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Houston Environmental News Update March 18, 2014
March 18, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update March 18, 2014

Citizens' Environmental Coalition Logo

Houston Environmental News Update March 18, 2014

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston Green Film Series: Bringing It Home. Houston Green Film Series presents Bringing It Home, on March 19, 2014, at the Rice Cinema Media Center. The film is about industrial hemp as a building material. Doors open at 6:30pm so you can enjoy conversation and a light dinner – graciously provided by Dr. Pat Speckand Dry Bones Cafe – before the movie screens at 7pm. The Bringing it Home website summarizes: “A father’s search to find the healthiest building materials leads him to the completion of the nation’s first hemp house. Hemp with lime is a non-toxic, energy efficient, mildew, fire and pest resistant building material. The drawback — industrial hemp is currently illegal to farm in the U.S.A. Industrial hemp is a non-psychoactive plant, grown in 31 other countries that makes 1,000′s of sustainable products and offers solutions for global warming, nutrition, poverty and deforestation.” More at www.facebook.com.
  2. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition Annual Meeting. The Annual Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition Meeting will be held from 11:30am-1pm on March 20, 2014, at Hyatt Houston North. The keynote speaker is Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, who will speak about the issues affecting the region and our watershed. Join GBCC to honor Houston Mayor Annise Parker for her inspiring leadership on the Bayou Greenways Initiative. Outstanding volunteers, community partners, and sustaining members will be recognized. Come enjoy the company and hear about the great accomplishments of 2013! Individual seats are $75. Learn more at http://greensbayou.org.
  3. Spring Break Hawk Walk. Come out for a Hawk Walk on March 20, 2014! Join the 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 participants 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. Walks will be held at 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, and 6:30pm. The cost is $30 for members, $45 for non-members, and $15 for children under 9. Learn more at www.houstonarboretum.org.
  4. Sam Houston Greenbelt Network II. Through a series of Collaborative Access events, Houston Wilderness provides the environmental community with access to people, places and information that benefit the greater Houston region by strengthening environmental programs and organizational operations. The next event will be held on March 20, 2014 from 10am-12pm at the Houston Wilderness Conference Room. The topic will be Sam Houston Greenbelt Network Master Plans and Connectivity II. More at houstonwilderness.org.
  5. Prairie Native Plant Rescue. Volunteers are needed to save native plants in the Willow Waterhole Prairie. This is a great opportunity to spend time in fresh air learning about the environment and saving native plants. Dig plants or pot plants at worktables! 1,626 plants have already been recovered and transported to the Holingsworth Science Center Nursery for replanting next fall. The volunteer event is on March 22, 2014, 9am-noon at Gasmer. Learn more and download the volunteer waiver form at www.wwgc.org.
  6. Galveston Bay Foundation Rain Barrel Workshop. Rain barrels are an efficient, low-cost method for collecting rainwater. They are placed at downspouts in order to reduce runoff into storm drains, and can be used for watering a garden or houseplants, among many other uses. Learn the benefits of rain barrels, how to use them, as well as proper location and installation at the next GBF Rain Barrel Workshop on March 22, 2014, 9:30-11:30am, at the McGuire-Dent Recreation Center. The cost is $30, and it includes admission to the Rain Barrel Workshop, 35 gal rain barrel courtesy of Coca-Cola (a $70 value), and a RainRecycle connector kit from Rain Barrel Depot. Register at www.galvbay.org.
  7. North Jetty Beach Clean Up. Join the Houston Sierra Club on March 22, 2014, from 10am-1pm, to help clean up the North Jetty Beach! The Houston Group has adopted this unique stretch of beach as part of the “Texas Adopt-a-Beach Program”. The North Jetty is a popular fishing, crabbing, and birding spot on the Bolivar Peninsula just south of the Audubon Society’s Bolivar Flats Sanctuary. The jetty itself is an impressive structure that provides a great vantage point for observing seasonal bird activity. Because this site is heavily used, trash and litter have been a problem. Much of the trash, such as discarded fishing line and plastics, are hazards to area wildlife. Efforts here are making a difference. Learn more here.
  8. Future of Leadership Luncheon 2014. Civic and business leaders are invited to Center For Houston’s Future 2014 Future of Leadership Luncheon on March 25, 2014, at 11:15am at the Hyatt Regency Houston. Come celebrate all those who contribute to the Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Houston region. One person, one family, one organization, can have a profound influence on the cultural life of a community. Find sponsorship levels online and register at futurehoustonsupport.com.
  9. Environmental Documentary Screening: Bag It. The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. is hosting a screening of the new, award-winning environmental documentary Bag It at the George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library on March 25, 2014, at 7pm. Bag It follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he tries to make sense of our dependence on plastic bags. Although his quest starts out small, Jeb soon learns that the problem extends past landfills to oceans, rivers and ultimately human health. The film explores these issues and identifies how our daily reliance on plastic threatens not only waterways and marine life, but human health, too. Two of the most common plastic additives are endocrine disruptors, which have been shown to link to cancer, diabetes, autism, attention deficit disorder, obesity and infertility. The screening at the Mitchell Library is part of Bag It’s campaign to urge 25 towns across the country to become “Bag It Towns”. Cities including Austin, Washington, DC and San Francisco, as well as Ireland, Italy and China have already implemented similar policies to curb their plastic use. Learn more at www.thewoodlands.net.
  10. Solid Waste Grants. If you haven’t already heard, the application for Solid Waste Grants is currently open. Through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)/H-GAC grant program, our region now has an infrastructure for collecting and processing recyclable materials. The grant program provided $26,988,604 to local governments from 1993 through 2013. The grant program has funded the following types of grants: recycling (40%), local enforcement (19%), household hazardous waste (15%), education (13%), studies (3%), cleanup events (6%), citizens’ collection stations (2%), local solid waste management plans (1%), and other (1%). The guidelines and application can be found at www.h-gac.com. Just under $312,000 is available and all applications are due by noon on March 25, 2014.
  11. Houston Community Sustainability: The Quality of Life Atlas. Come learn about the best in community and district planning at the Houston Community Sustainability Symposium & Mixer, hosted by The Rice University Center Shell Center for Sustainability! The symposium will feature speakers including Jeff Taebel of the Houston-Galveston Area Council, John Wilburn from the Center for Houston’s Future, and Brian Crimmins from the City of Houston Planning and Development Department. After the presentations, you can mix and mingle to exchange ideas on ways in which the Quality of Life in the city can be improved through sustainable development policy change. The symposium will be held at Duncan Hall on the Rice University Campus, Building 25, on March 26, 2014, from 1-7pm. This is a free event for all, but registration is required. For a complete schedule of speakers, the day’s events, and how to register, please visit shellcenter.rice.edu.
  12. Climate Solutions? Houston Update. City of Houston Public Works and Engineering, in conjunction with the Green Building Resource Center and the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the US Green Building Council presents the lecture “Climate Solutions? Houston Update.” Learn about the latest concerns and opportunities from an engineer and a planner who have been involved in the discussion. Discussion topics include ‘how to get the attention of our elected official to care about the very real effects of climate change,’ ‘incentives for the general population to adopt more sustainable ways of building,’ and ‘responsible consumption of resources.’ Guest speakers include Keith Reihl Mitsubishi Electric US and Aaron Tuley, Planner at Kendig Keast Collaborative. The event will be held on March 26, 2014, from 6-8pm, at the City of Houston Permitting Center. Event is free and open to the public. RSVP at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org or by phone (832-394-9050).
  13. Green Buildings Tour: Julia Ideson Library. The Mayor’s Office extends an invitation to the public for this Green Building Tour. The tour will be held on March 28, 2014, 11am-1pm. The buildings are certified by the US Green Building Council and LEED for Commercial Interiors. The tour is sponsored by the Mayor’s Office, US Green Buildings Council, and Urban Land Institute Houston. This tour is free and open to the public. More at www.facebook.com.
  14. Dick Benoit Upper Texas Coast Prairie Award. The Dick Benoit Award, presented by the Coastal Prairie Partnership, is an annual award given in recognition of an individual (such as a private landowner, Texas Master Naturalist, journalist/author, docent, educator, or other volunteer) or organizational (State or Federal agency, University, Nonprofit institution, etc.) action that demonstrates excellence in prairie conservation of and/or education in the Upper Texas Coast Prairie Region (Greater Houston-Galveston area). Criteria include time commitment (describe the nominee’s dedication of time and effort towards conservation and preservation of the coastal prairie) and accomplishments (describe project(s) by the individual or organization that have benefitted conservation and preservation of the coastal prairie). The CPP Board of Directors will tally and review nominations and will confirm the winner at its April 2014 meeting. The award winner will be notified and the award will be presented at the 2014 State of the Prairie Conference on May 30, 2014. Please return your nomination to Flo Hannah (fhannah@houstonaudubon.org) or mail to: Flo Hannah, Houston Audubon, 440 Wilchester Blvd, Houston, TX 77079 by Friday, March 28, 2014. Nominations should not exceed one page.
  15. 2014 River, Lakes, ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. Once a year, thousands of volunteers gather along the Texas waterways to do their part in cleaning up the environment by participating in the largest statewide event to educate the public about the importance of our water resources – River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash®. The Bash will be held on March 29, 2014, from 8:30am-1:30pm. Start time, registration and end time vary from location to location. Please go to the individual cleanup sites for details. To get started, pick a cleanup site near you. Volunteer at any of the sites and receive free lunch, entertainment, door prizes, and a t-shirt. Learn more at www.trashbash.org.
  16. KPC Unplugged Adventure: Ranch Roundup. You’ve been to the Rodeo, now it’s time to try your hand at being a cowpoke! Join Katy Prairie Conservancy for the third annual Ranch Roundup on the Warren Ranch – Harris County’s largest working cattle ranch. Watch real live cowboys round up cattle, test your lassoing skills, act out a Texas tall tale, snap a photo with a horse, and much more! There will be cowboy nibbles on hand, but please feel free to bring your own picnic lunch. The roundup will be held on March 29, 2014. The cost is $5 per person. Register here.
  17. Garden Architecture: Design & Placemaking in the Bayou City. Architecture Center Houston is requesting submissions of Garden Architecture, Garden Designs and Installations for an exhibit to be held at Architecture Center Houston May 22, 2014 to July 18, 2014. ArCH is looking for projects that are representative of exceptional place-making through the lens of garden design in the Houston area. Categories for entry include built and un-built work. Private and public spaces will be considered. Projects will be evaluated based on quality of design, quality of construction for completed projects, and relevance to the Garden Architecture theme. The submission deadline is March 28, 2014. If you have any questions, contact mat@aiahouston.org or (713) 520-0155. Learn more about submission requirements at https://aiahouston.org.
  18. 2014 Arbor Day Award Nominations. Trees For Houston is asking for you to help them honor Houstonians who have demonstrated their commitment to planting, protecting, and promoting trees. Nominate people, businesses, community groups, governmental agencies, and foundations whose exceptional contributions in the last year have made Houston a greener city. Winners will be recognized at the thirteenth annual Arbor Day Awards. Nominations can be based upon donations, planting projects, and preservation work. Please be specific. Include the number of trees, where they were planted, how funds were raised, what plant protected trees, and what programs were adopted. Please send photographs. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2014. Please fax (713-840-8734), email (katherine@treesforhouston.org), or mail (Post Office Box 270477 Houston, Texas 77277) nominations to Katherine Bravo, Trees for Houston. More at www.treesforhouston.org.
  19. Green the Prairie – Call for Volunteers. Volunteers are needed to to assist with planting 2,500 native coastal prairie grasses across 400 acres of farmland. Come out on April 5, 2014, 8am-noon, to Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center. Volunteers are a vital necessity for restoring the natural beauty of the surrounding lands, so please download and either email, fax or mail this volunteer form.
  20. Walk for the Woods Project! The 3rd Annual Walk for the Woods Project will be held on April 5, 2014, at 10am at Neighborhood Centers, Inc – Ripley House. Walk for the woods is a 5K walk that will take you on a journey through Houston’s historic East End, where many of The Woods Project’s students live and play. This walk raises money for The Woods Project, which is an organization that seeks to develop leadership capacity and life skills in low income youth through a series of outdoor education/environmental awareness programs at wilderness sites in the United States. Save the date for this great event and learn more at www.thewoodsproject.org.
  21. Houston Rockets Dog Walk benefiting Hermann Park Conservancy. Bring your furry friend to Hermann Park on April 5, 2014, for The Dog Walk sponsored by the Houston Rockets. The Walk will follow a picturesque, one-mile path around McGovern Lake and the Jones Reflection Pool. Participants will receive one ticket to the Rockets’ April 6 game vs. Denver, a commemorative T-shirt for the owners, and a giveaway for your pup. A portion of the proceeds will go to the creation of a dog park within Hermann Park. The Rockets will host an after party at Lake Plaza with various vendors, goodies and prizes for owners and doggies alike. For info or to register, click here.
  22. The WaterWeek Festival. The WaterWeek festival educates more than 1,800 students about the importance of protecting their water resources. This event is one of the most popular field trips in our region. Municipal water professionals and environmental educators provide hands-on activities, both indoor and outdoor, primarily suited for third through eighth grade students each day from 9:30am-1pm. The festival is held at the WaterWorks Education Center in northeast Harris County. Attendance is free and advance reservations are required. Download a WaterWorks Education Center Field Trip Request Form to register for one day of WaterWeek. Participation in the art contest is not required. Space is limited to 350 students per day. Learn more here. Monday, April 28 – Friday, May 2 from 9:30 am – 1:00 pm.
  23. Artist Boat Kayak Tours. Come take a 2-hour tour of Galveston Island’s Coastal Heritage Preserve! Located roughly midway along the length of Galveston Island, the Coastal Heritage Preserve is a project site, and critical piece in the West Bay Corridor Initiative, a multi-agency program to protect and restore critical habitats around West Bay. The Coastal Heritage Preserve represents the essence of bay coastal margin on Galveston Bay, with a full suite of habitats, from open bay water to salt, brackish, intermediate and fresh marsh, tidal flats, and upland prairie. It also exhibits a mix of ecologic, conservation, recreation, historic, and aesthetic values. Learn more about the Coastal Heritage Preserve here. Visit www.artistboat.org to register for a kayak tour. Tours are $10. Call (409)-770-0722 for more information.

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Lunch Colloquium on Sociohorticulture with Dr. Joe Novak. The Center for the Study of Environment and Society at Rice will host a lunch with Dr. Robert Novak. This luncheon will discuss the ways that gardens can improve our lives, and examines the ways gardens can positively impact children, heal adults, and the connections between nature and the creative process. Novak is a retired professor from A&M, and plans to develop the Houston Horticulture Center to study the roles of gardens, and the ways they can rejuvenate neighborhoods, and improve the quality of life within cities. The colloquium will be held on March 19, 2014, 12-1pm at Duncan Hall 2082, Rice University. Lunch provided to those who RSVP. CSES only provides vegetarian lunches, and asks that you please bring your own cup. RSVP email to cses@rice.edu
  2. Interfaith Environmental Stewardship Event. People of all faiths, or no faith at all, are invited to join with Christians, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims to care for our shared environment on Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2014, from 1:30-4:30pm. Participants will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship by working to create a garden in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Houston. The garden is a program of Almighty Ministries, an organization that empowers at-risk youth from impoverished communities through free after-school programs and summer camps. The after-school program, Youth Going Green Community Garden, educates youth on developing gardening, leadership and social skills, while providing nourishing food. The garden is located at 4706 Idaho in Houston. This event will offer garden activities for all ages and skill levels, including building a tool shed, creating more garden beds and another compost bin. Sponsoring organizations include: Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church, Congregation Brith Shalom, GYAN (Green Yatra Action Network) – a project of the Living Planet Foundation, the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, and Almighty Ministries. Contact Lisa at gcs.lrc@gmail.com or 713-372-7345 for more information or to sign up to help.
  3. Save the Date! Planning for Disaster Resilience Symposium. This symposium commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Hazard Reduction & Recovery Center (HRRC) by bringing together past and current HRRC faculty fellows to discuss contributions to the fields of hazards and urban planning research, emphasizing the importance of the intersection of urban planning and hazards as critical for community resilience. Panel discussion topics include: Hazard Mitigation; Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning; Recovery and Adaptation; and Interpretations for Practice. The symposium will be held April 4-5, 2014, at the Texas A&M University at College Station, Langford Architecture Center. The cost is $100 ($35 for students). Learn more at http://hrrc.arch.tamu.edu.
  4. Film Screening: The Ghosts in Our Machine. The South Texas College of Law/Houston is hosting a special screening of the critically acclaimed new documentary, The Ghosts in Our Machine. The Ghosts in Our Machine is a multi-award winning consciousness raising documentary that gently reveals one of the most haunting moral dilemmas of our modern world. While the provocative film Blackfish made waves for exposing the consequences of keeping orcas in captivity, The Ghosts in Our Machine illuminates the plight of many other animals rescued from and living within the machine of our modern world, from captive foxes to rescued dairy cows. The screening will be held on April 8, 2014, at 6:30pm at the South Texas College of Law/Houston. Katie Jarl, Texas State Director for The Humane Society of the United States, will speak about ongoing campaigns to address these issues. Learn more here. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
  5. The Progressive Forum – Closing Event. Earlier this week, Randall Morton, Founder and President of The Progressive Forum, announced the end of the theatrical events. For nine years, The Progressive Forum brought many great minds and presentations to Houston. Although the events are ending, the mission will be continued online. The closing event will be held on April 21, 2014, at 7:30pm, at the Wortham Center, Cullen Theater. The speaker, Bill McKibben, is cofounder of 350.org, which is “building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.” The organization has coordinated over 20,000 climate demonstrations in over 188 countries and has led opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, which would connect high-carbon tar-sand oil to Houston refineries. Learn more about the closing event and buy tickets here. Read the letter from Randall Morton here.
  6. Walter B. Jones Awards Call for Nominations. NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 2014 Walter B. Jones Memorial Awards for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management. The award categories for 2014 are: Coastal Steward of the Year; Excellence in Local Government (up to five may be awarded); and Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study (up to ten may be awarded). The hallmarks of the awards are innovation, resourcefulness, and a commitment to balancing the needs of America’s natural coastal and ocean resources with the needs of people. Nominations are open to individuals, organizations, and state and local government agencies and their employees. Federal employees and officials are not eligible. Entries must adhere to specific submission and judging criteria and must be received by April 15, 2014. Winners will be notified this summer. For more information, visit the Jones Awards webpage or contact Patmarie Nedelka at Patmarie.Nedelka@noaa.gov or 301-563-1127.
  7. The Texas State Parks Photo Contest. Do you have a favorite photo that was taken in one of our Texas State Parks? Perhaps it’s the view from Enchanted Rock or the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, or treasured snapshots of family fun while gathered around a picnic table at Dinosaur Valley, paddling at Caddo Lake or building sandcastles on Mustang Island. Find those favorite photos or to take some new ones, because Texas State Parks is sponsoring the Picture Yourself in Texas State Parks Photo Contest. Each month Texas Parks & Wildlife features an Outdoor Activity of the Month, and in March 2014, it’s Photography Month. To encourage you to head out to a State Park and start taking pictures, TP&W is sponsoring a photography contest with three categories and three prizes. The categories are: Ages 17 and Under; Ages 18 and Over; and Instagram (for all ages) with the hashtag #myparkpic. If your photo is declared one of the three winners, you’ll receive a Hero3+ GoPro Camera, courtesy of Whole Earth Provision Co.! The contest began March 1, 2014 and runs through April 15th. The winning photos will be chosen by a team of Texas Parks & Wildlife photographers and staff. The winning photos will be published in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. All photos submitted will be available for reuse in Texas Parks & Wildlife publications and materials. Learn more here.
  8. Request for Concept Papers for AmeriCorps VISTA Program. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Texas State Office seeks Concept Papers for the AmeriCorps VISTA program from innovative, high-performing and outcome-driven organizations that share the AmeriCorps VISTA mission to provide long term solutions to poverty. This Request for Concept Paper (RFCP) is for placement of VISTA members contingent on Fiscal Year 2014 federal budget decisions. Organizations interested in sponsoring an AmeriCorps VISTA project in Texas are invited to submit a Concept Paper to the Corporation for National and Community Service Texas State Office through the online eGrants system. Learn more at www.nationalservice.gov. The deadline for Concept Paper Submission is April 14, 2014.
  9. Houston Space Center No Impact Week. Could you go a full week without making an environmental impact on planet earth? How hard would it be to live and work without wasting precious resources? Could you live without creating any trash or using any electricity? Could you save money? Be healthier? Find out this April 19th when the No Impact Week comes to Houston! Space Center Houston is partnering with The No Impact Project for its first annual Earth Day Celebration and planning a No Impact Week Challenge. Space Center will host a kick-off celebration on Saturday, April 19, 2014. There will be activities, music, workshops, demonstrations and film screenings! If your organization is interested in having a booth at the event, coordinating an activity or getting involved in Space Center Houston’s No Impact Week Challenge please fill out this form or contact Lilly at lilly@noimpactproject.org or by phone at (347) 566-1593. Learn more about No Impact Week at http://noimpactproject.org.
  10. 2014 Thacher Environmental Research Contest. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies is pleased to invite U.S. high school students to participate in the 2014 Thacher Environmental Research Contest. This annual contest allows students the opportunity to show off their science and technology skills by submitting research projects focused on the use of remote sensing and analysis tools. Students are asked to identify a U.S. protected area of interest, and design a research project that identifies why the area is unique, why it significantly contributes to our society, how this area has changed over time, and ways remote sensing and geospatial tools can be used to monitor these environmental treasures. Participation is open to all U.S. students in grades 9-12. Entries may be submitted by individuals or student teams. Three cash prizes will be presented, with the first place student or team receiving $2,000, along with a feature in the magazine Apogeo Spatial. In addition to prizes for the winning students, the teachers of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place entrants will receive a $200 Amazon.com gift card. Click here for full contest rules and to learn how enter. Entries are due May 5, 2014.
  11. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area).
    • Restoring a Texas Treasure
    • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
    • A Scar on the Flats
  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.
    • March 18, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • March 19, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • March 20, 2014: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach “Moderate” levels in parts of Southeast Texas.

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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. River waste (Houston Chronicle, 3/6/2014)
    Both forks of the San Jacinto River and the northern sliver of Lake Houston exceed the state standard for bacteria contaminants – namely, human and animal feces. Any time you increase population, you get more waste loads, notes Todd Running, water resource manager for the Houston-Galveston Area Council. A new report forecasts that the population in the regional watershed will more than double in the next two decades. Bacteria can grow on waste that a growing human population produces. While overall water quality falls short of state standards, the Houston-Galveston area has been making strides in the right direction. Regulation has helped. Within about three years, all of the region’s wastewater treatment facilities should have undergone permit renewals that will subject them to increased bacteria-monitoring requirements. Yet some pipes in the sewer systems are old and leaking.
    www.chron.com
  2. Data App: Track Texas Reservoir Levels (Ryan Murphy and Kate Galbraith – The Texas Tribune, 3/12/2014)
    Texas endured the most intense drought in recorded state history in 2011, and it has yet to bounce back. Water levels at a number of reservoirs remain significantly low, particularly in West Texas, which is drier than East Texas. Using data collected from the Texas Water Development Board’s reservoir status tracker, a map has been built that visualizes the current state of Texas’ reservoirs. The map auto-updates daily with fresh data. Each icon on the map represents an individual reservoir, color-coded based on how full it is currently.
    www.texastribune.org
  3. Fall, winter rains will bring good wildflower displays to parts of Texas (Your Houston News, 3/11/2014)
    While cooler than usual weather may delay the wildflower season in some parts of Texas, the good news is that many areas should have great blooms, and a few already show the first stirrings of spring. Fall and winter moisture are important as many popular wildflowers—including Texas bluebonnets, Indian blanket and Texas star—get a jumpstart on their spring growth by germinating during the winter and establishing themselves as rosettes. At Houston Audubon’s Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, the leaves of a number of wildflowers including rosinweed, Texas coneflower, black-eyed Susan, rattlesnake master, and blue-eyed grass are up, but not many have flowered yet. The exceptions are some violets and Carolina jessamine.
    www.yourhoustonnews.com