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April 2, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update April 2, 2013

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Houston Environmental News Update April 2, 2013

CEC NOTES

  1. Reliant EcoShareSM Program to Benefit CEC and Help Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

COALITION NOTES

  1. Bordeaux on the Bayou
  2. Art in the Park Guided Hike
  3. 4 the Park 4-mile Run/Walk
  4. 2013 Walk for the Woods
  5. Beautification Event at Willow Waterhole
  6. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Ranch Roundup
  7. HANC Earth Day Family Event
  8. Clean Water Forum
  9. Arboretum at Night – Hawk Walk
  10. Children’s Museum of Houston: April Showers Bring May Flowers
  11. Call of the Wild Speaker Series
  12. Earth Day Houston
  13. Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award
  14. Public Comment – Transportation Improvement Program Projects
  15. Air Alliance Houston’s New Executive Director

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Trinity/San Jacinto and Galveston Bay BBASC Meeting
  2. Statement on Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Stay of TAP Decision
  3. 2013 Gulf of Mexico Climate Community of Practice Workshop
  4. Bat Presentations at Waugh Street Bridge
  5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock
  6. Texas Watershed Steward Workshop
  7. Lazy Gardener & Friends Newsletter
  8. State Turtle
  9. Feral Hog Reporting Tool
  10. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
  11. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

  1. Rice Sociologist: Improving Quality Of Life Crucial For Houston’s Economic Future (Florian Martin – KUHF News, 3/28/2013)
  2. $446 million available for Houston region projects (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
  3. Severe Drought Moves To Houston, Most Of The State In Drought Conditions (Shomial Ahmad – KUHF News, 4/1/2013)

GREEN JOBS

  1. Galveston Bay Foundation seeks Membership & Development Coordinator
  2. TWRC Wildlife Center seeks Wildlife Education Interns
  3. TWRC Wildlife Center seeks Junior Counselor Coordinator
  4. Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge seeks Summer Crew
  5. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks Part-time GIS Research Assistant
  6. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks paid summer Intern
  7. Central Texas COG seeks Watershed Coordinator
  8. Bayou Preservation Association seeks Water Quality Investigator Interns (2 positions)
  9. Bayou Greenways 2020 seeks Grassroots and Digital Coordinator
  10. Nature Discovery Center Seeks Part-Time Volunteer Coordinator
  11. ExxonMobil CSJP seeks Hermann Park Centennial Exhibit Research Intern
  12. Shell seeks Hermann Park Reforestation Planning and Volunteer Programs Intern
  13. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) seeks Summer Crew Leaders

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE with survey!

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES

Reliant EcoShareSM Program to Benefit CEC and Help Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

The Citizens’ Environmental Coalition  is pleased to announce the second year of The Reliant EcoShareSM, a way that Texans can support the CEC and offset their own carbon production at the same time. Reliant and EarthShare of Texas have launched a program that allows Reliant customers to help reduce their carbon footprints through the purchase of carbon offsets. And for each customer-purchased offset, Reliant will make a contribution to EarthShare of Texas and its participating organizations. As an EarthShare of Texas participating organization, the CEC will benefit from this program, as well as several CEC member organizations who participate in EarthShare of Texas. For more information, visit the EarthShare of Texas website or go directly to reliant.com/ecoshare.

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COALITION NOTES

  1. Bordeaux on the Bayou. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the Houston Symphony League are hosting Bordeaux on the Bayou with musical interludes by Houston Symphony musicians. The event will take place on April 3, 2013, 6-8pm, at Downtown’s Sabine Promenade. Guests will enjoy a bucolic evening to include strolling the Sabine Promenade while being serenaded by a brass quintet from the Houston Symphony. Pontoon boat rides will also be available with a special musical treat with the Virtosi Orchestra. This high school quartet will play classical and “rolling down the river” tunes during your boat cruise through downtown. The cost is $30 per person. Purchase tickets at http://www.houstonsymphony.org/.
  2. Art in the Park Guided Hike. On April 3, 2013 at 7pm at the Russ Pitman Park, The Nature Discovery Center is holding a guided hike to explore innovative and thought provoking art. Join curators Lucinda Cobley and Lisa Qualls for an interpretive hike around the park to explore this year’s Spring Art show installations. Every Spring, artists are invited to create and install unique pieces of public art, just for Russ Pitman Park. For questions feel free to email Eric Duran: eduran@naturediscoverycenter.org or call (713) 667-6550.
  3. 4 the Park 4-mile Run/Walk. Memorial Park Conservancy and Luke’s Locker are proud to present 4 the Park, a 4-mile run/walk and Kids’ K. This event has one of the best post-race parties in Houston including dishes from your favorite restaurants, adult beverages courtesy of Silver Eagle as well as live music and so much more. With a new course this year, the event will be a point-to-point race throughout the Park and finishing in the beautiful Picnic Loop. You don’t want to miss your one great chance to support Memorial Park Conservancy and Houston’s running mecca! 4 the Park will take place April 6, 2013. The Kids’ Run starts at 7:30 a.m., and the 4-mile run/walk starts at 8:00 a.m. Cost for the Kids’ Run is $10, and the 4-mile run/walk is $30. Spectators can also pay $35 for a ticket to the post-race party. More at http://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/.
  4. 2013 Walk for the Woods. The Woods Project’s annual Walk for the Woods will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at 8 am at Americas Plaza (2311 Canal St). This is one of Houston’s most unique and fun-filled fundraising 5K walks featuring historic stops through Houston’s East End. The event will be fun for the whole family with plenty of family friendly activities and entertainment happening during and after the walk. All proceeds go towards helping low income students develop life skills through wilderness education. Learn more at http://walkforthewoods.org/.
  5. Beautification Event at Willow Waterhole. April 6, 2013, from 8-11am residents of District K are invited to the Willow Waterhole to join an effort to improve the area. Activities will include planting and mulching trees and shrubs, as well as picking up litter and removing grass from the trails. Sign in will be at The Gathering Place at Willow Waterhole located at 5310 South Willow. The clean up effort is sponsored by the Willow Waterhole Greenway Conservancy (WWGC). More at http://cechouston.org/.
  6. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Ranch Roundup. Do you have what it takes to be a cowboy? Find out at KPC’s second annual Ranch Roundup on the Warren Ranch – Harris County’s largest working cattle ranch! Watch real live cowboys round up cattle and test your own cowboy skills with a lassoing contest. Ranch Roundup will be on April 6, 2013, 10am-noon, at Katy Prairie Conservancy (Warren Ranch Headquarters). Learn more at http://cechouston.org/.
  7. HANC Earth Day Family Event. Join the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on April 6, 2013, for a free family event from 10am-2pm. Festivities include guided habitat hikes, face painting, geocaching, a puppet show, hybrid and electric vehicles display, native plant sale, crafts, and more! http://cechouston.org/
  8. Clean Water Forum. Join Environment Texas on April 6, 2013, 3-4:30pm, at 3015 Richmond Ave as they bring together Houston’s brightest for an afternoon discussion of the current water crisis. On March 21, the national drought monitor announced that Houston is officially back in a moderate to extreme drought. Environment Texas has recently released a report regarding water conservation methods in Texas. According to the report, Texas can save 500 billion gallons of water every year by 2020 (enough to meet the municipal water needs of 9 million Texans) if water conservation programs are implemented now. www.facebook.com/environmenttexas.
  9. Arboretum at Night – Hawk Walk. Join Houston Arboretum & Nature Center to be amazed by hawks, owls, falcons and even a vulture or two! Kevin Gaines, of Sky Kings Falconry, will lead us on a tour along the trails of the Houston Arboretum for what is sure to be a memorable hawk walk. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience these magnificent creatures in their native habitats. There will also be photo opportunities and a question and answer time available. Wine & Cheese will be served! This event will happen on April 6, 2013, 4-5pm at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. $30 members; $40 non-members. Children under 16: $15. More at http://www.houstonarboretum.org/.
  10. Children’s Museum of Houston: April Showers Bring May Flowers! April showers bring May flowers! April is a time of change and transition. During this time, kids can explore the phenomena of rain. Come to the Children’s Museum of Houston and learn a bit about how rain is created and what colorful things can happen when Mother Nature lets it all out. This exhibit will be at the Children’s Museum of Houston from April 4, 2013 to April 10, 2013. More at http://www.cmhouston.org/. Don’t forget to explore the great outdoors, indoors at the Museum’s EcoStation exhibit.
  11. Call of the Wild Speaker Series. The Houston Zoo’s Call of the Wild Speaker Series brings wildlife heroes from all over the world to Houston to share their stories of working with local communities to protect animals and habitats. The next lecture will be held on April 9, 2013, at 7pm at the Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center. The speaker will be Amy Dickman, Director of the Ruaha Carnivore Project. Amy is the Kaplan Senior Research Fellow in Felid Conservation at Oxford University, and has over 15 years experience working on large carnivores in Africa, specializing in big cats. Cost is $12 per person. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  12. Earth Day Houston. Earth Day Houston, developed by Air Alliance Houston, is the Houston area’s premier celebration of our planet at Discovery Green. The FREE one-day celebration will focus on the merits of mindful, sustainable living while educating and encouraging Houstonians to do their part to preserve, conserve and enhance our city and the Earth. Earth Day Houston showcases more than 30 green non-profits, each educating visitors on how they can make Houston greener. Earth Day Houston will take place on April 14, 2013, from 11am-5pm at Discovery Green. Learn more at http://earthdayhouston.org/.
  13. Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award. Bayou Preservation Association would like to receive your nominations for this year’s Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award which “recognizes an individual or organization who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to, and stewardship of, a Houston-area bayou or bayous through conservation, preservation, restoration, advocacy or other proactive means”. The nomination form can be found here: http://www.bayoupreservation.org/. The deadline for nominations is April 5, 2013. The award recipient will be announced at the Annual Board Meeting in May, 2013.
  14. Public Comment – Transportation Improvement Program Projects. The region’s Transportation Policy Council (TPC) is soliciting public comment on candidate 2013-2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects. Approximately $600 million of funding requests remain eligible for consideration. A list of candidate projects is available on the H-GAC website at http://www.h-gac.com/taq/tip. Projects range from pedestrian and bicycle projects in Houston’s uptown area and over a dozen other locations, road striping, highway improvements, land acquisition, bus service, park and ride facilities, and planning projects. Comments are due by April 6, 2013, and may be to publiccomments@h-gac.com. Following the public comment period, a program of projects will be submitted to the TPC for its consideration at its April 26 meeting.
  15. Air Alliance Houston’s New Executive Director. Air Alliance Houston has named Adrian D. Shelley, III as its new Executive Director, effective April 1, 2013. Adrian is a native Houstonian and currently serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Air Alliance. He first worked with Air Alliance Houston in 2008, when he was serving with the University of Texas Environmental Law Clinic. With the Clinic, Adrian conducted research for a Clean Air Act citizen suit against a local chemical plant which resulted in a multimillion dollar settlement. In 2010, Adrian completed a fellowship with Air Alliance Houston in which he conducted research on flexible air permits at several Texas refineries. He joined Air Alliance permanently in 2012 as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Read more at http://airalliancehouston.org/.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Trinity/San Jacinto and Galveston Bay BBASC Meeting. The next meeting of the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers and Galveston Bay Basin and Bay Stakeholder Committee (BBASC) is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the San Jacinto River Authority offices located at 1577 Damsite Road, in Conroe, Texas. The committee was created by the 80th Texas Legislature in recognition of the importance that the ecological soundness of our riverine, bay, and estuary systems and riparian lands have on the economy, health, and well-being of our state. The BBASC was unable to reach consensus regarding appropriate flows for the basin and bays; this meeting should provide an opportunity to provide input. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/.
  2. Statement on Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Stay of TAP Decision. In an earlier decision, a federal judge ruled that the state of Texas failed to take necessary steps to provide enough water to maintain the habitat of the endangered whooping crane – a decision which could have implications on how water in some areas is rationed in future droughts (http://www.chron.com/). The Fifth Circuit has decided to stay the lower court ruling. Read TCEQ’s full statement on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Stay of The Aransas Project Decision: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/.
  3. 2013 Gulf of Mexico Climate Community of Practice Workshop. The Climate Community of Practice workshops will bring together elected officials, city planners and other local leaders and decision-makers in the Gulf of Mexico with extension, outreach and education professionals who provide reliable information and science-based guidance to determine communities’ level of risk and strategies to improve their resilience. The Climate Community of Practice is a group of professionals who aim to incorporate adaptation strategies into Gulf Coast communities’ comprehensive plans. The workshops will be held on April 8, 2013 (1-5:15pm), April 9 (8:30am-4:30pm), and April 10 (8:30am-noon) at the Rice Lofts, Crystal Ballroom. More at https://sites.google.com/. Registration closes April 3, 2013 at 5pm.
  4. Bat Presentations at Waugh Street Bridge. The Waugh Street Bridge is home to over 300,000 Mexican Free-Tailed Bats, and every night at dusk you can see them head out from their daytime perches for their nightly excursions. On the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Friday of the month from March thru November, staff from The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department give informational talks twenty minutes before sunset and are available to answer all your bat questions. The next lecture is on April 5, 2013 starting at 7:22 pm. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock. Sugar Land’s Earth Day Celebration – called Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rock – will be held April 20, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Activities will begin at Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd., with a recycling collection event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items accepted will include household electronics, paper for shredding, clothing and household goods for reuse. In addition, grant funds from the Houston-Galveston Area Council and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will allow residents to dispose of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and fluorescent light bulbs during the recycling event. Environmental activity booths and performances are planned at Sugar Land Town Square from 2-6 p.m. Enjoy eco-friendly displays and demonstrations, interactive games and educational booths from local organizations. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  6. Texas Watershed Steward Workshop. A Texas Watershed Steward workshop addressing water quality issues in Galveston County bayous will be held from 8am-4pm April 30, 2013 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Galveston County, 4102 Main Street in La Marque. The workshop is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in Dickinson Bayou and surrounding areas. Participants are encouraged to preregister at http://tws.tamu.edu. The training provides a discussion of watershed systems, types and sources of water pollution, and ways to improve and protect water quality. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  7. Lazy Gardener & Friends Newsletter. Sign up now for Houston’s new “LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS” newsletter! This free, weekly online newsletter is a project of John Ferguson and Mark Bowen of Nature’s Way Resources with The Lazy Gardener, Brenda Beust Smith. It will include:
    • a Lazy Gardener column by Brenda
    • what-to-do-each-month in Houston area gardens
    • articles by guest writers
    • a calendar of upcoming Greater Houston area horticulture events
    • and much, MUCH more including input from readers.

    If you’d like to receive this free, emailed newsletter, send your full name and email address to lazygardenerandfriends@gmail.com. Be assured that — as with Brenda’s own personal Lazy Gardener email list — this list will never be shared or sold, and you will never receive anything from it other than the newsletter.

  8. State Turtle. Texas has a state bird, flower, song, small and large mammals, fish, shell, tree, insect, plant, fruit, stone, shrub and many other symbols, but no official sea turtle! The Fourth Grade Green Team at Oppe Elementary in Galveston hopes to solve this problem led by teacher Katie Blaser. Representative Craig Eiland of Galveston has introduced HCR 31 which the students wrote asking that the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle be proclaimed the official sea turtle of the state of Texas. The full resolution can be found at www.capitol.state.tx.us and can be printed out. The resolution was sent to the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee and the Green Team testified at their meeting on March 20, 2013. It passed and has gone on to the House of Representatives and to the Senate. This resolution will not pass unless many other representatives and senators around the state vote for it. Support can be shown by calling representatives and senators to ask for their support of HCR 31 for the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle to become the official sea turtle of the state of Texas. If anyone has a question, they can e-mail Carole@seaturtles.org or Kathryn_Pistone@gisd.org.
  9. Feral Hog Reporting Tool. Feral hogs contribute to watershed pollution through wallowing and defecating in and around streams. This can increase E.coli bacteria, nutrients, and sedimentation in the water bodies. Feral hogs not only pose a problem for water quality in the state, they also compete with wildlife and livestock for habitat, harbor endemic and exotic diseases, and transmit parasites to domestic livestock and humans. Rooting, wallowing, and other behaviors of feral hogs also causes damage to agricultural and wildlife habitats. Because of this, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has developed an online system to report feral hog activity which can be found at http://feralhogreports.tamu.edu/.
  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:
    • Bastrop, Back to Its Roots
    • Wyman Meinzer’s West Texas
    • Casting Call – Neighborhood Fishing Program
  11. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
      • April 2: Green–Good. Moderate winds and lower background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
      • April 3: Green–Good. Moderate winds and lower background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
      • April 4: Green–Good. Moderate winds and decreasing background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

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ECONOTES Featured News Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC website. (You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).

  1. Rice Sociologist: Improving Quality Of Life Crucial For Houston’s Economic Future (Florian Martin – KUHF News, 3/28/2013)
    Houston has long been a great place to find a job, but it doesn’t have the best reputation for quality of life. As the proportion of oil-related jobs continues to give way to other types of employment, beautification and downtown development become essential to secure the city’s economic future. That’s according to one sociologist, who says Houston needs to change in order to attract new talent.
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  2. $446 million available for Houston region projects (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
    Every year, the H-GAC Transportation Policy Council (TPC) decides how the region will allocate a pool of regionally discretionary transportation funds that can be used for walking, biking, transit, planning, demand management, maintenance, and new road transportation projects. This year, the TPC will decide how to spend $446 million, with $827 million in proposed projects. In the recent H-GAC survey posted at ourregion.org, a broad sample of over 6,000 Houstonians said they would allocate about 13% of available funding to new roads and highways, 26% to transit, and 14% to sidewalks and bikeways, amongst other projects. The public comment process ends on April 5th.
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/
  3. Severe Drought Moves To Houston, Most Of The State In Drought Conditions (Shomial Ahmad – KUHF News, 4/1/2013)
    Latest reports from the U.S. Drought Monitor show most of Harris County in severe drought. The state is in better shape than it was at the height of the drought of 2011, but things are still not good. The state has been doing more, looking into increasing water supply and conservation, but measures put in place right now won’t be able to meet the most extreme of circumstances.
    http://app1.kuhf.org/

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GREEN JOBS Tell them you heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s Green Jobs page.New

  1. Galveston Bay Foundation seeks Membership & Development Coordinator. The Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) seeks a full-time Membership & Development Coordinator. The Membership & Development Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for GBF members; manages the membership renewal program and direct mail efforts for new member acquisition; coordinates the database, submitting entries and updates and generating reports; plans and implements quarterly and annual membership meetings; oversees The CAST, GBF’s young professionals group; serves as coordinator for outreach events and represents GBF at booths and exhibits; and solicits funds for and prepares grant proposals in support of select GBF programs. Qualifications and abilities should include: a Bachelor’s degree (required); two or more years of professional experience in development and database management; grant writing experience; strong interpersonal skills; exceptional verbal and written communication skills; and ability to work some weekends. For a full job description, please see http://galvbay.org/aboutus_jobs. To apply, email resume to sroark@galvbay.org  by April 12, 2013.
  2. TWRC Wildlife Center seeks Wildlife Education Interns. The Wildlife Education interns will assist with Summer Wildlife Camp, conduct outreach and on-site education programming, assist in the Baby Bird Feeding Program and work with other TWRC Wildlife Center interns on a Summer Internship Action Team to develop and analyze education programming, complete individual service projects and address challenges presented by the Education Coordinator. Please go to http://twrcwildlifecenter.org/ to read the full description and find out how to apply.
  3. TWRC Wildlife Center seeks Junior Counselor Coordinator. TWRC Wildlife Center is seeking a Junior Counselor Coordinator for its Summer Wildlife Camp. The paid intern will recruit, train, schedule, and supervise teenage summer camp counselors in education animal care, wildlife summer camps, birthday parties, outreach programs, summer wildlife workshops, and in-center baby bird rehabilitation. The Junior Counselor Coordinator will implement, analyze and improve the Junior Counselor program while working hands-on with native and exotic wildlife. As a vital team member of an active non-profit, the Junior Counselor Coordinator will be called upon to develop and coordinate marketing, fundraising, or community awareness materials and events in relation to the new Junior Counselor Program. Please go to http://twrcwildlifecenter.org/ to read the full description and find out how to apply.
  4. Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge seeks Summer Crew. Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is seeking summer employment applications from young men and women ages 15 to 18. Two positions will be available through the Youth Conservation Corps program. No prior experience is necessary but participants must be citizens of the United States. Crew members will work 40 hours per week for $7.25 an hour starting June 10th through August 2nd. Hours of work will be Monday thru Friday from 7:30 AM till 4:00 PM. Work will be conducted outside and will be physically demanding. Individuals selected must have transportation to and from the refuge office, located at 601 FM 1011, Liberty, Texas. Typical duties will include trail maintenance, boundary line posting, fence construction, building construction, and various restoration and maintenance projects. Educational field trips and training sessions will also be included. Selection will be on a random basis from the list of qualified applicants. Young adults interested in wildlife careers, summer employment, or job experience are encouraged to apply. For applications or more information please contact the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 10015, Liberty, TX, 77575 or call 936-336-9786. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY April 10th and can be mailed, faxed, or brought to the office. The fax number is 936-336-9847. Selection will be made on April 15th.
  5. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks Part-time GIS Research Assistant. This person will assist the director with expanding the Service’s geospatial capabilities, developing fee-for-service resources, and supporting research and community outreach projects that utilize geospatial modeling and analysis. The ideal candidate will have experience with ESRI ArcGIS software, as well as experience producing effective visual communications, managing data, and using basic biostatistical tools. The candidate should also have good writing skills and a demonstrated interest in environmental health. The hours are flexible, with the possibility of a full-time position if funding permits. The BCM-EHS is located in the Texas Medical Center. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Qualified students who would like to satisfy practicum or independent study requirements will also be considered. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and work samples to Dr. Winifred Hamilton (hamilton@bcm.edu), director of the Environmental Health Service. Any questions should also be directed to Dr. Hamilton (713-798-1052).
  6. The Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine seeks paid summer Intern. The intern will assist the director and associate director of the Environmental Health Service with all aspects of work, with particular emphasis on implementing professional education and clinical service initiatives. Primary responsibilities include compiling Healthy Homes-related materials; researching funding models for a home-based asthma intervention program; updating the Service’s website; assisting the director and associate director in the preparation of grant proposals and presentations for various audiences; and in other ways supporting the goals of the EHS professional education and clinical service initiatives. The ideal candidate will have excellent organizational skills, strong communication skills (visual and written), and an ability to work without supervision and as part of a team. The candidate should also have good computer skills, and enjoy working with diverse communities and age groups. Fluency in Spanish preferred but not necessary. This internship is for 10-12 weeks; start/end dates are flexible. Full-time is preferred. The BCM-EHS is located in the Texas Medical Center. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Qualified students who would like to satisfy practicum or independent study requirements will also be considered. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and work samples (please include a writing sample as well as PowerPoint presentation slides) to Dr. Rebecca Bruhl, associate director of the Environmental Health Service (Rebecca.J.Bruhl@bcm.edu). Application deadline is April 8, 2013. Due to the volume of queries anticipated, BCM may not be able to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.
  7. Central Texas COG seeks Watershed Coordinator. CTCOG has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Watershed Coordinator for the Leon River Watershed Stakeholder Group. Primary responsibilities include working with Counties, Cities, local boards and businesses within the Leon River Watershed to implement management measures identified in the Leon River WPP to improve water quality and develop funding mechanisms for putting them in place; working with state and federal agencies and organizations, as appropriate, to bring technical and financial resources to the watershed; and pursuing external funding to reduce or cover costs for the project (salary and operating). Interested parties may download the full document and submit a response to Jim Reed no later than 2:00PM on Friday, April 5, 2013.
  8. Bayou Preservation Association seeks Water Quality Investigator Interns (2 positions). The interns will serve as a member of a team to conduct investigative water sampling in Houston-area bayous upstream of locations with identified high fecal indicator bacteria. For more information see: http://www.bayoupreservation.org/employment. Contact: Steve Hupp, Water Quality Director;  shupp@bayoupreservation.org;  713-529-6443.
  9. Bayou Greenways 2020 seeks Grassroots and Digital Coordinator. The Bayou Greenways 2020 (BG2020) project aims to create a united urban park system like no other in the nation. By developing linear parks and trails along all the major bayous that flow throughout Houston, BG2020 will add nearly 1,500 acres of additional park land to Houston’s inventory. The Grassroots and Digital Coordinator will be responsible for developing online and web strategies, creating and executing email campaigns, maintaining and managing multiple websites, and organizing and coordinating online and offline community outreach and grassroots outreach efforts. Responsibilities also include managing the organization’s relationship with online community influencers, including reaching out to external blogs and online communities. To Apply: Cover letter, resume and three references should be emailed to: Jen Powis, Advocacy Director at jen@houstonparksboard.org.
  10. Nature Discovery Center Seeks Part-Time Volunteer Coordinator. The Nature Discovery Center is seeking a part-time Volunteer Coordinator to manage all areas related to volunteer work at the Center. The ideal candidate will be adept at working with a variety of personalities and styles, technologically savvy, and goal-oriented. Additional requirements include sense of humor and love of nature. A background in science, education, or conservation is helpful though not required. Responsibilities include: recruit, interview and place applicants for volunteer work at the Nature Discovery Center; conduct and arrange volunteer orientation and training, including the Teen Volunteer Summer Program and most special events; create and maintain a volunteer database and a system for reporting volunteer statistics; and coordinate all volunteer activity with staff. For more information about the Volunteer Coordinator position, or to apply contact: Sarah Flournoy, Executive Director at sflournoy@naturediscoverycenter.org or 713.667.6550.
  11. ExxonMobil CSJP seeks Hermann Park Centennial Exhibit Research Intern. The intern will participate in research and administrative work in preparation for the upcoming exhibition to be held at the Julia Ideson Library related to Hermann Park’s centennial celebration in 2014. Primary responsibilities include carrying out research related to Hermann Park, including historical materials, publications, documents, photographs, master plan(s), sketches, artworks, etc.; archiving, cataloguing and chronology; correspondence and communications (writing letters, e-mails, phone contacts, etc.); organizing and filing of documents and research materials; maintaining database of objects and materials; preparing exhibition materials’ bibliography including materials, sources, references; and report writing. Mail, fax or email (no phone calls please) cover letter and resume to: Hermann Park Conservancy / Barbara Jo L. Harwell, Conservation Director / 6201-A Hermann Park Drive / Houston, Texas 77030. Fax: 713-524-5887. barbara_jo@hermannpark.org
  12. Shell seeks Hermann Park Reforestation Planning and Volunteer Programs Intern. Shell seeks Hermann Park Reforestation Planning (90%) and Volunteer Programs (10%) Intern. Primary areas of responsibility include: assisting Hermann Park Conservancy’s (HPC) Conservation Director with aspects of the continuing development of a reforestation plan in Hermann Park, and assisting the HPC volunteer coordinator with volunteer project facilitation with regard to tree plantings, tree care, park maintenance and other Hermann Park improvement projects. Mail, fax or email (no phone calls please) cover letter and resume to: Hermann Park Conservancy / Barbara Jo L. Harwell, Conservation Director / 6201-A Hermann Park Drive / Houston, Texas 77030. Fax: 713-524-5887. barbara_jo@hermannpark.org
  13. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) seeks Summer Crew Leaders. SCA seeks two qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire high school students for the Houston Summer Crew program. Co-lead, mentor and coach a crew of 12 students, ages 14-19, while completing various conservation service projects designed to build an ethic of community and environmental stewardship. Projects include a range of activities such as trail and park maintenance, habitat restoration, revitalization of abandoned urban properties or to urban agriculture. In addition, leaders will facilitate pre- and post- program planning which includes crew training, environmental education and reporting. Training is June 3-12 and program start date is June 20. To Apply: Please visit the www.thesca.org/employment for a detailed description including information on how to apply. For questions contact SCA Houston staff at SCAHouston@theSCA.org or call: (713) 520-1835.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Texas StarCEC is sharing information during the session about what bills our member groups and readers are tracking. More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.

 

The last day to file most bills was March 8, 2013. The next significant date is April 15, 2013, which is the first day a Senator my place five bills or resolutions on the Intent Calendar. The last day of the regular session is Monday, May 27, 2013. Learn more at www.legis.state.tx.us.

Let us know what you think about the senate bills that have been filed! Take a quick survey to let us know which senate bills are important to you–and why! We’ll let you know what our readers think.

Click here to take survey
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UPCOMING EVENTS If you attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here! Visit the new calendar at cechouston.org.

Apr 6 Sat

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in 1971. CEC is a coalition of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org. Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments? Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org. If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday. We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.

Donate Now!

CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas. Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.

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CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com for more information about the program.

Shawn McFarland, Interim Executive Director
Rachel Powers, Volunteer Managing Editor
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
Rachel Tardiff, Calendar Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org

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