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March 13, 2012

Community Notes 03-12-2012

  1. Texas Environmental Flows Science Advisory Committee Update. The next meeting of the Texas Environmental Flows Science Advisory Committee (SAC) will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM. The meeting will be held at the Texas Parks and Wildlife headquarters located at 4200 Smith School Rd, Austin, Texas, 78744. The meeting agenda will be posted to the group’s website upon development. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/water_rights/eflows/txenvironmentalflowssac.html.
  2. TCEQ Commissioners Name Zak Covar As Next Executive Director. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Commissioners voted unanimously today to appoint Zak Covar executive director for the agency effective May 1, 2012. Covar has served as deputy executive director since August 2009. He succeeds Mark Vickery who is retiring from state government after 25 years of service. Covar began his career in state government when he clerked for Chairman Dennis Bonnen (State Representative District 25) on the House Environmental Regulation Committee. From 2005 to 2007, Covar also worked as the environmental and natural resource adviser to Governor Rick Perry. In this role, Covar was responsible for advising the governor and senior staff on all major budget and policy issues pertaining to the TCEQ, the Texas Railroad Commission, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. At the TCEQ, Covar served as the executive assistant to Chairman Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D. and later as assistant deputy executive director. A native Texan, Covar earned a Bachelor of Science in Poultry Science from Texas A&M University.
  3. Fix a Leak Week. American households waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water each year due to leaky pipes, toilets, showerheads and other fixtures, but fixing leaks can be easy and inexpensive. During the 4th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 12-18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program is educating Americans about the importance of fixing leaks around the home, which will save water and nearly 10 percent on utility bills. The average American home leaks more than 10,000 gallons of water per year, which is equivalent to the water needed to wash 280 loads of laundry, take more than 600 showers or meet the average family’s water needs for a month. Finding and fixing leaks around the home is as easy as check, twist and replace:
    • Check for leaks. Toilet leaks can be found by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to also check irrigation systems and spigots.
    • Twist and tighten pipe connections. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator or showerhead.
    • Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for the WaterSense label when replacing plumbing fixtures, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

    More information about finding and fixing leaks: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak

  4. GCRC Roundtable. Gulf Coast Recycling Council has created a new program for 2012 called the GCRC Roundtable. The GCRC Roundtable brings together people from various companies and industries to share ideas and discuss challenges and successes that relate to waste management and recycling throughout their facilities. The first meeting is dedicated to working with Green Team members. It is scheduled for March 14th from 11am-12:30pm at United Way (50 Waugh Dr). To register, visit http://www.gcrcofstar.org/gcrc-roundtable.html.
  5. Briar Forest Super Neighborhood Council Meeting. There is a city meeting on March 19th at 6:30pm at the Paul Revere Middle School Auditorium (10502 Briar Forest Drive). The meeting will cover Capital Improvement Projects, including budgeted plans to remove forested areas along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. This is an opportunity for the public to show support for the preservation of the forest. Mayor Annise Parker, Councilman Oliver Pennington, and the Director of the City’s Public Works and Engineering Department are anticipated to attend. Read more and sign an online petition at http://briarforestsn.org/.
  6. Cullinan Park Photo Contest. As an effort to bring more visitors to the Park, and to raise the appreciation for the extraordinary natural resources at the Park, The Cullinan Park Conservancy welcomes all photographers to submit images of landscape and wildlife for consideration. Deadline: March 20. More information can be found at http://cullinanparkconservancy.org.
  7. Film Showing: Mountainfilm on Tour- Houston! There will be a showing of Mountainfilm on March 31st from 7-11:30pm at the Rice University Media Center (Corner of University Blvd and Stockton Entrance 8). Mountainfilm is and inspiring mix of films dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring , environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining. Learn more at http://www.mountainfilm.org/houston.
  8. Blog – Bring Back the Water Fountain. Nancy Stoner, acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Water, blogged about water fountains in public places. In the blog, Ms. Stoner discusses the benefits in services provided to people in cities in access to clean drinking water as well as the cost savings in choosing tap water over bottled water. To read the blog, visit: http://blog.epa.gov/.
  9. Gulf Coast Green Symposium Registration. Early registration is now open through April 1st for the Gulf Coast Green Symposium. This symposium on May 1st is the leading green building conference targeted to design and construction professionals within the Gulf Coast region. The keynote speakers are Stan Cox, a senior scientist at a nonprofit agricultural research institute in Salina, Kansas, and Mitchell Thomashow, a devotee to work to promoting ecological awareness, sustainable living, creative learning, improvisational thinking, social networking, and organizational excellence. Register at http://gulfcoastgreen.org/.
  10. Climate Ready Estuaries 2011 Progress Report. Climate Ready Estuaries is an EPA program designed to help the national estuary programs and coastal managers plan for climate change. The program helps assess climate change vulnerabilities, develop and implement adaptation strategies, and engage and educate stakeholders. The EPA has announced the release of the “Climate Ready Estuaries 2011 Progress Report,” which describes program accomplishments and the new National Estuary Program projects that were launched during 2011. The “Climate Ready Estuaries 2011 Progress Report” is available at: http://epa.gov/cre/.
  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:
    • Reclaiming the River – Colorado River
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Colorado County WMA
    • Village Creek State Park
  12. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • March 13: Green–Good–Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • March 14: Green–Good–Moderate winds, increased cloud cover, and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • March 15: Green–Good–Moderate winds, increased cloud cover, and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.