Community Notes 08-27-2012

1. Monarch Migration. The Journey North fall monarch migration reporting season starts August 30. Monarchs will be making their annual migration to Mexico. You can report monarch sightings and view progress at http://www.learner.org/.
2. Comment on Pipeline Corridor at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. On August 30, 2012, 9:00 am at TPWD headquarters in Austin, 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. Comment on the proposed transaction before the Commission takes action. More info at www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
3. Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival. Commissioner Radack’s annual Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival at the Kleb Woods Nature Center, 20303 Draper Road at Mueschke Road in Tomball, will be Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. This year’s event will feature hummingbird expert Sumita Prasad, who will be capturing and banding the small birds and giving patrons a chance to closely examine the unique creatures. Kleb Woods Nature Center naturalist Kendra Kocab will present a program on how to identify hummingbirds and how to document sightings. Gary Clark, a professor at Lone Star College-North Harris and the author of a weekly newspaper column on nature, will discuss local hummingbirds. His talk will be illustrated by his wife – professional photographer Kathy Adams Clark. Houston Audubon Society Education Director Mary Ann Weber will display live owls throughout the day and give patrons a chance to observe an Eastern Screech Owl, a Barred Owl and a Great Horned Owl. Kleb Woods Nature Center volunteer blacksmiths will also be demonstrating their skills on site and tours of the facility will be going on at the same time. Admission to the family-friendly event is free. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own drinks and snacks. None will be sold at the event. For more information, call (281) 357-5324.
4. The Texas Wildlife Association Education Programs. The Texas Wildlife Association offers programs through their L.A.N.D.S. Outreach Division, to help enhance classroom studies by providing natural resource, habitat, and wildlife conservation educational materials that are fun, hands-on, TEKS aligned, and offered at no cost. *Discovery Trunks* are filled with lessons, activities, and hands-on materials that you and your students can utilize for two weeks. *Distance Learning* programs, currently offered via videoconferencing, bring wildlife and natural resources into your classroom for 45-minute sessions of LIVE, fun, TEKS-aligned learning, again at no cost. Make reservations by contacting Lynnsey Dohmen at ldohmen@texas-wildlife.org (if your school is located inside Houston’s Loop 610) or Mary Pearl Meuth at mpmeuth@texas-wildlife.org (for all other schools in Harris and surrounding counties). For more information, contact Kassi Scheffer, Education Program Specialist, at kscheffer@texas-wildlife.org
   
5. Monarch Migration. The Journey North fall monarch migration reporting season starts August 30. Monarchs will be making their annual migration to Mexico. You can report monarch sightings and view progress at http://www.learner.org/.
6. 2013 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, the state’s highest environmental honor. These annual awards recognize achievements across Texas that significantly reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and prevent pollution. Deadline for applications is Oct. 5. More at http://www.tceq.texas.gov/.
7. 2012 Award Winners. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Office of the Federal Environmental Executive have recognized the achievements of outstanding organizations and individuals for their leadership in the Federal Electronics Challenge during fiscal year 2011. Electronic stewardship actions undertaken by these partners have helped the Federal government improve its sustainable practices when purchasing, managing and disposing of their electronics assets. EPA Region 6, based in Dallas but covering all of Texas and neighboring states, is one of the 10 recognized federal facility partners for the platinum-level award. View the full list at http://www.epa.gov/.
8. Community Service and Volunteering Support – 2013 RSVP Competition. The RSVP Competition provides support to community service programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems. Interests include education, healthy futures, veterans and military families, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and disaster services. The program places emphasis on projects that support volunteers 55 years of age and older serving in a diverse range of activities that meet specific local and community needs. The application deadline is October 11, 2012. Learn more at http://www.seniorcorps.gov/.
9. America’s Great Outdoors: Connecting Youth to the Outdoors 2012 Grants. The National Environmental Education Foundation in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service, has announced a new initiative that seeks to catalyze efforts to increase the number of pre-K-12 youth, particularly urban and/or underserved youth, who build a connection with public lands as places for recreating, learning and volunteering. Proposed projects should maximize hands-on outdoor engagement opportunities on public lands, focused on the areas of education, recreation, and environmental stewardship. The deadline is September 19, 2012. Contact the National Environmental Education Foundation for more information and to apply for this funding: http://www.neefusa.org/grants/connecting_youth.
10. U.S. Small Grants. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act U.S. Small Grants program provides support to public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, enhancement, or establishment of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. The application deadline is October 25, 2012. Learn more at http://www.fws.gov/.
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:
    • Shorebird Survival
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Cactus Creek Ranch
    • Lake Livingston State Park
    • A Plan for the Worst – First-responders preparation
12. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html
    • Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • August 28: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the south side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
    • August 29: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds and lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • August 30: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds, lower incoming background levels, and/or heavy cloud cover should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • On August 21, 2012, TCEQ 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.