Community Notes 08-03-2011

1. Texas Bottle Bill. One way to show your support for the Texas Bottle Bill is to contact your favorite bottlers and encourage them to support deposits on their packaging. You can let them know that you will continue to buy their product, but you would like them to be conscientious of the discarded packaging. Also, to support the Texas Bottle Bill, you can call your state legislators who are now in their home districts and ask them where they stand on the Deposit Legislation. You can find your legislature at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/.
2. Bike Belong Grant. Bike Belong is an organization “committed to putting more people on bicycles more often.” It just announced that it will be awarding grants that will be used to fund the construction or expansion of bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, trails, and paths. Upcoming deadlines for the grant program are February 29, 2012, and June 29, 2012. To learn more about the grant, visit http://foundationcenter.org/.
3. SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program. The SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program is a program that annually provides support for bird habitat conservation projects. The program provides funding for projects that protect, restore, or manage habitats for migratory birds; benefit declining, threatened, or endangered species; generate measurable outcomes. The program is a partnership between ConocoPhillips and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, so the projects must be in areas where ConocoPhillips has an operating presence. To learn more, visit http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/.
4. 2012 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. The 2012 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards are accepting applications for environmental projects that are new and noteworthy. Awards may presented in the following categories: technology, innovative operations, water conservation, pollution prevention, community, education, agriculture, youth, and individual. To learn more about the Excellence Awards, visit http://www.teea.org/about.htm.
5. Water Conservation Tips. Late July and early August is the time that water use usually peaks. The EPA has released some tips on how to save on your summer water bill and conserve water in the community. Visit http://epa.gov/watersense for the full article. The tips include:
1. Step on it: If you step on the lawn and the grass springs back, it doesn’t need water.
2. Time it right: The best times to water your lawn are in the early morning and late evening.
3. Tune-up your system: Check your watering system for leaks, breaks, or clogs.
4. Play zone defense: Adjust your watering system based on the differences in the landscape, such as sun/shade exposure, soil and plant types, and type of sprinklers.
5. Give your hose a break: Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off.
6. Leave it long: Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, which causes the lawn to be more drought resistant.
6. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
• August 4: Yellow–Moderate–Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” levels on the north and northeast side of the Houston area, with highest  concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
• August 5: Yellow–Moderate–Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” on the east and northeast side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
• August 6: Yellow–Moderate–Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” on the north and northeast side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
• On August 1, TCEQ issued a LEVEL RED warning for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area.  Ozone air pollution levels are rated as UNHEALTHY. Everyone, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. People with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
• On July 31 and August 1, TCEQ issued several air pollution LEVEL ORANGE warnings for the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area.  Ozone air pollution levels are rated as UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. Active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.