnership with Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and sponsored by the Texas A&M Forest Service and CenterPoint Energy. Start forming your team for this competition in which you will be working against the clock to plant trees according to established guidelines for correct hole (depth and width), proper mulching, and spacing. Each team, made up of 10 planting members and one non-working captain, will plant 100 five-gallon trees as quickly as possible. Details should be available soon at http://haufc.org.
  18. Additional Community Announcements  
  19. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
    • On the Right Track – Whooping Cranes
    • Swimming to Survive
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Winston 8 Ranch
    • A Day at Pedernales
  20. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.

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