Community Notes 11-16-2011

1. Facebook: Japhet Creek Restoration Volunteers – Keep it Clean and Green! The Japhet Creek Nature Conservancy now has a Facebook page where it will post updates and links related to volunteering for creek clean-up events. If you already have a Facebook account, please go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/japhetcreekvolunteers/ and “like” the page!
2. 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo. The 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo will take place on November 17th from 6-8pm at the University of Houston College of Architecture (Atrium). This expo will feature many green projects, including Sun Stop Solar, Gulf Coast Mod, Botanica Bio-regenerative Air Purifier, Z-Fab Housing, and Parametric Precast Concrete System. To learn more, visit http://www.uhgbc.org/.
3. Proposed Expansion of the North Freeway/I-45 Meeting. There will be a public meeting on November 17th at Aldine High School from 6-8pm for I-45/North Freeway expansion Historic neighborhoods north of downtown in project’s path. As originally planned, the project would widen the North Freeway to 12 lanes. If the original proposals are carried out, the project will have significant impact on several historic neighborhoods, including the Woodland Heights Historic District, Near Northside National Register District and the Grota Homestead addition, which Texas Historical Commission has determined is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. More at http://www.facebook.com/groups/.
4. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Website. The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has added a new page about Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCE) to their website. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) are defined as light-dependent coral communities that occur in the deepest half of the photic (light-receiving) zone in tropical or sub-tropical waters. They represent about 98% of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary habitat. To learn more, visit the MCE webpage at http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/about/mesophotic.html.
   
5. Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). The EPA has developed a tool for water sector utilities called Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). CREAT is a software tool that assists drinking water and wastewater utility owners and operators in understanding potential climate change threats and in assessing the related risks at their individual utilities. It provides users with access to the most recent national assessment of climate change impacts for use in considering how these changes will impact utility operations and missions. For more information on CREAT, visit http://water.epa.gov/.
   
6. EPA Portfolio Manager. The EPA has an online energy management tool, Portfolio Manager, which enables you to track the progress of energy efficiency efforts and compare the energy use of your buildings to peer buildings across the country. There will be a webinar on November 29th that will review the tool. Participants will learn how to measure and track energy use and carbon dioxide emission reductions to establish baseline energy use, prioritize investments, set goals, and track improvements over time. The webinar will be held from 1-2:15pm. More at https://energystar.webex.com/.
7. The Global Water Experiment. ‘Water: A Chemical Solution’ is a global chemistry experiment open to K-12 students and teachers. Participants explore water quality issues through four activities (pH of the Planet, Salty Waters, Solar Still Challenge, and Water: No Dirt, No Germs), then share their experiment results with the global science community. To learn more about the experiment, visit http://water.chemistry2011.org/web/iyc.
8. Cullinan Park Nature Photo Contest. The Cullinan Park Conservancy is holding a Nature Photo Contest. People are encouraged to enter photographs of landscape, animals, birds, insects, fish, and reptiles who call Cullinan Park at Oyster Creek their home. To enter, send an email, one per image, to cullinanparkconservancy@gmail.com, giving the title of the piece, the name, address, and phone number of the entrant, and attaching the image file. Find out more at http://cullinanparkconservancy.ning.com/.
9. National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program. The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program will be awarding grants that support urban and community forestry projects on nonfederal public land that have a national or widespread impact and application. There will be innovation grants for the following strategic priority issues: Climate Change, Public Health, and Economic Development. For more information about the grants, visit http://www.govtech.com/grants/.
   
10. DOI WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program is accepting applications for grants for projects that projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, or carry out other activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict. Applications are due on January 19th, 2012. More information at http://www.grants.gov/.
11. Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas. A new Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas is available at http://gulfatlas.noaa.gov/. The atlas, offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), answers questions about the physical environment, marine resources, and economic activity in the Gulf of Mexico. This initial release of the pilot version of the atlas has 95 map plates in 31 different subject areas with more planned in 2012.
12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife.Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website. This week’s broadcast will cover:
    • What’s in the Water
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Blue Mountain Peak Ranch
    • Ray Roberts Lake State Park
    • The Flying Photographers
    • Postcard From Texas – Oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico
13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
• November 17: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• November 18: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• November 19: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range.