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August 6, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update August 6, 2013

Citizens' Environmental Coalition Logo

Houston Environmental News Update August 6, 2013

CEC NOTES

  1. Randalls & Kroger Shoppers

COALITION NOTES

  1. Support CEC Member Groups at OKRA Charity Saloon
  2. Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Classes Return
  3. Viva La Run benefitting Buffalo Bayou Partnership
  4. George H. Hermann’s 170th Birthday Party
  5. Summer Salons 2013: Healthy Neighborhoods
  6. KPC Wild West Tour: Breeding Birds
  7. Unplugged Adventure: Falling Stars
  8. Mercer Arboretum New Volunteer Open House
  9. RDA Civic Forums: Environmental Challenges Facing the Houston Region Over the Next 25 Years
  10. Oiled Wildlife Response Training Workshop
  11. Explore in a Kayak with Artist Boat
  12. Bayou Greenways Snap and Share
  13. Save the Date: Shell Center for Sustainability Town Hall Meeting
  14. Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award
  15. Applications sought for annual parks awards

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. SPARKling Collages Art Exhibit
  2. 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust
  3. Houston Urban Food Production Conference
  4. TCEQ to consider surface water quality standards
  5. Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas
  6. TCEQ accepting nominations for 2014 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards
  7. SSPEED Center Conference: Hurricane Ike 5 Years Later
  8. Making Fossil Fuel a Thing of the Past: Why Not Solar Now?
  9. Perseid Meteor Shower.
  10. EPA Releases Annual Beach Report
  11. Urban Photography Contest
  12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife
  13. Air Quality Forecast

NEWS HEADLINES

  1. Armand Bayou Nature Center Receives 50th Solar Energy Donation from Green Mountain Energyâ„¢ Sun Clubâ„¢ (PR Web, 7/31/2013)
  2. Construction Starts To Turn Eleanor Tinsley Park Into Buffalo Bayou’s Signature Green Space (Florian Martin – KUHF News, 8/5/2013)
  3. Experts offer advice on saving Texas prairie (Alex Macon, Galveston County Daily News – My SA News, 7/29/2013)

GREEN JOBS

  1. NEW! National Wildlife Federation seeks Regional Development Manager (Austin)
  2. NEW! Texas Living Waters seeks Attorney (Austin)
  3. NEW! Harris County Flood Control District seeks Field Technician
  4. Recipe for Success seeks Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Educator
  5. Houston Audubon seeks Conservation Specialist (Sanctuary Management)
  6. H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner
  7. H-GAC seeks Air Quality Coordinator
  8. Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park
  9. Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES
Randalls & Kroger Shoppers. If you shop at Kroger or Randalls, you can help CEC using your customer loyalty cards–and we can use your help!

  • Randalls Remarkable Card.  Once you have linked your card to the CEC’s Good Neighbor account, Randalls will send a check for 1% of the purchase to the CEC. Fill out the form from the Randalls website (PDF), add Good Neighbor Number 12297, and turn in the form at the courtesy desk at Randalls. You can designate up to three registered Good Neighbor charities. CEC can also use Community Bucks–so send them our way!
  • Kroger Plus Card. The Kroger Community Awards Program starts Thursday, August 1! You can sign up for a Kroger Community Rewards Account by entering your zip code, clicking on your favorite store, entering your email address, creating a password, and agreeing to the terms and conditions–all much easier than it sounds. Sign up (starting Thursday) at www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com.

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COALITION NOTES

  1. Support CEC Member Groups at OKRA Charity Saloon. Bayou Preservation Association and Houston Habitat for Humanity–both CEC member groups–are amoung four charities chosen by OKRA Charity Saloon for the month of August. 100% of the bar’s proceeds are donated to a different Houston-based organization or social cause each month. Bar patrons will have the opportunity to select which charity is chosen as a beneficiary by voting from among four nominees for next month’s elected charity. For each drink purchased, guests will receive one vote that they may cast before leaving the bar for the evening. The hope is that by benefiting a new charity each month and nominating four for the following, funding will be acquired for elected charities and awareness will be generated for other nominees. Learn more at http://friedokra.org/charity-bar.html.
  2. Texas Gulf Coast Gardener Classes Return. The Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is offering the Texas Gulf Coast Gardener classes this fall! Registration opens August 1, 2013. TGCG will give participants the knowledge and skills needed to start, develop and maintain their own gardens through a variety of gardening and horticulture topics specifically designed for the pleasures and challenges of the Texas Gulf Coast climate. The 12-week curriculum includes exciting lessons and lectures presented by Mercer staff and horticulture/botany experts from the greater-Houston area, plus hands-on learning activities. For more information, visit themercersociety.org.
  3. Viva La Run benefitting Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Join Luke’s Locker & Brooks for Viva la Run, a series of 5Ks benefiting Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Viva La Run will be held on August 6, 2013 at Local Pour (1952 West Gray St) at 7pm. The cost is $15 per person (includes run, t-shirt, food & beverage while supplies last). More at http://www.buffalobayou.org/.
  4. George H. Hermann’s 170th Birthday Party. Join Hermann Park Conservancy in celebrating the 170th birthday of Hermann Park’s beloved namesake, George H. Hermann! On Tuesday, August 6 from 10am-6pm, children twelve years and younger can ride the Hermann Park Railroad for $1.70 and children under 1 are always free! There will be complimentary face painting from 11am-2pm and aspiring artists can enter the coloring contest from 10am-2pm for a chance to win exciting prizes! Pinewood Cafe will provide complimentary birthday cake (while supplies last) and offer vanilla soft serve for $1.70 for guests of all ages. Get in the birthday spirit and come one, come all to celebrate George H. Hermann’s birthday! Learn more here.
  5. Summer Salons 2013: Healthy Neighborhoods. Join Center for Houston’s Future for the Summer Salon Series, an annual series of three panel discussions. Meet the experts and sit it on candid conversations regarding topics that shape the future of our region. Join CDC’s Deborah Millette and local experts to discuss the newest ways to create healthy neighborhoods. The event will take place on August 7, 2013 at the Junior League of Houston, Inc. The cost is $20 per person. Register at https://futurehoustonsupport.com/.
  6. KPC Wild West Tour: Breeding Birds. Beat the heat this summer and join bird expert, Glenn Olsen, for a twilight tour of the Katy Prairie Conservancy. Visit wetlands, woods, and wild grasslands in search of breeding birds and feathery fledglings. A light dinner will be included with this special trip onto KPC preserves. The tour will be held on August 9, 2013 from 6-9pm. The cost is $50 per person. Learn more and register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/.
  7. Unplugged Adventure: Falling Stars. Katy Prairie Conservancy is holding an overnight Unplugged Adventure from August 11-12, 2013, 7pm-9am, at Warren Lake. Get a front row seat for shooting stars at the August Unplugged Adventure. Families and individuals are welcomed to spread a blanket on the Matt Cook Wildlife Viewing platform for what promises (weather permitting) to be a fantasitc meteor shower. The Perseids are considered by many people to be the year’s best shower, and often peak at 50 or more meteors per hour in a dark sky. The Perseids tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens into midnight, and typically produce the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn. No registration is required for this free event. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  8. Mercer Arboretum New Volunteer Open House. 8:30 – noon, Monday August 12, or Wednesday, August 21, 2013. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens – 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, TX 77338. Want to work in a beautiful garden while making new friends? Attend a volunteer orientation class and find out about all of the benefits of being part of the volunteer program at Mercer. Free! Reserve your place by calling 281-443-8731.
  9. RDA Civic Forums: Environmental Challenges Facing the Houston Region Over the Next 25 Years. These two forums, presented by the Rice Design Alliance, will feature nationally known scientists, researchers, and public policy experts who will discuss air, water, land, and health issues. 1) Challenges of Climate change on August 21, 2013. 2) Challenges of competing land uses, environmental justice, and public health on August 28, 2013. Both forums will be held at 6:30 in the Brown Audtorium at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Moderated by Thomas Colbert, Associate Professor, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, University of Houston, and CEC Board Member Extraordinaire. More information available at http://ricedesignalliance.org/category/civic-forums.
  10. Oiled Wildlife Response Training Workshop. The Wildlife Center of Texas will be conducting an oiled wildlife response training workshop on Friday, August 30, 2013 from 9am-4pm. sponsored by the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Division. The workshop takes place at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas and will certify and train personnel that are interested in assisting The Wildlife Center of Texas Oiled Wildlife Response Team during a spill. Lunch will be provided courtesy of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. Certification and training are required for anyone who may participate in any role during an oiled wildlife response. The workshop will cover topics such as the effects of oil on wildlife, initial intake and exam of oiled wildlife, an introduction to OSHA training, wildlife rehabilitation’s role in the Incident Command System and an actual hands on cleaning of oiled feathers in which participants will practice by washing an unoiled white duck. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  11. Explore in a Kayak with Artist Boat. In case you haven’t heard Artist Boat is establishing a Coastal Heritage Preserve on Galveston Island and is looking for people who want to explore by kayak!!! Public trips are available for $10 per person. For a schedule of events and to register for a trip, check out the website at www.artistboat.org. School groups are also welcome. Any teacher that schedules an Eco-Art Workshop for $150 will be able to have an Eco-Art Kayak Adventure to the Coastal Heritage Preserve for $150. The grant to acquire the land (Coastal Heritage Preserve) is providing the financial resources to launch three years of educational programming from this special place. The grant supporting these Eco-Art Adventures is from the Texas General Land Office Coastal Impact Assistance Program and includes the conservation of 160 acres of coastal barrier island habitat on Galveston Bay. Artist Boat is excited to be able to offer this unique opportunity to the public and to school groups. For more information about Artist Boat’s Eco-Art Adventures at the Coastal Heritage Preserve on Settegast Road, please do not hesitate to contact LuAnne Ashley, Education Director of Artist Boat, 2415 Avenue K, Galveston, TX, 77550; lashley@artistboat.org; www.artistboat.org.
  12. Bayou Greenways Snap and Share. Have you been running along Buffalo Bayou? Or maybe enjoying a lazy day picnic in Stude Park along White Oak? Either way, Houston Parks Board would like to know. HPB is launching a photo review for the month of August to see how Houstonians use the bayous. There are two ways to submit your photos:
    •    Post on the HPB Facebook page, or
    •    Email us at info@houstonparksboard.org
    As HPB works to create nearly 1,500 new acres of greenspace along our bayous, it hopes to celebrate all
    those little “parks” moments with you this month.
  13. Save the Date: Shell Center for Sustainability Town Hall Meeting. The Shell Center for Sustainability is convening the Sustainable Houston Town Hall Meeting to bring together a large coalition of neighborhood leaders committed to a more sustainable Houston.  We encourage participation by community leaders, sustainability experts, private sector partners, and interested citizens. Sessions are open to all attendees. Our objective is to provide an opportunity for discussion and debate. It is also an opportunity to ensure that all neighborhoods in the city share their specific needs and visions. At the heart of the meeting is the vision to develop Houston into a more livable, resilient, efficient, equitable and prosperous city.  The meeting will be held on the Rice University campus. The agenda includes a kick-off talk and reception with Jason Roberts (TBC), and Rob Hopkins, on Tuesday evening; a presentation of the Houston Sustainability Indicators (HSI) Study, a panel of experts, and more on Wednesday, October 8th and 9th. There is no cost to attend. More information on the schedule, our co-hosts and participants will be available soon at http://shellcenter.rice.edu.
  14. Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award. Nominations due by August 19, 2013. More info at www.houstonbeautiful.org.
  15. Applications sought for annual parks awards. H-GAC’s The 2013 Parks and Natural Areas Awards application is now available online. This awards program seeks to recognize best practices in parks planning, programming, and policy found in our region. The submissions are due Friday, August 30, 2013, at noon. Please see the application for details. For more information, contact Kelly Porter at 713-993-4529.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. SPARKling Collages Art Exhibit. SPARK School Park Program is sponsoring an art exhibit at the Houston Downtown/Central Library (500 McKinney St) through August 15, 2013. The collages, created by students in the Houston/ Harri County area, were made from recycled jewelry donated by Charming Charlie. Charming Charlie, a fashion accessories retailer, approached SPARK in November 2010 to recycle damaged materials into student art work. The efforts have been part of an overall SPARK 30th year celebration in 2013. Collage boards with a theme of “Play in the Park” were created by students across the Houston area. There will be a reception on August 8, 2013 from 4-6pm at the Downtown/Central Library. Learn more at http://www.sparkpark.org/cc.html.
  2. 2013 ArCH Film Festival: Boom and Bust. BOOM AND BUST: Landscapes of Excess and Crisis. Cycles of Boom and Bust are certain, and yet whether it’s by forces of economy, policy, environment or our own selfishness, we find ourselves surprised, off guard and unprepared. Marked by either tidal debris-lines, vacant lots, or explosive development these forces are writ-large on our cities, towns and villages. This year’s jury-selected film series will illuminate cautionary, sometimes humorous, tales of excess and crisis ranging from palatial extravagance in Miami to the cavernous vacancy in China. Join the festival this year as the Architecture Center Houston explores the impact of Boom and Bust cycles on our human habitats. The festival will be held August 15-17, 2013. A single day pass is $5 for ArCH members and $10 for the general public. A weekend pass is $10 for ArCH members and $20 for the general public. https://aiahouston.org/
  3. Houston Urban Food Production Conference. The Houston Urban Food Production Conference will be held on August 17, 2013, at United Way of Great Houston. Some of the educational trainings include Organinc Certification, Beekeeping, Poultry Production, Goat Production, Integrated Pest Management, Soil Building, Fruit & Nut Production, Vegetable Production, Practical Weed Control, Efficient Irrigation, and more! Call Diana at 281-855-5614 to register for this program and for booth registration. Before August 1, $35 registration fee; after August 1, $50 registration fee. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  4. TCEQ to consider surface water quality standards. Proposed rulemaking: Triennial Revision of 30 TAC Chapter 307, Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. The proposed rulemaking would provide a periodic public review and revision of the State’s surface water quality standards, as provided for in Section 26.023 of the Texas Water Code, and as required by Section 303(c) of the Federal Clean Water Act. At their August 21 Commissioners Meeting in Austin, the TCEQ will consider whether to propose changes to the standards and solicit public comment. More information available on the TCEQ website.
  5. Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas. Texans love our many miles of beautiful streams. But how well do we really understand the inner workings of creeks and rivers? This workshop will help you to appreciate these waterways in a new and different way. The main presenter, Steve Nelle, has 37 years of direct experience working with Texas landowners and private lands conservation as a Range Conservationist and Wildlife Biologist, and he has led around 50 workshops of this kind. The workshop will be held from noon-4pm on August 27, 2013, at the Brackenridge Park Hafernick Center in Edna, TX. There is no cost for the workshop and BBQ lunch, but please RSVP to Sylvia Balentine at the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority either via e-mail sbalentine@LNRA.org or telephone (361) 782-5229. More at http://cechouston.org/
  6. TCEQ accepting nominations for 2014 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. Deadline for applications Oct. 4, 2013. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 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. The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards are presented annually by the governor’s office and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. A governor’s blue ribbon committee identifies outstanding contributions in nine diverse categories. The public may nominate an individual, community, company, or organization for an award. Award categories include: Agriculture, Civic/Community, Education, Individual, Innovative Operations/Management, Pollution Prevention, Technical/Technology, Water Conservation, and Youth. To nominate an exemplary environmental effort for the 2014 awards, apply online at www.TEEA.org.
  7. SSPEED Center Conference: Hurricane Ike 5 Years Later. At this year’s SSPEED Center conference: “Hurricane Ike: 5 Years Later,” top experts in the field will discuss hurricane protection for Houston, Hurricane Sandy risk and response, and post Hurricane Katrina activities. Keynote speakers include Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Chairman Janiece Longoria of the Port of Houston Authority, Bill Read, former director of the National Hurricane Center and Professor Ning Lin from Princeton University who specializes in climate change and severe weather events. The conference will highlight the SSPEED Center’s proposed Centennial Gate, designed to protect the Houston Ship Channel. This session will include a description of the gate, surge modeling, legal issues, finance strategies, land use and ship channel environmental risk and tank stability. The conference will address emerging federal thinking on non-structural alternatives and the SSPEED Center’s formation of the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area and creation of the ecosystem services exchange. The conference will take place from September 24-25, 2013 at the Rice University BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC). Register at https://signup.rice.edu/.
  8. Making Fossil Fuel a Thing of the Past: Why Not Solar Now? Citizens League for Environmental Action Now  (CLEAN) recently published an article on solar energy. ‘No longer can the skeptics say solar is too expensive to replace fossil fuel. “We don’t really need any more new breakthroughs,” says Mark Kapner, a renewable energy consultant and former Austin Energy senior strategy engineer. “The cost (for solar) is going down so much it doesn’t have to go down any further to stand on its own.”‘ Read more at www.cleanhouston.org.
  9. Perseid Meteor Shower. Suggestion from TCEQ’s New You Can Use newsletter: “The Perseids will peak on the nights of August 11 and 12. Plan to stay up late, and visit a state park or other area away from the glow of city lights. Perseid meteors will appear to “rain” into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around 11 p.m. Once you have settled in, lie back or position yourself so the earth’s horizon appears at the edge of your peripheral vision, with the stars and sky filling your field of view. Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by. Learn more at the TCEQ’s News You Can Use website.
  10. EPA Releases Annual Beach Report. For the eighth consecutive year, in 2012, the nation’s coastal and Great Lakes beaches were open 95 percent of the time during the swimming season. Read more about this and other findings on beach closings and advisories that occurred during the 2012 swimming season, and data trends from 2007 to 2012, in EPA’s annual report. Also read about recent developments in EPA’s Beach Program, including improved access to online beach monitoring and notification data (BEACON), updates to the National List of Beaches, and EPA’s final 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria. For more information on the annual report, contact Denise Hawkins at 202-566-1384. For information about specific states, please contact your EPA Regional or state beach program representative.
  11. Urban Photography Contest. CBRE is accepting submissions for its 2013 Urban Photographer of the Year competition “Cities at Work.” Deadline is Aug. 31. For more information, visit http://ijnet.org/ and http://www.cbrephotographer.com/.
  12. 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).
    • Stewards in Waiting
    • Bat Caves of Texas
    • Outdoor Info: Intro to Geocaching
    • Biking Big Bend
  13. 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 6, 2013: Green–Good. Moderate winds and lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • August 7, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. African dust should spread rapidly northward across the eastern two-thirds of the state and will likely raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to “Moderate” or possibly higher levels over most of this area.
    • August 8, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. African dust should continue across the eastern two-thirds of the state and will likely raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to “Moderate” or possibly higher levels over most of this area.

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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. Armand Bayou Nature Center Receives 50th Solar Energy Donation from Green Mountain Energyâ„¢ Sun Clubâ„¢ (PR Web, 7/31/2013)
    Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™ has dedicated its 50th solar energy system to Houston area non-profit nature preserve, Armand Bayou Nature Center. The nature preserve received a donation that added three solar arrays to its campus. The rooftop installations on its boat house, admissions pavilion and education building now use renewable energy to help power its educational tours and exhibits. Armand Bayou Nature Center now hosts 29 solar panels on its grounds, powering the center’s various educational programs with 8,500 kilowatt-hours of pollution-free energy and avoiding about 9,900 pounds of CO2 each year. That’s enough CO2 to fill 802,500 hard hats! An additional solar installation on the Nature Center’s boat house will charge the electric pontoon boat, the “Bayou Ranger,” used for weekend bayou tours, so visitors can explore the wetlands with the power of the sun.
    http://www.prweb.com/
  2. Construction Starts To Turn Eleanor Tinsley Park Into Buffalo Bayou’s Signature Green Space (Florian Martin – KUHF News, 8/5/2013)
    As part of the continuing Buffalo Bayou development, Eleanor Tinsley Park is now undergoing some significant changes. Old shelters, playground equipment, and certain trees will be removed. Other trees will be planted, the parking lot remodeled, a big pavilion added and the garden expanded. The special upgrades for the park are possible thanks to a $2 million donation by local beer distributor Silver Eagle. In addition, the park renovation, including hike-and-bike trail improvements, is part of the $58 million Buffalo Bayou revitalization project. As Houston grows, so does the importance of having more green space.
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  3. Experts offer advice on saving Texas prairie (Alex Macon, Galveston County Daily News – My SA News, 7/29/2013)
    The coastal prairie once stretched across 9 million acres from Southeast Texas to Southwestern Louisiana. Years of urbanization and agricultural range improvement have led to almost 99 percent of the habitat being wiped out, according to the National Wetlands Research Center, but the prairie is attempting a comeback. It just needs a little help. The Galveston County Daily News reports more than 30 farmers, ranchers, conservationists and volunteers recently studied techniques for restoring and preserving prairie at the Texas City Prairie Preserve.
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/
  4. Scoop.it Page. The CEC is now maintaining a page on Scoop.it. Check it out! http://www.scoop.it/t/citizens-environmental-coalition-houston

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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. NEW! National Wildlife Federation seeks Regional Development Manager (Austin). NWF is currently seeking a Regional Development Manager to primarily be responsible for the National Wildlife Federation’s philanthropic efforts in the South Central Region. The RDM has three primary functions: 1) to support and advance fundraising activities within the Region; 2) to keep abreast of and communicate both internally and externally the programmatic needs and accomplishments of the Region as they relate to broader cultivation and fundraising strategies; 3) to secure appropriate support from and collaboration with the Philanthropy Department to ensure that regional fundraising goals are met. Learn more and apply at www.nwf.org.
  2. NEW! Texas Living Waters seeks Attorney (Austin). The Texas Living Waters Project is a joint effort of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation as well as regional partner, Galveston Bay Foundation. Texas Living Waters is hiring an Attorney responsible for developing, recommending, and prosecuting environmental litigation (primarily in the form of participating in administrative proceedings related to water rights applications); developing and advancing changes in legal policy through regulatory and legislative venues; and assisting and coordinating with NWF Water Project staff and Texas Living Waters Project partners to improve water policy and management in Texas. The attorney will be responsible for identifying and implementing a wide range of legal and policy tools, including, but not limited to, state laws relating to management of surface water and groundwater and federal laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the Clean Water Act. The position is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and recommending revisions to existing and proposed regulations and legislation; providing legal assistance to NWF affiliates and like-minded organizations; traveling and making presentations in support of litigation and policy activities. If interested please apply on line: www.nwf.org.
  3. NEW! Harris County Flood Control District seeks Field Technician. Responsible for assisting the Storm Water Quality Department Manager in managing and monitoring environmental projects for the Storm Water Quality Department of Environmental Services Division to protect and enhance surface water quality in support of the District’s mission.  Learn about the HCFCD job here.
  4. Recipe for Success seeks Seed-to-Plate Nutrition Educator. Train then Teach Children’s Nutrition Education for award-winning non-profit. Paid training involves web-based coursework and on the job training in classroom. Certified Instructors teach after school cooking and gardening classes and mentor wellness programs in elementary schools. Experience: minimum 1 year culinary experience; organic gardening skills & early childhood education a plus. Education: BA or equivalent experience. P/T. Start at $15/hour. Email cover letter of interest and resume to molly@recipe4success.org. http://recipe4success.org/
  5. Houston Audubon seeks Conservation Specialist (Sanctuary Management). Houston Audubon is seeking a full time Conservation Specialists (sanctuary management). Responsibilities include: working with the Director of Conservation; guiding and providing day-to-day management of Houston Audubon sanctuaries (3,400 acres); assisting, coordinating, and executing various projects, including native habitat restoration, exotic and invasive species control, infrastructure maintenance, bird and vegetation monitoring, interpretation/education related to visitor services, and volunteer/intern training and oversight. The application deadline is August 9, 2013 at 5:00pm. Visit http://www.houstonaudubon.org/ for more details.
  6. H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner. The Senior Planner will serve as a primary staff for Transportation Air Quality Implementation Programs which may include Clean Air Action, Clean Vehicle and/or Commute Solutions activities.  Coordinates and supports the efforts of local, state and federal agencies in complying with the various federal and state alternative fuel mandates and trading regulations.  This position will support regional efforts to meet attainment of federal air quality standards by assisting in creatively analyzing and promoting transportation-related air quality programs and investigating other potential measures to help reduce ground level ozone. More at www.h-gac.com/careers.
  7. H-GAC seeks Air Quality Coordinator.  Provides day-to-day oversight of the Clean Vehicles grant program and support to related programs including the region’s Clean Cities Coalition and H-GAC’s Drayage Loan Program. Supervises both technical and administrative aspects of the program, coordinates program staff, and tracks/analyzes metrics to ensure overall objectives are achieved.  Reports to the Air Quality Program Manager, Transportation Department. More at www.h-gac.com/careers.
  8. Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park. Uptown Houston, through its tax reinvestment zone (TIRZ), recently incorporated Memorial Park into its service area. Memorial Park is among the largest urban parks in the U.S., and is Houston’s largest inner city park covering almost 1,500 acres. The Memorial Park Project – a twenty-year, $100 million park improvement program – is just now being launched as part of Houston Parks And Recreation Department’s, Memorial Park Conservancy’s and Uptown Houston’s partnership to make vital improvements in Memorial Park. Specifics of the Project will be determined by the proposed master plan for Memorial Park, which will be developed in 2013 – 2014. Responsibilities of the Project Manager for Memorial Park include: to serve as the Project Manager for the master plan and park improvement projects; to manage the execution of the master plan in accordance with its phased construction; To manage day-to-day operational aspects of the planning and construction stages; to manage the procurement of consultants and advisers throughout the planning and construction stages; to identify resources needed and assign responsibilities; and more. To apply, send responses to 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1580, Houston, Texas 77056; Attention: Betsy Kirkgard bkirkgard@uptown-houston.com. Include your resume, cover letter, and minimum of 2 references.
  9. Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director. The Conservation Director of Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) is primarily responsible for restoration and enhancement of Memorial Park’s natural environment through the use of trees and plants that are native to the area. Duties and responsibilities include: developing and maintaining inventory of park forest that identifies trees by species, area of the park and estimated age; planning and implementing plantings and irrigation within the maintained areas of the Park; planning and implementing reforestation where appropriate; working with Houston Parks and Recreation (HPARD), technical experts and consultants to study Memorial Park’s ecology and identify today’s and future requirements and constraints to restore the park’s natural ecology within the context of the long-range Master Planning process; implementing ecosystem management regimes contained in the approved Master Plan; and more. If interested, email cover letter, resume, references and compensation requirements to: Shellye Arnold, Executive Director, Memorial Park Conservancy at sarnold@memorialparkconservancy.org.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

CEC 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 of the regular session was Monday, May 27, 2013, followed by a special session for redistricting. On June 12, 2013, the Governor called for additional legislation to be considered during the special session. Learn more at www.legis.state.tx.us.

CEC will provide additional updates from our member groups soon.

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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.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Sunday, August 11, 2013

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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.

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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.

Rachel Powers, Executive Director
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org
cechouston.org
www.facebook.com/cecHouston

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