Community Notes 07-02-2012

1. America Is Your Park. Coca-Cola is holding its 3rd annual America is your park campaign. Your vote can help your favorite park win the title of “America’s Favorite Park” and a $100,000 recreation grant from Coca-Cola. Many people have decided to vote to help Bastrop State Park, which is still recovering from the wildfires last fall. Visit https://apps.facebook.com/ to learn more and to vote. You can vote everyday until July 15th.
2. The Greater Houston Regional By-Product Synergy Project.  The Greater Houston Regional By-Product Synergy (BPS) Project is recruiting new organizations and companies that would like to find opportunities to turn waste streams into by-products or want to find-lower-cost, locally sourced recycled materials for their operations. This project was launched in February, 2010 by the US Business Council for Sustainable Development [501(c)(3)] and currently has 20 members. Already this group has identified 16,000 metric tons of underutilized resources that can be diverted from landfills and substituted for virgin materials. Members sign a non-disclosure agreement allowing a safe forum to share innovative ideas and have access to a dedicated online data base of materials available and materials needed by others. If you are interested in learning more about the BPS please contact Mary Ellen Whitworth at mail2mew@hal-pc.org or 713-823-6939 or visit our website www.greaterhoustonbps.org.
3. Trinity River Refuge Ribbon Cutting for New Paved Road. Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:00 am on Monday, July 9th for the new paved road leading into the Champion Lake Public Use Area. Paving will be completed by July 3rd (barring any weather issues) and re-opened to the public that day. This site located at the end of CR 417 off of FM 1409 was purchased by the Refuge in 2006. It has remained a dirt road until now. In addition to the road, there will be new striping, signs and speed bumps along with the butterfly garden parking area being paved. An electric gate that will automatically close at sundown and re-open at sunrise is planned for the near future. The Champion Lake Public Use Area is free and open to fishing, hiking, butterfly and bird watching, waterfowl hunting with a refuge permit, and limited boating. It is open 7 days a week during daylight hours only but may be closed from time to time due to flooding. This new road will be posted at 20 mph speed limit and radar enforced. Refuge staff will be on hand to answer questions. This event is open to everyone and we hope you can attend on July 9. If you have any questions, please call Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, at 936/336-9786.
4. 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:
   • Living History – Civilian Conservation Corps
   • Brazos Bend Bike Trails
   • TPWD People: Seagrass Team
   • Devil’s Sinkhole: The Movie
5. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
   • July 3: Yellow–Moderate–Fine Particulate. African dust with “Moderate” fine particulate levels range should cover most of the state except far West Texas. Levels may begin to diminish along the coast in the afternoon and evening.
   • July 4: Green–Good. Moderate winds and decreasing particulate background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
   • July 5: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
   • On June 26, TCEQ issued an Air Pollution Warning Level Purple for very unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area. During a level purple warning, Everyone, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion and limit exposure by staying inside (air conditioned spaces are best).
   • On June 26 and 27, TCEQ issued Air Pollution Warnings – Level Red for unhealthy levels of Ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Red warning, everyone, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. The TCEQ also issued Air Pollution Warnings – Level Orange for unhealthy levels of ozone in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas. During a Level Orange warning, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure.