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Houston Environmental News Update November 18, 2014
November 18, 2014

Houston Environmental News Update November 18, 2014

The election was barely over when, on November 10, 2014, our Texas legislators began pre-filing bills for the legislative session. The CEC will be keeping up with the legislature, but let us know if you have a particular interest in any legislation. Scroll down for more info.

CEC, along with several other groups and individuals, will be meeting on Friday morning to discuss environmental prospects for the legislature–with a focus on parks and bayous. Please contact rachel@cechouston.org or 713-524-4232 if you would like to learn more or RSVP.

Speaking of state government, today the State Board of Education votes to consider approval of new social studies textbooks. Among other things, these textbooks address climate change with varying degrees of accuracy and bias. For more information, albeit biased, on the issue, visit offthekuff.com.

CEC NOTES

  1. Welcome new subscribers. Frank, Bob, Graciela, Sue, Mark, Philip, Bruce, Tracy, Joe, and Ipung. We’re glad you joined our community!
  2. Holiday Shopping.
    Last week, we told you about out Goodshop.com. This week, we are featuring Amazon Smile as a way to support CEC while you shop for the giving season. When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Citizens’ Environmental Coalition.

    Just in case you need some ideas about what to buy on Amazon, here are some book suggestions from CEC Board Member Steve Stelzer: http://codegreenhouston.org/green-books/index.php.

  3. Save the Dates
    The CEC has three great events planned for next year, and we hope you can join us. More details are coming soon, but for now, please save the dates!

    • January 29, 2015: CEC hosts the Texas premier of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour
    • March 3, 2015: CEC’s Greater Houston Environmental Summit
    • April 1, 2015: Environmental Poetry and Puns

84TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE BEGINS

Starting on November 10, Texas legislators began pre-filing bills for the 84th Legislature. As of November 17, 2014, over 500 bills had been prefiled. (For reference, in 2013, almost 12,000 bills were introduced during the 83rd Legislature.)

One of the more highly anticipated legislative initiatives, which did not pass in the last legislature, is an effort to make sure that revenue from the sporting goods tax is credited in full to the Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission. Currently, only those funds that are appropriated by the legislature are credited to the two agencies. Several bills have been filed to restore this funding.

A meeting is being held this Friday, November 21, 2014, at 8:30 AM to discuss legislation of particular interest to the environmental community–especially parks and bayous. If you are interested, please contact Rachel (713-524-4232 or rachel@cechouston.org) for more information.

Other pre-filed bills pertain to climate adaptation plan requirements for state agencies, water rights permits, electonics recycling, farmers markets, local produce, raw milk, food deserts, community gardens, transportation-related taxes (including a 1 penny per mile tax for maintenance), jail time for illegal dumping, daylight savings time, renaming the Railroad Commission, and the standard redistricting and eminent domain challenges.

For more information about environmental activities of the http://cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/.

 

COALITION NOTES

  1. Houston GREEN Film Series: Deep Down. Come out on November 19, 2014, 6:30pm, to the Rice Media Center for a screening of Deep Down: A story from the heart of coal country. “Through a complex human story that cuts across environment, economics, public policy, and culture, the story of Beverly May and Terry Ratliff reveals the devastating impact of our energy consumption against an explosive backdrop: Appalachia’s centuries-old struggle over the black rock that fuels our planet.” A light dinner will be served, courtesy of Dr. Pat Speck and Dry Bones Cafe. The film is free to the public, though donations are suggested and kindly appreciated. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
  2. What does it take to recycle in Houston? Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, GBRC, 1002 Washington Avenue, Houston TX, 77002. Buildings are responsible for a large component of the waste stream.  On September 17, 2014, City Council voted to provide curbside recycling to all residential customers with City of Houston collection.  Check.  How about your office?  Your apartment?  What are the obstacles to recycling?  What can you recycle?  Why isn’t everything recyclable?  What are other cities doing to recycle?  What about composting?  Bring your questions, we’ll see what kind of answers we can provide.  Guest Speakers: Candace Seger, President, Corporate Waste Solutions, LLC; Sarah Mason, Sr Environmental Analyst, City of Houston Solid Waste Management; Clive Hess, President, Compucycle. For more information visit  www.greenhoustontx.gov. Please RSVP to Steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov. Free and open to the public.
  3. Landscape Architecture Lecture: Laurie Olin. Laurie Olin, the landscape architect who designed Hermann Park’s master plan, will give a talk at the Park’s Historic Clubhouse on November 20, 2014. Founder of the OLIN Studio in Philadelphia, Olin’s master plan for Hermann Park was adopted in 1995 and still guides the Conservancy’s improvement efforts today. Join Herman Park Conservancy for a reception at 5:30pm-followed by Olin’s lecture at 6pm. The event is free but please RSVP to kmall@hermannpark.org or call 713-524-5876 ext. 358 to reserve a space.
  4. 20th Annual Twilight Gala: Turning a New Leaf. Join Nature Discovery Center for the 20th Annual Twilight Gala, helping the greater Houston community discover, enjoy and value nature. For nearly three decades, the Nature Discovery Center has been sparking interest in science and nature, developing critical thinking tools, enriching educational opportunities for children, improving the teaching of science for teachers, and nourishing the inquiring minds of hundreds of thousands of people, particularly children. This year’s Twilight Gala fetes all that is new and renewed at the Center. From the fresh renovation of the 89-year-old Henshaw House to the renewal of the grounds for all of those that spend time in the four-acre outdoor classroom, Russ Pitman Park. The gala will be held on November 21, 2014, at the Houstonian Hotel. Learn more and purchase tickets online at www.naturediscoverycenter.org.
  5. Preparation for Bayou Lobby Day. Bayou Lobby Day is an event established two years ago in which a coalition of organizations supported increased funding to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the local parks grant program. The bills that were filed last session did not pass, but Representative Larson out of San Antonio has already re-filed. Regional nonprofits can add value by working together again on supporting this state-wide effort. The local parks grants program is particularly helpful for many of our organizations and those dollars flow directly into our region. If your organization would like to be involved, please email Jen@houstonparksboard.org. There will be a meeting on November 21, 2014, in which  action items will be discussed:
    1. Board resolution in support of greater state park/local parks grant funding
    2. Parks Lobby Day/Bayou Lobby Day currently scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2015
    3. Possible education effort with our local delegation on the regional conservation plan/water quality need
  6. KPC Wild West Tour: Fall Feathers. Cool fall winds send migratory birds south in search of food and shelter. Join bird expert, Glenn Olsen, out on the prairie to welcome these feathered fall travelers as they take up residence in the wetlands and grasslands of the Katy Prairie. This tour will be held on November 23, 2014, 1-5pm at the Indiangrass Preserve. The cost is $50 per person. Learn more at www.katyprairie.org.
  7. Global Bird Conservation with Ted C. Reissing. Join Gulf Coast Bird Observatory on November 29, 2014, at 10am at GCBO’s Avian Conservation Science Center, for a special holiday program focused on Global Bird Conservation. Special guest speaker, T.C. Reissing, is a founding member of GCBO from Atlanta and regular speaker for Atlanta Audubon and the Georgia Nature Conservancy. Come out and learn what is happening to the world’s birds! Learn more at www.gcbo.org.
  8. Comments on the Clean Power Plan due December 1. The EPA has proposed the Clean Power Plan to reduce gas emissions from power plants by 30%. The EPA wants your input on the plan! The deadline for comments is December 1, 2014. Learn how to submit your comments at www2.epa.gov. Stay updated on the progress of Houston’s air quality and find ways you can take action by visiting Air Alliance. 
  9. Long Range Master Plan Survey. Memorial Park Conservancy requests your valuable input in preparation of funding future Park improvements. Upon approval of the Long Range Master Plan, anticipated in Spring 2015, Memorial Park Conservancy will commence with raising private funds for capital endeavors. Your voice is critical! Please take a moment to complete the survey here.
  10. Olive Allen Hughes Award. Air Alliance Houston will present an annual award given in honor of Olive Allen Hughes, a long-time supporter of Air Alliance Houston and Earth Day Houston in particular. Olive’s kindness, her generous spirit, and her passion for the nonprofit community have been an essential component of the success of Earth Day Houston. Starting in 2015, Air Alliance Houston will give the Olive Allen Hughes award each year to an Earth Day Houston participant. Eligible organizations must: be active in Texas in the fields of public health or environment; demonstrate how their mission and programming qualify them for the award; and complete award application and provide proof of nonprofit status. Applications are due February 13, 2015. Learn more and find the application at www.earthdayhouston.org.
  11. Streambank Stabilization – Correction. Last week, we included information about streambank stabilization in a misleading manner. Please accept our apologies. HCFCD’s Streambank Stabilization Handbook was done entirely by the HCFCD and is not related to the Memorial Park Demonstration Project. More information can be found at www.hcfcd.org/dl_sshandbook.html. HCFCD has published a handbook describing streambank stabilization, “Streambank Stabilization Handbook: A Guide for Harris County Landowners,” available at www.hcfcd.org. This Handbook was prepared by HCFCD to assist Harris County residents in planning streambank stabilization project on their property, with an emphasis on bioengineered approaches. The Handbook is directed towards addressing localized erosion problems and is not intended to provide information regarding full restoration of a stream. Landowners should coordinate their stabilization effort with a design professional and Harris County Flood Control District.
  12. H-GAC American Textile Recycling Service Tour. Would you like to learn more about the textile recycling process? Then join H-GAC for a tour of American Textile Recycling Services (ATRS), the fastest growing textile recycler in the USA. The tours will be held on December 4, 2014, at 10:15am, 10:45am, 11:15am, and 11:45am. Choose a time that is most convenient for you. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes! ATRS is located at 10739 West Little York Road #100. For more information or to RSVP, contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525 or erin.livingston@h-gac.com.
  13. H-GAC Fall Planning Workshop: Low Impact Development. Mark your calendars and plan to join Houston-Galveston Area Council for the Annual Fall Planning Workshop on December 5, 2014, 8:30am-12:30pm, to explore the world of Low Impact Development (LID). Learn what LID is, what it looks like on the ground, what makes it work, and much more! Learn more and register at www.h-gac.com.
  14. Jones Park Tree Planting Party. Fall planting season is here! Help re-establish native trees to areas in Jones Park on December 13, 2014, from 9am-1:30pm. Wear long pants and sturdy, closed-toed shoes (preferably hiking boots), and prepare to get dirty! Bring a refillable water bottle, gloves, and tools like shovels, axes, loppers, and hand pruners, if available. Park staff will provide tools as needed. For more information or to sign up contact Rose Belzung Holmes at rbelzung@hcp4.net or call 281-446-8588. Pre-registration is required! Planting Party Flyer (3)
  15. Earth Day Art Contest. Earth Day celebrates our planet’s wonders. Show what you see when you think of clean air, water, and land. Show your vision of how we can honor, celebrate, and protect our environment. Students in grades 3 through 12 in the Houston area should enter their artwork by January 31, 2015. Find the rules at www.earthdayhouston.org.
  16. Galveston Bay Report Card. Do you wonder about the impact of development, population growth, and geologic/climate processes on the activities of people that work and play on Galveston Bay, residents and visitors that eat seafood caught locally, and the flora and fauna that make this region so ecologically significant? The Galveston Bay Report Card will aim to answer these and other questions put forward by the public, while presenting scientific data in a visually appealing and easy to understand format. Help contribute by taking the survey and providing your input at http://galvbay.org.
  17. Additional Upcoming Events

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. The Atlas of Migratory Connectivity for the Birds of North America. Princeton University Press will publish “The Atlas of Migratory Connectivity for the Birds of North America.” The atlas will contain information on migratory connectivity through a mapping project using the GSGS Bird Banding Laboratory. The goal is to make this atlas the most comprehensive source of information available on the subject. To do so, The Migratory Connectivity Project is reaching out to the ornithological community for related sources of information. Contributions are welcomed through the end of 2014. Contact Amy Scarpignato (ScarpignatoA@si.edu) with questions or to send information. Learn more at www.migratoryconnectivityproject.org.
  2. TPWD Grants Workshop. Join Texas Parks & Wildlife for a half day workshop designed to help you discover the different grant programs that TPWD offers. Grant programs include: Community Outdoor Outreach Program, Local Park Grant & State Boating Access Program, NFWF funding opportunities, Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, Recreational Trails, River Access & Conservation Grants, Section 6 Endangered Species Act Grants, and Wildlife Diversity Program. The workshop will be held on November 19, 2014, 8:30am-12pm at United Way Houston. RSVP to holly@houstonwilderness.org.
  3. 2014 Power Tools for Nonprofits. CenterPoint Energy will be providing a high-quality educational conference targeting nonprofit agencies from various cultural, socio-economic and financial backgrounds on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at NRG Center for only $49 per person. This conference provides an educational forum for nonprofit professionals, volunteers and board members, offering ideas on how to leverage resources, strengthen organizational effectiveness and improve the quality of life for all. During the conference, subject experts will share their knowledge, best practices and ways to enhance organizations’ performance. The Power Tools Conference will help attendees sharpen their skills, discover new ways of looking at common issues, expand their network and be better prepared for whatever challenges may come their way. The conference attendees can attend four sessions and choose from over 25 topics. To obtain more information about the sessions and to register, go to www.centerpointenergy.com. For more information, contact 713-743-1060.
  4. Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. Many communities around the country are asking for tools to help them achieve their desired development goals, improve quality of life, and become more economically and environmentally sustainable. In response to this demand, EPA developed the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities provides quick, targeted technical assistance to selected communities using a variety of tools that have demonstrated results and widespread application. The purpose of delivering these tools is to stimulate a discussion about growth and development and strengthen local capacity to implement sustainable approaches. On October 23, 2014, EPA announced a Request for Letters of Interest inviting communities to apply for technical assistance on one or more of the following topics: bikeshare planning, equitable development, infill development for distressed cities, sustainable strategies for small cities and rural areas, and flood resilience for riverine and coastal communities. Applications are due by November 20, 2014. Read more at www.epa.gov.
  5. The Texas Big Six 2040 Signature Workshop. With a horizon year of 2040, key representatives from Texas’ six largest cities, Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, will speak about major plans, policies, and projects currently underway that will shape the livability, resiliency, and competitiveness of these cities and our region’s future. The workshop will be held on November 21, 2014, 8:30am-3:30pm at Texas Southern University – Barbara Jordan/Mickey Leeland School of Public Affairs (Cleburne St at Tierwester St). The cost is $50 for APA members, and $60 for non-APA members. Student rates available. Register at www.eventbrite.com. Registration for this event includes admission to the workshop, breakfast and lunch at the workshop, and admission to the mixer to be held the night before the event.
  6. Save Buffalo Bayou – Public Lecture with Mathias Kondolf. Mathias Kondolf, a world-renowned scientist and the leading voice in river restoration industry will speak about the state of Buffalo Bayou and the controversial project to dredge and channelize it on November 21, 2014, 6:30-8:30pm at St. Theresa Memorial Park Catholic Church. Dr. Kondolf will speak about the natural process and dynamics of river systems, the importance of riparian zones, and the state of Buffalo Bayou in particular. He will address the prospect of failure and the lack of science underlying the experimental techniques proposed by the Harris County Flood Control District for the bayou project and place the controversy in the context of the ongoing national debateabout river restoration and so-called Natural Channel Design. This event is open to the public! Learn more at www.savebuffalobayou.org.
  7. Paddlers’ Camping Course. The Matagorda County Birding Nature Center will be hosting a two-part outdoors knowledge and skills course. Session #1 will be held on November 22, 2014, at the Center’s riverside pavilion from 9:20am-12:45pm. It will cover the fundamentals of everything-must-go-in-the-boat wilderness camping. This includes selecting gear, foods, shelter, destinations and campsites; plus safety and emergency management. Session #2 will be a guided 18-mile overnight float trip down the Colorado River on January 3-4, 2015. This field exercise is designed to hone one’s practical understanding regarding safe and comfortable camping along the shores of enticing waterways, under the watchful eye of an experienced expedition paddler. The course is limited to ten (10) individuals, 18 or older, possessing the confidence they can cover 8-10 miles per day on slow-moving flat water. The cost is $35 per person and covers two light meals; shuttle, guide, instruction and trip leadership services; and ‘15 MCBNC membership. If interested, contact Willie Younger at 979-240-4872 or w-younger@att.net.
  8. Climate Leadership Summit. The Climate Leadership Summit will be hosted in Houston and presented by the Rainforest Action Network. The goal of the conference is to bring together leaders involved with all aspects of environmental justice to learn strategies for implementation, hear from experts on the issues, and network to develop a stronger force to fight for environmental protection. The summit will be held December 13-14, 2014, at Sharespace (2201 Preston St). More at www.ran.org.
  9. EPA’s Gulf Guardian Awards. It’s time to recognize all those great programs that benefit the Gulf through EPA’s Gulf Guardian Awards. This is an exciting competition that rewards good Gulf stewards for their efforts with an award and recognition from their State and the EPA. The deadline is January 15, 2015. The categories for nomination are: Business/Industry, Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity, Civic and Nonprofit Organizations, Youth Environmental Education, Individual, Partnerships and Bi-national. Learn more at www.epa.gov. Applications are due by January 15, 2015.
  10. Additional Community Announcements 
  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). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.

    • The Real Bears of East Texas

    • Wild Things: Turtles and Roads
    • The Spring Trackers
    • Palo Duro Canyon State Park
  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.
    • November 18, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds, low incoming background levels, and cold temperatures should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • November 19, 2014: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Winds may be light enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach “Moderate” levels in the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the morning and evening.
    • November 20, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
    • November 21, 2014: Green–Good. Moderate winds, low incoming background levels, and cold temperatures should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.

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