Community Notes 02-01-2012

1. Electric Theatre Radio Hour meets Ocean Literacy Advocates Josh Carter and Ashley. As part of the Electric Theatre Radio Hour’s continuing series focusing on the Galveston community’s up and coming new leaders, co-host Brenda Lee interviews Ocean Literacy advocates Josh Carter and Ashley Sanders. Josh and Ashley, both Texas A&M students, are working with Galveston Surfriders, the Galveston Chamber of Commerce and others in developing a single use bag system for the city. To listen to the show, visit http://www.georgedouglaslee.com/.
2. Drought Symposium. Texas Forest Service and Texas Forestry Association are holding a symposium on February 8th from 8am-3pm in Diboll, Texas. The symposium will cover the impacts of a drought and how to prepare for the future. There will be a range of speakers from forestry, agriculture, and natural resources agencies. RSVP by February 3rd by contacting Shane Harrington at (936) 546-1470. More at http://texasforestservice.tamu.edu/.
3. 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 to 4pm. More information at http://mokabayousalliance.org/ or Facebook.com/MoKaBayousAlliance. Agenda and pre-registration is available at http://tws.tamu.edu/workshops/online-registration or call 979-862-8070.
4. Sustainable Communities Regional Plan Community Meetings. Around 4 million additional residents are expected to move to the Houston Galveston region in the next 30 years. Therefore, the Houston Galveston Regional Plan is important for ensuring sustainability. The 13- county plan explores opportunities to improve the region’s most important resources, including clean air and water, good jobs, safe and attractive neighborhoods, affordable housing, transportation choices, and open spaces and parks. In February and March of 2012, meetings will take place in different parts of the region to discuss the plan and allow residents to provide input. To find a meeting, visit http://www.ourregion.org/events.html.
5. Do You Have an Ash Tree? Texas Forest Service soon will be surveying ash trees across the state for signs of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that kills its host. An exotic wood-boring beetle from Asia, the dark, metallic green insect bores into ash trees and feeds on the area between the wood and the bark, effectively killing the tree. The half-inch long pest first was found in Michigan in 2002, and since has spread to at least 15 different states and Canada. The survey is designed to help tree experts determine if the beetle also has spread to Texas. Beginning in March, foresters will begin hanging large, purple traps from select ash trees in Central and East Texas. More than 700 survey traps will be set out in 71 Texas counties–including Montgomery, Walker, Chambers, and Brazoria. If you’re a landowner with ash trees — the only known host — on your property, and would like to participate, surveyors could use your help. Notify Joe Pase at 936-639-8170 or jpase@tfs.tamu.edu.
6. 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:
7. • Charlie and His Cannon – San Jacinto*
   • Home of the Houston Toad*
   • TPWD People: Jonathan Gray
8. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
• February 2: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• February 3: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• February 4: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.