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January 4, 2012

Community Notes 01-04-2012

  1. Whooping Crane Trial. After a two-week trial in federal district court in Corpus Christi, the trial concluded yesterday afternoon in The Aransas Project’s lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act to ensure adequate freshwater inflows to San Antonio Bay to protect the endangered whooping cranes that winter at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. After the trial, TAP’s lead attorney Jim Blackburn said, “We feel very positive about the case that we presented to the Court. Judge Jack indicated at the close of the trial that she intends to very thoroughly review the record, and that the parties should not expect a decision until sometime this summer. In terms of the case, we will focus on our post-trial briefs, and then await the decision of the Court.” More information on the TAP website.
  2. National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education Staff Office is taking applications for environmental education professionals for the positions on the advisory council. Eleven vacancies must be filled. Applications must be submitted by January 15th. More at http://www.federalregister.gov/.
  3. CompuCycle Opening. The city of Houston has opened a CompuCycle recycling center, which offers computer refurbishing, reusing, and recycling. The center is located at 7700 Kempwood Drive, in the Spring Branch area. More information is available at http://www.compucycle.net/.
  4. Public Input on Early Restoration of the Gulf. The Deepwater Horizon Draft Phase I Early Restoration Plan & Environmental Assessment (DERP/EA) has been released for formal public comment. This is the first in a series of plans to begin restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. The plan describes the initial projects proposed to receive funding from the $1 billion Early Restoration agreement. The public comment period ends on February 14th. View the DERP/EA at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/.
  5. State-Fish Art Contest. The State-Fish Art Contest provides an opportunity for students, grades 4 through 12, to creatively learn valuable lessons about fish and the importance of conserving Texas’ aquatic resources. Students can submit a drawing of an officially recognized state fish and a one-page essay on its behavior, habitat or conservation. The entry deadline is March 31st. More information at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
  6. Every Day 2012 Grants. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is awarding grants to organizations that serve and support the nation’s public lands. These grants are designed to strengthen the organizations so that they can better serve the public lands, and while attaining much more public support support. Pre-proposals are due by January 13th. Learn more at http://www.neefusa.org/grants/every_day_grants.
  7. Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest. Treasures of the Texas Coast Children’s Art Contest is calling for entries. The contest is designed to draw attention to the negative effects of trashing Texas beaches. Ten winners will be chosen from each of four grade-level categories (K – 2nd, 3rd – 4th, 5th, and 6th). The deadline to submit an entry is March 5th. More information at http://guidrynews.com/.
  8. Recreational Trail Grants. The National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas provides up to 80% of project cost for both motorized and non-motorized recreational trail projects such as the construction of new recreational trails, to improve existing trails, to develop trailheads or trailside facilities, and to acquire trail corridors. The application deadline is February 1st. More at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/grants/.
  9. Grant Program to Support Conservation Job Training Programs. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced a new grant program, The America’s Great Outdoors: Connecting Youth to the Outdoors Initiative. This initiative supports organizations that are developing innovative conservation job opportunities for youth which expose young people, particularly urban and minority youth, to the natural world and career opportunities available in conservation. Grants will typically be for amounts between $50,000 and $100,000 for projects of six to eighteen months. More information is available at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp.
  10. Captain Planet Foundation Grants. The Captain Planet Foundation grants support educational programs that allow children to understand and appreciate our world through hands-on learning experiences that teach how to improve the environment in schools and communities. The deadline for applications is January 15th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/.
  11. Proposals for Oil Spill Research. The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative will fund up to $7.5 million per year for research grants to individual investigators or small groups of researchers. The research must address one of the following: physical distribution, dispersion, and dilution of petroleum; chemical evolution and biological degradation of the petroleum/dispersant systems; environmental effects of the petroleum/dispersant system; technology developments; and impact of oil spills on public health. The deadline for Letters of Intent is January 17th. More at http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/.
  12. Grants to Conserve Coastal Wetlands. The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program will be awarding grants to projects that conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. These projects should help acquire, restore, or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat. More at http://www.fws.gov/coastal/.
  13. 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 (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
    • Brazos Bend Bike Trails*
    • TPWD People: Seagrass Team
    • Devil’s Sinkhole: The Movie
  14. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • January 5: Yellow–Moderate, fine particulates–Winds may be light enough for fine particulate to reach “Moderate” levels in the Houston area with highest concentrations in the morning and evening.
    • January 6: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • January 7: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

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