Community Notes 08-06-2012

1. What Happens When Water Hits the Soil? Scientific Water Conservation Seminar. Water conservation and plant health begins and ends in the soil. By acquiring knowledge about how water and nutrients are stored in the soil, what affects the soil water availability has on plant health, and what are the key elements driving plant water use in the soil, water waste can be significantly reduced. The Scientific Water Conservation Seminar will be held on August 9th from 4-7pm at United Way (50 Waugh Dr). Register at http://ohbaonline.org/.
2. Houston Sustainability Survey 2012. Sustainable Development is development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In Houston, the largest city in the region and state, we are a primary hub of business and organizational activity. In the Houston region, in 2010, we spent $385M and supported approximately 3.5 million jobs according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Developing Green Jobs is one component of sustainability in businesses and organizations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012) reported that 2% of all the jobs in Texas were green jobs in 2010, which was approximately 230,000 jobs. Even if all of the green jobs in Texas were in the Houston region, they would only constitute 7% of all jobs in the Houston region. Therefore, we need to seriously develop more green jobs! Take the survey to show what your business is doing to develop more green jobs in Houston. https://www.surveymonkey.com/
3. New Waller County Farmers Market. There is a new Farmers Market in Waller County. AgriLife Extension and Cooperative Extension Program at PVAMU have been working with local and area farmers for several years in an effort to create an opportunity locally to market ag products and food. The Waller County Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 9am-1pm at Fieldstore Road and U.S. Hwy 290. Learn more at http://www.wallercountyfarmersmarket.com/.
4. Texas Coral Reefs: Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow. A public lecture, reception, and workshop will take place August 23rd-24th at the Baker Institute. The purpose of the Aug. 24 workshop on Texas coral reefs is to raise awareness of the reefs and banks on the Texas continental shelf with scientists and the public. At this event, scientists, policymakers and community leaders will take an integrated, interdisciplinary look at the past, present and future of these unique and uncommon features. Discussions will also address the reefs’ current and future condition over the next 50 years, in the context of global warming, ocean acidification, overfishing, general pollution and other possible environmental issues. Learn more and register at http://bakerinstitute.org/.
5. United Way 2012-2013 Wage and Benefit Survey. The United Way of Greater Houston has launched the United Way 2012-2013 Wage and Benefit Survey. The only local nonprofit compensation study, the Wage & Benefit Survey provides a comprehensive overview of salaries and other benefits. The deadline for completing the survey is close-of-business on Wednesday, August 22. Werling Associates Inc. will serve as the third-party administrator for this survey and will maintain extreme confidentiality with all data. To participate, download and save a copy of the survey questionnaire in Excel format. Open the file in Excel to take the survey. Once the spreadsheet is completed, please save it and submit it to Werling Associates, Inc. Please send the entire survey via e-mail to christy@werling.com. Please include the organization’s name in the subject line. Werling Associates Inc. will present survey findings in October, and survey participants will receive a free copy of the printed report.
6. Definition of Existing Easement — Harris County Pipeline Corridor at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. In a meeting on August 30, 2012 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) will consider a recommendation by staff to define the areal extent of an easement for an existing pipeline installed in 1969 at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. At this meeting, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed transaction before the Commission takes action. The meeting will start at 9am at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Headquarters, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. Prior to the meeting, public comment may be submitted to Ted Hollingsworth, Land Conservation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 or by email at ted.hollingsworth@tpwd.state.tx.us or through http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
7. Patagonia’s Environmental Grants. Patagonia’s Environmental Grants Program seeks to fund work that is action-oriented, builds public involvement and support, is strategic, focuses on root causes, accomplishes specific goals and objectives, and demonstrates a commitment to long-term change. Grants in the range of $3,000 to $8,000 will be awarded to small, grassroots organizations that have provocative direct-action agendas to preserve and protect the environment. The application deadline is August 31st. More at http://foundationcenter.org/.
8. Recycle-Bowl Competition. Recycle-Bowl is a competition between schools designed to establish new recycling programs within schools, increase recycling rates in schools that currently recycle, and provide teacher/student educational opportunities about recycling and waste reduction. The 2012 Recycle-Bowl registration database is now open. The competition will be held October 15th to November 9th. The first 1000 schools to register will receive a Recycle-Bowl coordinator toolkit, which will include Recycle-Bowl competition posters, lesson plans, a library book, and more. Learn more and register at http://recycle-bowl.org/.
9. Small Grant Announcement – Region 6 EPA. The Environmental Education Association of New Mexico (EEANM) has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from the US EPA to administer a small grant program throughout EPA Region 6. EEANM is partnering with the Texas Association for Environmental Education, the Louisiana Environmental Education Association, the Arkansas Environmental Education Association, and the Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education, to solicit proposals for projects that meet state association priorities. Projects may include professional development, student projects, or statewide capacity building for delivering environmental education. Each state association will provide a team of reviewers to select projects for awards up to $5,000. At least 19 grants will be funded throughout the five-state region. The projects will be selected by December 2012. The grant period is one year. The Request for Proposals, the Grant Application, and a Press Release are available at http://eeanm.org/small_grant_program.html.
10. 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:
    • Turkey Work
    • Lost Maples State Natural Area
    • Monarch of the Marsh
    • TPWD People: Debra Borrego
11. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • August 7: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Increasing background levels and decreasing cloud cover combined with sufficiently light winds could help ozone levels reach “Moderate” on the north and northeast sides of the Houston area.
    • August 8: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Increasing background levels and decreasing cloud cover combined with sufficiently light winds could help ozone levels reach “Moderate” on the north and northeast sides of the Houston area.
    • August 9: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Increasing background levels and decreasing cloud cover combined with sufficiently light winds could help ozone levels reach “Moderate” on the north and northeast sides of the Houston area.
    • On August 6, TCEQ issued an 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.