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October 5, 2016

Houston Environmental News Update, October 5, 2016

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7 days of being engaged in the communityLess than one week to register to vote! The deadline to register in time to vote in the November 8 election is next week, on October 11, 2016. Learn more about voter registration at VoteTexas.gov. And if you need some inspiration, here is the lowdown on environmental voting, from the Environmental Voter Project:

“Polls show that voters consistently rank environmental issues among their lowest concerns in every election. This is a huge problem. Politicians listen to voters, and if environmental issues are a low priority for voters, they will be a low priority for policy makers. Yet polls also show that tens of millions of Americans strongly prioritize progressive environmental policies – the real problem is that these people do not vote. Indeed, even in recent nation-wide elections, over 15 million individually identifiable environmentalists have stayed at home on Election Day. Therefore, the key to getting powerful environmental policies in place might not be to persuade more Americans to be environmentalists; it may be as simple as getting more of our existing environmentalists to vote.”

 

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston Green Office Challenge. The 2016 Houston Green Office Challenge has launched! Once again, the City of Houston is challenging commercial building property managers, property owners and office tenants to improve the environmental and economic performance of their business operations. The Houston Green Office Challenge helps participants achieve strategies that reduce energy use, waste and water use, and provides an exciting way for businesses to make Houston a greener place to live, work and play. Learn more at houstongoc.org. Note, as this notice is going to press, CEC is at the top of the leaderboard!
  2. Houston Bike Challenge 2016. Are you a passionate biker? Or looking to explore a new hobby? Support BikeHouston by joining their 2016 Biking Challenge. The Challenge is ongoing from Oct. 1 2016 – Oct. 31,2016 You can compete against other teams of participants and encourage friends and co-workers to join as a team Join this free competition with prizes for people to who beat their Challenges. The Bike Challenge will be ongoing for the month of October. Visit www.lovetoride.net for more information on how to participate and sign-up!
  3. Buffalo Bayou Park’s First Birthday. Join in the fun with a birthday party for Buffalo Bayou Park (turning 1) and BBP (turning 30) at The Water Works (105 Sabine Street). Enjoy tasty food truck fare, birthday cake, free beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, lawn games and tunes from A Fistful of Soul. Bring the kiddos to play in the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area! October 6, 2016, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Learn more at buffalobayou.org.
  4. 2016 Prairies & Pollinators Month – Greater Houston. Join the Coastal Prairie Partnership–and over fourteen partners–for a month of special hikes, plantings, and other events. The celebration is from October 7, 2016 to November 12, 2016, at multiple locations around the region. For a full calendar, including details about the following events, visit prariepartner.org:
    • October 7 – Wildlife Habitat Federation’s Native Prairie Discovery Tour in Catspring, TX. Learn from some of the best prairie restoration experts in the field.
    • October 7 to October 16 – Texas Pollinator Bioblitz. Become a citizen scientist and help record where monarch butterflies and other native pollinators are living.
    • October 8 – Great Houston Wildlife Count. Katy Prairie Conservancy, Houston Parks & Recreation Dept., Texas Parks & Wildlife, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, and local university professors are teaming up count butterflies, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife at Hermann Park, Rice University, Buffalo Bayou Park, Mason Park and the Houston Arboretum. This is your chance to join them and add to our understanding of urban wildlife.
    • October 10 – Seed Collecting on the Legendary Nash Prairie in West Columbia, TX. Join Lan Shen and others to collect native prairie seed for local grow out efforts and keep some for yourself! This seed collecting trip will be held on the amazing Nash Prairie. This prairie is rarely open to the general public and is one of the few remain platinum prairies in our region.
  5. Texas A&M NAEP Epic Expo – Career and Internship Fair The student chapter of the National Association of Environmental Professionals(NAEP) invites activists, non-profit leaders, policy institute professionals, and other environmental professionals to it annual Environmental Professionals Internship and Career (EPIC) Expo on Friday, October 7, 2016, from 10 am – 3 pm, Rudder Exhibit Hall, Texas A&M University.. The NAEP EPIC Expo is targeted to current students who are environmental majors, but with the twist that students at various stages of their degrees (freshmen to seniors) should attend in order to investigate the potential opportunities in this broad interdisciplinary field. The students from the NAEP at Texas A&M hope to build recurring partnerships with industries so that students can plan their coursework with greater intentionality, to prepare for known internship and job opportunities. Email Heather Wilkonson at h-wilkinson@tamu.edufor for inquires on how to attend.
  6. New Nature Preserve Opens to Public – Turtle Bay Nature Preserve. Galveston Bay Foundation and Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation district will host a Grand Opening for the Turtle Nature Preserve Saturday, on Oct. 7, 2016, from 10 am – 11:30 am. The opening will consist of speakers from 10 am – 10:30 am, and a lunch and tour from 10:30 – 11:30 am. If you plan on attending please RSVP to ceverett@galvbay.org. The Preserve will open for the first time to the public on Oct. 8, 2016. The Preserve is located south of I-10 off of FM 563. Admission is always free. The Turtle Bayou Nature Preserve is funded in part by a financial assistance award from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Coastal Impact Assistance Program. Additional support was provided by the Texas General Land Office, Chambers County, Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District, and the Galveston Bay Foundation. Visit www.chamberswild.com for more information about the Turtle Bay Preserve Location.
  7. Help put “Engine Off” bumper stickers on HISD’s buses. As part of Air Alliance Houston’s effort to implement Houston’s Anti-Idling Ordinance for trucks and buses, AAH is working with the Houston Independent School District to put “Engine Off” bumper stickers on more than 1,000 school buses. Join AAH on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at 10:00 am outside the main building of Cesar Chavez High School. From there, we will bus to one of the HISD bus barns. Be prepared for a day of light physical activity outdoors. Learn more at airalliancehouston.org.
  8. Great Houston Wildlife Count. On Saturday, October 8, 2016, join local wildlife experts for an exciting day of discovery as we count and photograph everything from bees to bats to bigmouth bass in some of Houston’s great parks and wildspaces. You’ll have fun while contributing to our understanding of urban wildlife. This event is also a part of the statewide Texas Pollinator Bioblitz, so your contributions can have a statewide impact! Great free event for individuals, students, and families. Counts will take place in four locations (1) Buffalo Bayou Park (2) Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (3) Rice University/Hermann Park and (4) Mason Park. Learn more at https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz and www.katyprairie.org.
  9. HUG Talk: Reclamation Gardening w/ Will Sanders of DragonHorse. On Monday, October 10, 2016, from 6:30 PM, Will Sanders of Dragon Horse Organics will talk about his farm & his version of Reclamation Gardening. And he’ll be bringing Horse Manure. Bring food, plants to share. Things for door prizes: gadgets, cookbooks, plants… Learn more on the Houston Urban Gardeners facebook page.
  10. How to Build Your Strategic Plan.  We already know what we want to do, why do we need to spend all this time and effort on planning? A strategic plan outlines where your organization wants to beover the next several years. It also defines how you are going to get there, taking into account the external factors that are likely to impact your activities and your own strengths and weaknesses. The Executive Service Corps of Houston is hosting this seminar on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, from noon to 2:00 pm. Learn more and register at www.eschouston.org.
  11. 350.org presents Clean Line Energy & renewable solutions for Houston. The climate action group 350.org Houston is sponsoring a presentation by Eleanor Elbert, one of the associates at Clean Line Energy.  Clean Line is an independent developer of high voltage, long-haul transmission lines, providing transmission solutions to generators and load-serving utilities in order to efficiently interconnect clean energy with consumers.  The presentation will discuss Clean Line’s operations and will highlight the opportunities that are available to Houston to become a leader in the renewable energy industry, particularly wind energy.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at 7:00 pm at 4108 University.
  12. Houston Renewable Energy Group Social. Come hang out at the Grove for some drinks and food while networking and chatting with other renewable energy fans! HREG’s mission is to further the development of renewable energy and related arts, sciences, and technologies with concern for the ecological, social, and economic fabric of our community and state. October 11, 2016, at 7 pm. Learn more on the HREG facebook page.
  13. Citizens Climate Lobby Conroe Chapter Monthly Meeting The meeting will be hosted Oct. 12, 2016, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, at the Central Branch Library, 104 I-45 North, Conroe TX 77301. Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), is a non-partisan, grass-roots organization that works to create political will for climate solutions by building constructive and respectful working relationships with members of Congress. CCL advocates for Carbon Fee and Dividend (CF&D), a revenue-neutral, market-based carbon fee climate change solution, with all revenue returned directly to households. Email  Bill Bray to RSVP to ten.labolgcbs@yarb.llib, or cal Bob Jones, (936) 697-7125. Visit  www.citizensclimatelobby.org for more information about the organization, and how to join a chapter.
  14. Jennie Romer to speak about plastic bags at Bayou Symposium. Jennie Romer, a national expert on carryout bag policy, will be the keynote speaker at Bayou Preservation Association’s 50th Anniversary Symposium, 50 for 50, on Wednesday, October 12, 2016, from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. This year’s symposium will include 50 informative presentations related to the many aspects of improvements in our watersheds over the last 50 years. The keynote speaker, Jennie Romer, will discuss the challenges and successes with local legislation to manage plastic bags in LA and NYC. Her story is truly inspiring; a practicing attorney, Romer is the country’s leading expert in plastic bag law. Learn more at bayoupreservation.org.
  15. Sierra Club hosts “The Future of Humans”  On Oct.13, 2016, The Sierra Club of Houston will host Scott Solomon, the author of the book The Future of Humans. His book offers evidence of how modernization has impacted longer lifespans, changing diets, medicine and contraceptives – will all have a future impact on the ability of the human species to continue life on this planet. The event is free and open to the public. It will take place on Oct. 13, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama. Doors open at 7 pm, main program begins at 7:30. Email thatsjoesmail@GMAIL.com for inquiries. Visit www.meetup.com/HoustonSierraClub for more information about the Houston area Sierra Club.
  16. My Houston 2040: Jill Wood and Lawrence Spence. Jill Wood directs the adventure playground at The Parish School, one of only a handful of site-based adventure playgrounds in the U.S. She’s in awe of what children can do when given the time, safety training and permission to build their own play space out of real tools, scavenged construction material, recyclables, fabric and rope. Lawrence Spence teaches Environmental Science at Westside High School. He’s developing “Headwaters to Baywaters,” an environmental science curriculum based in our local history and ecosystems, taking his students out to study the real world of our region’s watersheds and prairies of the west, through the bayous and all the way to the bay and Gulf Coast. Thursday, October 13, 2016. My Houston 2040 is a monthly Happy Hour meeting of Houston’s urban, eco, creative and hungry minds. Learn more on the MH2040 facebook page.
  17. Houston Food Policy Workgroup: Blackwood Land Institute. On October 14, 2016, join the Houston Food Policy Workgroup for a tour and talk at the beloved Blackwood Educational Land Institute. From noon to 1:00 pm, discuss local agritourism, followed by a guided tour of Blackwood and a chance to explore. Learn more on the HFPW event page on facebook.
  18. Intersections 2016. Intersections 2016 is a cross-disciplinary conference of quality of life, health, equity, development and environmental issues facing our growing region. Our goal is to foster synergistic thinking and collaboration by bringing different people together, and to demystify the mechanisms for creating sustainable change in Houston. CEC is proud to be a part of this conference. Register at intersections2016.org.
  19. STAR Recycling Summit. Registration is now open for the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) 2016 Recycling Summit, October 16-18, 2016, at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade. Recycling professionals attend this event for educational sessions, equipment demonstrations, roundtable discussions, and training opportunities. Learn more at www.recyclingstar.org/summit/.
  20. San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site Public Comment Meeting. The EPA has announced their Proposed Plan for Clean Up of the SJRWPSF site. In short, the EPA is proposing that paper mill waste in the pits located north of I-10 with concentrations of dioxin exceeding the preliminary remediation goal of 200 ng/kg (parts per trillion) be removed. That corresponds to the removal of approximately 152,000 cubic yards of material from those northern pits that lie in or adjacent to the river. The EPA is also proposing the removal of 50,000 cubic yards of waste material with dioxin concentrations above the preliminary remediation goal of 240 ng/kg from the southern impoundments located south of I-10. EPA will host a public comment meeting at the Highlands Community Center in Highlands, Texas at 6:30 pm on October 20, 2016. You can learn more on the EPA website. Additional information is available on the Galveston Bay Foundation’s SJRP web page.
  21. Lighten Your Footprint Class.  What ways are you inspired to make changes in your lifestyle, your neighborhood, workplace or the Houston area that offer more care for the earth, care for people and creates community?  This class will be hosted on Oct. 29, 2016, 9:30 am – 11:30 am, at Finca Tres Robles, 257 N. Greenwood St. Houston TX 77011. Through storytelling of active projects in the Houston area, Urban Harvest will discuss and work together on ideas for projects, large or small that you may have envisioned.This workshop is intended to empower those attending  to go forward with their ideas of how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. The instructors have a variety of backgrounds in environmental activism, permaculture designers, equal rights activism, leaders in the local food community, vegetable and fruit tree gardening educators, urban farms and community gardens development and more. Please RSVP at UrbanHarvest.org. Email lilly@urbanharvest.org with any questions. 
  22. University of Houston Sustainability Fest: Creative Expressions Contest. Deadline to submit work is Oct. 31, 2016. Sustainability combines social, environmental and economic aspects that challenge us to thoughtfully, justly and responsibly address the longevity and success of all living things on this planet. Contestants may submit a written work or visual art piece that addresses an aspect of sustainability. Written pieces include but are not limited to: poetry, short stories, articles, letters and songs, while visual works include but are not limited to: photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and digital art. Students, faculty and staff are invited to submit their original work to sustainability@uh.edu by Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, at 5 p.m. Please visit www.uh.edu/Sustainability for full information on competition rules. The Sustainability Fest will be Nov. 7, 2016, at University of Houston Butler Plaza, from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Attendance to the event is free and open to the public. Learn more on the UH Sustainability Facebook Page.
  23. Young Adult Sustainability Call for Presenters. The Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club is reaching out to young people, from high school to college in the Houston area, that have demonstrated dedication and commitment to sustainability.  This can include a range of interests from urban park preservation or air and water quality mitigation to environmental activism around global climate change.  The Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club would like to celebrate the ongoing achievements of these young adults. The group is offering a certificate of recognition and a one-year, free membership to the Sierra Club to individuals who make a 7-10 minute presentation about their sustainability efforts at its February general meeting in order to bring together young people from all parts of the city, and all races and economic groups, to see their common interests in sustaining the planet for future generations. If you have any questions, please email Elizabeth Spike at elizabeth.spike@comcast.net or call 713-256-3589.
  24. Additional Upcoming Events:

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Japhet Creek Clean-ups. Japhet Creek Nature Conservancy is hosting several creek clean-ups this fall, including October 8 & 22, and November 12 & 19. Learn more about how to help at japhetcreek.org.
  2. Texas Commission for Environmental Quality Recycling Survey. Please aid the TCEQ  by participating in a survey for a study on the current and potential economic impacts of recycling, including state and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not recycled. Results will be included in the TCEQ report, “Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review, 2016 Data Summary and Analysis.” The study is required for the Texas House Bill 2763 of the 84th Texas Legislature.. Survey participation is voluntary and participants will have limited confidentiality. The survey is available now through Oct. 31. Please visit www.tceq.texas.gov for a full summary of the survey. Click here for a direct link to take the survey.
  3. NOAA Community-based Marine Debris Removal Grants. Deadline: October 14, 2016. This opportunity provides funding to support locally-driven, marine debris assessment and removal projects that will benefit coastal habitat, waterways, and NOAA trust resources. Projects awarded through this grant competition implement on-the-ground marine debris removal activities, with priority for those targeting medium- and large-scale debris, including derelict fishing gear. There is also a secondary priority for projects that conduct post-removal habitat monitoring to assess the beneficial impacts of debris removal. Typical awards will range from $50,000 to $150,000. For more information or to apply, please go to www.grants.gov.
  4. 2016 EcoChallenge. Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites Houstonians to join them in challenging themselves to better care for the environment during the upcoming EcoChallenge. Participants (individuals, families, or groups) choose one action to reduce their environmental impact and stick with it for the two-week challenge period (Oct. 14 – 28, 2016).  There are many possible challenges to choose from in the categories of: water, energy, food, transportation, waste, nature, simplicity, and community.  Or, you can create your own challenge. Sign up today a twww.ecochallenge.org and challenge yourself to become a better steward of the environment.
  5. Montrose Bi-Annual Recycling Event. Join the Montrose District on Oct. 15, 2016, from 10 am – 2 pm. The event will be hosted at Walgreens, 3317 Montrose. Contact MVillafranca@compycycle.net, or via phone, 713-869-6700. For a full list of acceptable items, visit www.montrosedistrict.org.
  6. Future of Energy Forum lunch. The Center for Environmental Policy at American University;  the Center for Energy, Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Houston; and the Texas Clean Energy Coalition invite you to a discussion on Texas’ energy future on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, from 12:00-2:00 pm, at the Houstonian Hotel.  Pat Wood, former chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will moderate, and Bill Reilly, former EPA Administrator, will serve as a discussant, along with other experts. Learn more and RSVP at eventbrite.com.
  7. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region Grant Proposal. Deadline: October 28, 2016. NOAA is now seeking proposals under the Gulf of Mexico Bay-Watershed Education and Training (Gulf B-WET) Program. The full FY17 Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) can be found at Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-SE-2017-2005000. Applicants should apply through Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on October 28, 2016, to be considered for funding. Please see the FFO for all application details. The Gulf of Mexico B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit www.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for more information.
  8. NOAA Marine Debris Research Federal Funding Opportunity. Deadline: December 19, 2016. NOAA’s Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the FY2017 Marine Debris Research Federal Funding Opportunity. Proposals are due December 19, 2016.  The announcement can be found on Grants.gov at www.grants.gov.
  9. 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, Texas City, Galveston, 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.
    • Texas Water Safari
    • Loggerhead Shrikes
    • Woodpeckers
  10. Additional Upcoming Events