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January 18, 2012

Community Notes 01-18-2012

  1. ROGC Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar: J. David Bamberger. J. David Bamberger is the founder of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, also known as “Selah,” a term form the Book of Psalms meaning “pause and reflect.” Selah is located in the Hill Country near Johnson City, Texas. In 1969 Mr. Bamberger bought what the locals called “the worst piece of real estate in Blanco County” – 5,500 acres of badly degraded ranch land. He has spent the last 42 years restoring the ranch to health and productivity. Selah is one of the largest private habitat restoration projects in the State of Texas. Over 88 species of grasses, most of them native, now thrive on the hillsides and valleys of Selah. Mr. Bamberger has demonstrated that restoration of a damaged environment is possible with commitment and patience. Thursday Jan 19, 2012 9:30 a.m. – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – Brown Auditorium. More information on the River Oaks Garden Club website.
  2. TEDxManhattan Viewing Party. Blackwood Land Institute and the Beaming Bioneers invite you to view TEDxManhattan: Changing the Way We Eat. January 21, 2012, from 9:30 to 4:30. An inspiring day watching leaders from diverse areas of the sustainable food movement talk about impacts and innovations across the country as we shift to a more sustainable way of eating and farming. Hear local farmers, fishermen and chefs speak about what’s happening right here in Houston and the Gulf Coast region. Learn more about the speakers at www.tedxmanhattan.org. This event is free, but space is limited and registration is required. More at http://www.beamingbioneershouston.org/.
  3. Earth Worm Disco. Shake and groove with Shira Kline and rockin’ green music & crafts at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston this Sunday, January 22 starting at 3:30pm. Shira and her kiddie rock band, ShirLaLa, are traveling across the country and internationally delivering a dynamic and interactive program of joy and spirit, story and song. With a lifelong passion for environmental activism and an imagination as wide as the seas, Shira combines her passion for children and the earth with her music. Her newest project, Earth Worm Disco, celebrates ecomusic for kids and is a colorful playground that honors the bounty of earth, sea and sky, and the wonders of growing up green. The fun kicks off with PJ Library story time at 3:30pm and is followed by free eco-friendly crafts and games. The concert will start at 4:30pm. More on the JCC website.
  4. Texas Public Input Meeting – Deepwater Horizon Trustees. There is a Texas public input meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 26 in Galveston. The meeting will take place in the Texas A&M University Ocean and Coastal Studies Building, 1001 Texas Clipper Road. The meeting will provide an opportunity for people to gain knowledge of the restoration process. The attendees are encouraged to comment on the Draft Phase 1 Early Restoration Plan. More at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/.
  5. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop. The Texas Watershed Steward Workshop is a FREE one-day event to help residents in the watershed improve and protect water resources by getting involved in local watershed protection and management activities. The workshop will focus on water quality issues in Highland Bayou, as well as efforts by the Texas Coastal Watershed Program, Galveston Bay Estuary Program, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and area residents to help improve the health of water resources in Galveston County. Bayous in the study area are known to have elevated levels of bacteria and low levels of oxygen. Continuing education credits will be available for professional engineers, certified planners, certified teachers, crop advisors, pesticides license holders, landscape architects, and certified floodplain managers. Workshop will be held at the Galveston County AgriLife Extension offices in Carbide Park, La Marque at 4102 B Main St. (FM 519) on February 22nd from 8am – 4pm. More information at http://mokabayousalliance.org/.
  6. Flower Banks Turns 20. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary was first designated on January 17, 1992. In recognition of 20 years of science, education, and conservation, sanctuary staff are planning special events throughout the year. Beginning in February, the sanctuary will host a series of Seaside Chats to help celebrate their 20th Anniversary. These FREE presentations will take place at the newly renovated Galveston Fishing Pier. Light refreshments will be served following each talk to provide an opportunity to chat with the presenters and sanctuary staff. Come learn about the Coral Reefs in your own Backyard! Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Galveston Fishing Pier (9001 Seawall Blvd). More information on the sanctuary’s calendar of events.
    • February 8 Coral Reefs of Texas
    • February 15 Romance on the Reef
    • February 22 The New Krewe in Town
    • February 29 A Diver’s Eye View
    • March 7 Manta Rays, Whale Sharks and Turtles, Oh My!
  7. Sea Turtle Cam. Dr. Kim Reich of the Sea Turtle and Fisheries Ecology Lab at Texas A&M University at Galveston is helping a Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle recover from injuries in a fishing accident. The turtle is being cared for by the National Marine Fisheries staff. The staff hopes that the turtle will be ready for release in May/June. In the meantime, the public is invited to watch the new turtle by visiting the Outreach Center (9am-5pm weekdays and 10am-2pm weekends) or by checking out the new turtle camera at http://www.galveston.com/turtlecam/. Also, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project is sponsoring a Name-the-Turtle Contest. Elementary or middle school classes may submit a name by sending a letter to P. O. Box 681231, Houston, Texas 77268-1231. The letter should include the name and mailing address of the school with the teacher¹s name and e-mail address. A winner will be announced by April 1, 2012.
  8. Light Bulb Change. According to federal law, most screw-in light bulbs must use at least 27 percent less energy by 2014. Standard incandescent light bulbs do not meet this requirement, and are therefore being phased out. As of January 1st, 100-watt incandescent bulbs will no longer be imported and will be sold until supplies run out. In 2013, 75-watt bulbs will no longer be imported, and in 2014 the 40- and 60-watt bulbs will stop. To learn how to determine the best light bulbs for your fixtures, visit http://www.consumerreports.org/.
  9. Crawfish Frog of the Coastal Prairies Approaching Extinction. A Window into the Global Amphibian Crisis: Discovering the Biology of North America’s Most Secretive Frog as it Approaches Extinction. Featuring Dr. Michael Lannoo, Indiana University School of Medicine. Friday, March 9, 2012, at the Houston Zoo Brown Education Center. The Crawfish frog is one of the most elusive and cryptic amphibians in Texas, and North America. Associated with crawfish burrows and tall grass prairies throughout their range, this species may be disappearing along with our vibrant Coastal prairies. For the past three years Dr. Lannoo and his graduate students have been undertaking a variety of exciting and ground breaking projects designed to learn the important aspects of the population biology and landscape use of this unusual animal in the grasslands of Indiana. The ultimate goal is to manage this species to prevent its extinction. Visit www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/ for more information and to purchase tickets.
  10. Save the Date: Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo & Spring Fling. March 24, 2012. Learn lots of stuff AND get your picture taken with Smokey the Bear. http://expo.tamu.edu/.
  11. 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:
    • Texas on Two Wheels
    • TPWD People: Steve Magnelia
    • Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center*
    • Images for Conservation
  12. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • January 19: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • January 20: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • January 21: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.