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April 7, 2015

Houston Environmental News Update April 7, 2015

Earth Month is in full swing, and CEC will have booths at many of the events including Earth Day Houston this Saturday at Discovery Green.

CEC has a long history of involvement in Earth Day. In fact, before CEC was incorporated, we hosted the first Houston celebration of Earth Day in 1971.

Here’s some info from the Earth Day Network website:

20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air,  Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

Our founders played a tremendous role in this movement, and, as a result, we live in a healthier, cleaner, and more beautiful world. Learn from our environmental heroes, and take action now to continue their work.

CEC NOTES

  1. Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour: Film Selection Committee. The CEC is pleased to announce that it has been selected to host the WSFF On Tour in Houston again in January 2016, and we have received our first grant, from Patagonia, in support of this program. We are seeking volunteers to help–over the next two months–choose the films that we will show at the festival. If you are interested, please contact rachel@cechouston.org.
  2. H-E-B Tear Pad Campaign. H-E-B supports many EarthShare of Texas organizations with corporate grants or in-kind contributions, including the CEC with support of our Environmental Resource Guide and the Greater Houston Environmental Summit. The April tear-pad promotion is a bit different as it enables H-E-B customers to bolster the diverse environmental program work of more than three dozen EarthShare of Texas’ member organizations, including CEC! The customers’ dollars will go directly to CEC and the other EarthShare of Texas member organizations, benefiting both the Texas environment and economy.
    Throughout the month of April and into the first week of May, look for the EarthShare of Texas display and tear-off coupons at the check-out stands in any Texas H-E-B and Central Market stores. Support EarthShare of Texas and the Texas environment!
  3. Environmental Poetry & Puns a Big Hit! Thank you to everyone who attended CEC’s second annual Environmental Poetry & Puns event last week, especially our featured poets Jim Blackburn, Lilibeth Andre, and Martha Serpas. Together, the attendees created an “Exquisite Corpse” poem, with each line provided by a different person. We hope you like it!
    Booming echoed across the prairie lick
    And she exclaimed, “Forget not that the earth rejoices in feeling your feet and the wind longs to play with your hair!!”
    And suddenly a wrestling underneath her feet…
    We must stand our ground
    Before the wind we hear becomes silent
    Due to the changes made when cause sound
    Many sound which naturally never occurred on this ground.
    Nobody could explain the sound, for the first time everyone’s feet touched the ground.
    We want to ensure that this is not your last dance.
    Before the night ends, you’ll get your, I think.
    Dance on the Earth which rejoices in delight at the sight of your presence in the soft gazing wind from the fading twilight to past midnight, midnight, no waves not wind, the empty boat is flooded with moonlight
    And we all turn to the rosy-fingered dawn
    To see the ocher-colored sky
    Begin to shine amid
    Host satellites on the plumes
    Of vapor containing who knows what
    Of sound and fury at end of day.
    No matter, the silent echo screams.
  4. New Subscribers. Thank you Richard, Bobby, Elizabeth, Xavier, Jamal, Shen, Allyn, Martha, Curtis, Lee, Rob, Maria, Chris, Sequoia, Henry, Neda, Lisa, Christina, Denise, Sara, Michelle, and Matthew (and a few folks who didn’t share their name), our newest subscribers. We hope you enjoy our emails!

COALITION NOTES

  1. Feathered Friends Preen for Their Beauty Fest. Galveston is one of the top locations in the nation for birding, and FeatherFest, sponsored by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, provides one of the best opportunities for viewing and photographing our avian friends. Mark your calendar for April 9-12, 2015, when GINTC will present its 13th annual Galveston FeatherFest and Nature PhotoFest, to be held both on the Island and at selected locations throughout the Gulf Coast. For more information about onside registration, visit www.galvestonfeatherfest.com. With more than 100 field trips, workshops, and social events, FeatherFest is one of the largest birding festivals in Texas, and one of the few with a dedicated nature photography track. Expert-led excursions by bus and boat will enable Fest-goers to visit a variety of habitats, from beaches to bays, bay marshes to wetlands, and coastal prairies to upland wood motts. New FeatherFest events for 2015 include the Brazos Bend State Park field trip, Nature Photography by Kayak, and FledglingFest Plus: Beyond Basic Birding for All Ages, as well as two pre-event offerings: Beaumont Area Birding with Glenn Olsen and Rookery Photography in Rockport with Larry Ditto.The April 11-12 FledglingFest–a special event designed for kids ages six and up–includes such fun activities for children and their parents as the Galveston Birding Secrets workshop, two field trips by bus, a tour of the sea turtle barn, an outing by boat, and the free Birds of Prey Raptor show.
  2. Attwater Prairie Chicken Week. Friends of Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge recently released the winter issue of the Boomer, which you can read here: FriendsNewsletter winter 2015. This issue includes information on Coastal Prairie Partnership’s 2015 Prairie Chicken Week, which includes a lecture at the Houston Zoo on April 9, 2015. The lecture, The Attwater’s Prairie Chicken: Past, Present and Future, will be a two -part lecture with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and Houston Zoo experts. 2015 Prairie Chicken Week will also include a Booming -N- Blooming Festival at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge from April 11-12, 2015. Experience the courtship dance of the Attwater’s prairie chicken on this 10,000- acre coastal prairie refuge. Learn more at http://prairiepartner.org.
  3. KPC’s Great Grow Out for 2015. Spring is here, and it is the perfect time to get involved in Katy Prairie Conservancy’s (KPC) Great Grow Out (GGO) program, a citizen conservation project aimed at scouts, schools, garden clubs, families, and individuals interested in growing plants for local pollinators and helping Houston’s local environment. Anyone from kindergarteners to retirees can help our insect and animal friends by growing and nurturing native plants at home with seeds provided by KPC. The plants will be used in restoration projects on the Katy Prairie, as well as at pocket prairies in local schools and parks. KPC will distribute seeds for the Great Grow Out from now through October. Currently, KPC has American Basketflower, Purple Lovegrass, Rattlesnake Master, Texas Coneflower, and Yellow Indiangrass seeds, which were all hand-collected on local prairies and are available for the Great Grow Out. Volunteers provide water, soil, pots, and time during the “grow out” period. You can select which seeds you would like to plant from a list on the GGO web page, where instructions for the project are provided. Contact Christine Mansfield at KPC at cmansfield@katyprairie.org or 713-523-6135 to request seeds. Learn more about the Great Grow Out at www.katyprairie.org.
  4. Going Green Sustainability Lecture: Energy Use and a Revenue Neutral Carbon Fee. Is there an economically effective way to reduce carbon emissions in our country? The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. will host a discussion on such a method, one that would be particularly effective at this point in time. Bill Bray, leader of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby of The Woodlands, will discuss the application of a “revenue neutral” carbon fee. The fee on carbon emissions would be collected at the earliest point of entry into the economy, which could be at the well, port or mine. All fees would be returned to individuals and households. Economists are virtually unanimous that such an approach is the most economically efficient method for achieving real reductions. Come learn more on April 7, 2015, at 7pm at the South Regional Library. Learn more at http://steveandjudy.wix.com.
  5. Walk For The Woods Project 2015. Come out to the Ripley House on April 11, 2015, at 9am, for the 4th Annual Walk For The Woods Project. This estimated 4 mile walk will take you on a journey through Houston’s historic East End, where many of The Woods Project’s students live and play. It is the biggest fundraiser of the year for The Woods Project and promises to be a great morning of community, history and fun! The route includes stops along a beautiful undeveloped area of Buffalo Bayou, where walkers will learn about the efforts to clean up the bayou. Additionally, what makes this Walk very unique are the history stops found throughout the route. Walkers are encouraged to stop at various places to learn about important buildings and businesses in the area and the role they have played in shaping Houston. Learn more and register at https://secure.qgiv.com.
  6. 10th Anniversary of Earth Day Houston. Earth Day Houston, developed by Air Alliance Houston, is the Houston area’s premier celebration of our planet at Discovery Green. Held on April 11, 2015, 11am-7pm, 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 40 green non-profits, each educating visitors on how they can make Houston greener. Learn more at www.earthdayhouston.org.
  7. ‘Kill a Fire Ant – Save a Prairie Chicken’ – Online Fundraiser Launched. Coastal Prairie Partnership and Friends of Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge have launched a Crowdrise fundraising campaign to raise funds for treatment of invasive red fire ants on the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Refuge near Eagle Lake, Texas. Fire ants are having a devastating effect on the refuge’s insects and other invertebrates. This leaves scant food for prairie chicken hatchlings – leaving them both starving and dehydrated. To save the highly endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, the fire ants need to be under control – the general public’s assistance in getting this vital work done. Learn more at www.crowdrise.com.
  8. 2015 Prairie Conservation Assessment. Coastal Prairie Partnership, in association with its conservation partners, will be conducting a listening tour this spring to assess the collaborative needs of prairie community. There will be five meetings this spring to assess collaborative opportunities to protect, restore, and raise awareness of coastal prairies in the 13-county Greater Houston Region. Full details including the meeting schedule can be found at prairiepartner.org. Upcoming dates are April 14 and May 5, with a report expected on July 31, 2015.
  9. Houston Green Film Series: Earth Days. The Houston Green Film Series continues on April 15, 2015, at the Rice Media Center. The film, “Earth Days,” is a documentary about the environmental movement. Doors open at 6:30pm for conversation, networking, and a light meal. The screening starts at 7:00pm. Beverages Sponsored by Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Messina Hof. Learn more at http://allevents.in.
  10. Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award. Nominations are now being accepted for the Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to, and stewardship of, a Houston-area bayou through conservation, preservation, restoration, advocacy, or other proactive means. The deadline for nominations is due by April 15, 2015, by email to bpa@hic.net or by fax to 713-529-6481. Find the nomination form at www.bayoupreservation.org.
  11. Wildlife Speaker: Peter Blinston, African Painted Dog Researcher. African Painted Dog researcher Peter Blinston fell in love with these unique dogs while watching documentaries growing up in his native England. He has been working to protect painted dogs for twelve years now and serves as Managing Director for Painted Dog Conservation. Come hear him speak on April 17, 2015, 6:30-8pm at the Brown Education Center at the Houston Zoo. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. More at www.houstonzoo.org.
  12. Brays Bayou Association Meeting. The next Brays Bayou Association Meeting will be held on April 20, 2015, at 7:30pm at The Gathering Place. Roksan Okan-Vick, Executive Director of the Houston Parks Board, will discuss Phase II (my words) of the Bayou Greenway Initiative 2020. She will address the interconnection of the trail systems along the major bayou systems to produce a “green network” across the City and County, whereby hikers and bikers can travel with minimum conflict with surface traffic. Brays Bayou Association Meetings occur regularly on the third Monday of the month. Brays Bayou Association Meetings Third Monday of the month-2015 meeting schedule
  13. Education Seminar: Tiny Houses in Houston. Want a tiny house that’s off the grid? What’s out there? Can you make them mobile and then attach them permanently to your lot? Come out for a special seminar on April 22, 2015, 6-8pm at the Green Building Resource Center. There will be an Earth Day show and tell with two ACTUAL tiny houses to tour right outside the GBRC after the talk! Two local builders, Shannon and David will talk about what they do; Donna will talk about some of the small houses she features in her book; Teresa, an appraiser, will talk about how the appraisal industry looks at green building and tiny houses; and Sheila Blake will talk about tiny houses and the building code. AIA & USGBC CEU’s available. This is a free event. RSVP by calling 832-394-9050. Learn more at www.codegreenhouston.org.
  14. Wetland Economic Benefits Workshop. Texas Coastal Watersehd Program is hosting a Wetland Economic Benefits Workshop on April 23, 2015, 9am-3pm at the United Way Community Resource Center. This is a free workshop for professionals who commonly work with Upper Texas Gulf Coast landowners: realtors, natural resource professionals, environmental service providers, etc. The workshop highlights incentive programs available to private landowners for conserving, restoring, or creating wetlands. Regional experts will speak on emerging ecosystem services markets, wetland ecosystem services, wetland mitigation, nature tourism, wildlife management, conservation easements, and forested wetlands. TCWP will demonstrate its new clearinghouse website of programs which provide economic benefit to landowners for wetland conservation. Lunch will be provided to workshop participants. View the flyer and register at www.eventbrite.com.
  15. BLC’s Annual Gala: Blazing Trails. Join Bayou Land Conservancy for the first time at beautiful Ashton Gardens! Celebrate BLC becoming the largest regional conservation easement holder in Texas (almost 12,000 acres!). Celebrate a number of our key volunteers in the field, as well as “sparkplug” science teachers who bring their students to our award- winning watershed education field trips. The highlight will be a professional video of this year’s theme: “Blazing Trails” – an overview of the most recently completed land protection projects. The gala will be held on April 23, 2015, at 7pm. Learn more at http://bayoulandconservancy.blogspot.com.
  16. Earth Day Art Contest Awards Show & Auction. Come out to Skyline Art Services on April 23, 2015, 6-9pm for the Earth Day Art Contest Awards Show & Auction benefiting local schools and Air Alliance Houston educational programs. Check out the auction at http://earthday15.auction-bid.org.
  17. Pasadena Rain Barrel Workshop. Registration is now open for GBF’s next Rain Barrel workshop on April 25, 2015. This workshop, in partnership with the City of Pasadena, will feature a Buy-1-Get-1-Free program for Pasadena residents! The workshop will also be presented in both English and Spanish, slideshow text included. For more information, and to pre-register, visit www.galvbay.org/rainbarrel! For further questions, contact Neally Rhea at 281-332-3381 x220, or email nrhea@galvbay.org.
  18. 2015 Bayou Bash. Bayou Buddies of Buffalo Bayou Partnership will be hosting their biggest and greenest fundraiser of the year featuring crawfish and libations, live entertainment, silent auction, lawn games, kayak demos and pontoon boat rides. The bash will be held on April 25, 2015, 1-4pm at the Sabine Promenade. Presale tickets are NOW on sale! $25 for Bayou Buddies members (with discount code); and $30 for General Admission (prices go up $10 at the door!). More at http://buffalobayou.org.
  19. Willow Waterhole Music in the Park. Come out to South Gazebo at Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve on April 25, 2015, 11am-10pm for Music in the Park! This craft and music festival will feature 40 craft vendors and 11 hours of free music! Stop by one of the many local food trucks to fill your appetite (food and drinks available for purchase). Bring your favorite lawn chair and blankets and enjoy the day! Learn more at www.willowwaterhole.org or www.facebook.com.
  20. Earth Day Celebration at Exploration Green. Bay Area’s new Exploration Green will host its inaugural Earth Day Celebration at the 200-acre green space in the heart of Clear Lake on April 25, 2015, 8am-2pm. Free and open to all, festivities will include traditional outdoor games, running and walking, education and environmental activities and volunteer opportunities for visitors all ages. Created and staffed by a volunteer corps of a variety of organizations, including Space Volunteers from Boeing and other space organizations, Assisteens, Texas Coastal Watershed Program and Exploration Green Conservancy, activities include: 5K Fun Trail Run, Geocaching, ExGames, Cyclo-Cross Exhibition, and may opportunities to volunteer! Learn more at www.explorationgreen.org.
  21. 2015 Anything That Floats Competition. The fifth annual Anything That Floats competition will be held in Downtown Houston at Sesquicentennial Park on Buffalo Bayou on April 25, 2015, from 8am-1pm. The competition is organized by rdAGENTS, the Rice Design Alliance young professionals group. Teams of two to five people — you don’t have to be an architect or a designer! — are invited to enter. Teams will use their own tools and spend the morning constructing their craft out of discarded and donated building materials that are provided by rdAGENTS. Then, two members of each team must then test the seaworthiness of their creation in a race for time across Buffalo Bayou. To compete, registration is $25 for RDA members and $35 for non-members. Registration fees include breakfast, lunch, and light refreshments throughout the day. Attending the race is free and open to the public. More at www.ricedesignalliance.org.

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Salt Marsh Ecology – Volunteer Opportunity. Help scientists better understand the ecology of the salt marsh. Researchers at the University of Houston have over 50,000 overlapping photographs of a salt marsh, taken every year starting in 2010, and need to align them to create detailed maps for each year. Because the images are taken from close to the marsh surface, and lack strong visual features, software programs are unable to align them automatically. The “Image Matching Game” (http://129.7.249.177:85/ index/signin or ScalingUpMarshScience.cs.uh. edu) allows citizen scientists like you to help by identifying matching features in pairs of photographs. This information will then be used to create a photographic map of a large area, and to study how this area changes from year to year. At the same time, you’ll learn some basic facts about salt marsh ecology. Please pass this on to your friends and to educators who might want to use it in their classes. Contact Steven Pennings, University of Houston at spennings@uh.edu with any questions.
  2. My Water Pledge. My Water Pledge is a friendly competition between cities across the US to see who can be the most “water-wise.” Mayors nationwide will challenge their residents to conserve water energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online. Cities with the highest percentage of residents who take the challenge in their population category win. Cities will compete in the following population categories: 5,000-29,999, 30,000-99,999, 100,000-299,999. 300,000-599,999, 600,000+). Participants in the winning cities are eligible to win hundreds of prizes. By the way, your mayor doesn’t have to participate for your city to win… But every person makes a difference! Last year, the challenge awarded more than $50,000 in prizes to nearly 1,000 residents in U.S. cities. Take the pledge! http://bit.ly/OpbCL0
  3. Input for Plan Houston. One million more residents are expected to move to Houston in the next 20 years. To prepare for this momentous growth, the City is creating a General Plan called Plan Houston. The Plan will address neighborhood enhancement and community development over the coming years, helping agencies better coordinate their efforts to make positive change throughout the city. The City wants your input. What makes Houston a great place to live? How can we ensure Houston’s future as a vibrant and growing city? Please visit ByYouCity.org and share YOUR vision of Houston’s future.
  4. NOAA Education Strategic Plan – Request for Comments. NOAA’s Education Council is soliciting general comments on the latest update of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan 2015 – 2035: Advancing NOAA’s Mission through Education, planned to be released later in 2015. The Plan outlines the goals and objectives that NOAA Education will strive to achieve over the next 20 years. NOAA welcomes all comments on the draft Plan, including any perceived inconsistencies or omissions of important topics or issues. Learn more and find the draft at www.oesd.noaa.gov.
  5. The Auditing Roundtable’s South Central Regional Meeting. Join the Auditing Roundtable on April 10, 2015, for the Spring meeting of the South Central Regional Auditing Roundtable. Connect with regulators and colleagues in industry, consulting, and the legal community as we examine the latest environmental, health, and safety compliance updates; Audit Disclosure and “New Owner” Audit policy interpretations; and OSHA’s “Hot Topics.” There will also be a review and discussion on the potential merger of AR / BEAC / IIA. The meeting will be held at the South Tower, Pennzoil Place, from 9am-4pm. Register online at https://aur.memberclicks.net.
  6. 2015 Paddlers’ River Rally. Both local and visiting kayakers, canoeists and stand-up paddleboarders (i.e., active, dormant, wannabe) will again return to Bay City’s Riverside Park on April 11, 2015, for the 6th Annual Rally on the River.  This waterborne event is part of the global observation of Earth Day and salutes all of the state’s freshwater streams and their awesome contributions to every Texan.  It is hosted by the Matagorda County Birding Nature Center, with the generous support of the City of Bay City, County of Matagorda, Matagorda County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Lower Colorado River Authority. Enrollment is free, with the first one hundred paddlers to sign up receiving a complimentary Rally ’15 t-shirt.  Plus, kayaks (single or tandem), for ‘boat-less’ paddlers, may be reserved for $25/boat.  Contact Willie Younger at w-younger@att.net (preferred means) or 979-240-4872 (secondary option) to register, reserve a kayak, or volunteer. Learn more at www.waterdownstream.org.
  7. Big Day at Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club. The annual “Big Day” of the Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015, starting at 7:00am at White Memorial Park located on Hwy 61 just south of I-10 in Chambers County. The “Big Day” is the time to visit local birding hotspots and identify as many bird species as possible. The day will start with short meeting/ birding session at White Park then everyone will head for the Anahuac NWR and High Island sanctuaries to view warblers, other spring migrants, and the water bird rookery. Participants will also visit Rollover Pass/Bolivar for shorebirds. There is an entrance fee at the High Island Sanctuaries. Everyone will eat lunch at a local church in High Island or picnic. The trip is open to the public. Both novice and experienced birders are welcome. If you have any questions please contact President Gary Holmes at 281-576-0574 or e-mail him at gholmes@verizon.com or visit the LTVBC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/98618981435/.
  8. Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off. Mark your calendars for the Don’t mess with Texas® Trash-Off on April 11, 2015. The Trash-Off encourages Texans across the state to join forces and clear Texas roadsides of trash. Everyone can participate! Volunteers come from all walks of life: students, business leaders, civic and non-profit organizations, individuals, families, community groups, sororities, fraternities, sports teams, military, etc. If you have some free time, please volunteer and make a difference. The Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off is the single largest one-day cleanup event in the state and serves as Texas’s signature event for the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program. The Trash-Off will be on April 11, 2015. Sign up at www.ktb.org or call 1-800-CLEAN-TX (1-800-253-2689).
  9. Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference. The annual Keeping Our Communities Healthy Conference is an effort to increase awareness of food, nutrition, health and wellness initiatives across America that keep our communities healthy. Experts and professionals from the food, nutrition, health & wellness industry and vested healthy communities stakeholders come together to talk about best practices, innovative models, network, share the latest news and research on what is happening in Texas and across the nation all in an effort to keep our communities healthy. This conference will be held at the NRG Convention Center from April 12-14, 2015. The cost is $99 per day or $250 for all 3-days. Register at www.hungerfreetexans.org.
  10. FARMacy Houston Workshop at the Farm & a Travelling Speakeasy. A food-as-medicine day for learning and growing in support of FARM Houston, an urban farming educational initiative. This farm-to-table interactive workshop will take place on April 19, 2015, from 12-4pm at Emile Street Community Farm at 711 N. Emile Street. “FARMacy” will focus on reconnecting to sustainable family farms and renewing a commitment to real food. The hands-on educational opportunity will include lectures from Houston’s top wellness experts and local food producers. This food-as-medicine focused event promotes a return to wellness as individuals and as a culture and will explain the importance on taking a stand against industrialized farming and processed foods while teaching individuals how to develop their own medicine cabinet with therapeutic foods. FARMacy, a vision of Ali Miller integrative dietitian and owner of Naturally Nourished, features some of Houston’s top wellness and locavore experts! Learn more and register at http://naturallynourishedrd.com.
  11. 10th State of the Bay Symposium – Call for Presenters. The Galveston Bay Estuary Program is pleased to announce that the 10th State of the Bay Symposium will be held January 13-14, 2016 at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston, Texas. The theme of this symposium is “20 Years of Successfully Preserving Galveston Bay.” Through science, collaborative partnerships, public education, and hard work, the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and partners have made great progress in protecting the bay’s ecological and economic health—as well as the public health. The Estuary Program welcomes abstracts for oral and poster presentations and panel sessions that address coastal and estuarine restoration and management, in all habitats, at all scales in all regions of Galveston Bay. Abstracts must be received in electronic format at the Estuary Program no later than May 15, 2015 via e-mail (gbep@tceq.texas.gov). Learn more: 10th State of the Bay Symposium Call for Presentations.
  12. Fishing for Energy 2015 – Request for Proposals. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to announce on behalf of Fishing for Energy partners Covanta, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the availability of a request for proposals to support outreach and prevention strategies to reduce the impacts of derelict fishing gear to marine and coastal environments… The Fishing for Energy (FfE) partners recognize that while derelict gear removal and disposal is a critical effort to reduce the threat of entanglement, entrapment and habitat scarring from marine debris, the real conservation gains are to be made in prevention of the threat, which is the focus of this Request for Proposals. Read more about the proposal at www.nfwf.org. The deadline is April 23, 2015.
  13. Kinder Institute Luncheon 2015.  The Kinder Institute Luncheon 2015 will be held on April 30, 2015, at 11:30am at the Hilton Americas – Houston. The luncheon will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Stephen Klineberg, and the official release of the 34th annual Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey. Register online at http://kinder.rice.edu.
  14. Harris County Precinct 4 GeoChallenge. The Precinct 4 GeoChallenge is a precinct-wide geocaching event sponsored by Harris County Precinct 4. Participants will be introduced to the trending pastime of geocaching while experiencing the abundance of amenities Precinct 4 has to offer. The GeoChallenge contains a series of 57 geocaches, all of which are easy to find. However, attainment of certain geocaches may require elevated physical activity. Learn more and find out how to get started at www.hcp4.net.
  15. Community Solutions 2015 Host Applications. Does your organization value increasing cultural diversity in the workplace or forging international partnerships with like-minded individuals and institutions? Are you interested in having an experienced community development professional join your organization for four months at no cost? Does your team need a highly skilled expert to take on an upcoming project? Whatever the case may be, hosting a 2015 Community Solutions Program (CSP) Leader is an opportunity you won’t want to pass up. The Community Solutions Program is a leadership development program for mid-career professionals working in community development from over 60 countries worldwide. CSP Leaders spend four-months in the U.S. working with selected host organizations while focusing on one of the following four areas: environmental issues, tolerance & conflict resolution, transparency & accountability, and women & gender issues. Interested organizations should fill out the Host Interest Form by May 15, 2015. Learn more at www.irex.org.
  16. Addressing Conflict with Deer in Our Communities – An Interactive and Engaging Workshop. White-tailed deer are a valuable natural resource enjoyed by many across Texas. However, when deer numbers escalate and they become overabundant, deer can threaten wildlife and plant diversity and cause emotionally charged conflict within communities. There are very real economic, cultural, health, and ecological concerns. Texas communities regularly confront these issues. Come out to Texas State University on May 29, 2015, for a workshop that addresses these topics. This workshop will allow attendees to learn from the experiences of others and hear from nationally recognized experts currently working with overabundant deer issues. The cost is $55, which includes lunch. Register at www.texas-wildlife.org.
  17. Teacher Trainings: Down Under Out Yonder (DUOY) and Intracoastal Waterway Wetlands Expedition (IWWE). A DUOY coral reef ecology underwater workshop for educators will be held from July 11-15, 2015. This 5-day expedition includes a 2-day Corals to Classrooms workshop followed by three days of diving the coral reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which harbors the northernmost coral reefs in the continental US, providing habitat for a variety of fish, turtles, and sharks. Participants return to their classrooms filled with innovative ideas for teaching biology, oceanography, geology, physical science, government, and environmental science. Another workshop, IWWE, a coastal habitat ecology workshop for educators, will be held from June 15-19, 2015. Cruise the estuaries of coastal Texas from the Louisiana border to Freeport by way of the Intracoastal Waterway during this five-day expedition. Along the way, participants explore diverse habitats as they learn about the natural and human threats to our living coast. Educators of all levels walk away from this experience with new knowledge and skills for educating students about coastal ecology (and economy). For more information, call 361-882-3939 or email info@gulfmex.org. DUOY-IWWE
  18. Additional Community Announcements

  19. 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.
    • Collegiate Climbers
    • Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest
    • Shorebird Survival
  20. 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 7, 2015: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico and Central America should continue across the middle of the state, mainly along and east of a line from Del Rio to Wichita Falls and along and west of a line from Houston to Paris, and could raise the daily PM2.5 AQI into the “Moderate” range in parts of this area.
    • April 8, 2015: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico and Central America should continue across the middle of the state, mainly along and east of a line from Del Rio to Childress and along and west of a line from Houston to Jasper, and could raise the daily PM2.5 AQI into the “Moderate” range in parts of this area.
    • April 9, 2015: Green–Good. Moderate winds and lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
    • April 10, 2015: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Smoke from agricultural burning in Mexico and Central America should move eastward ahead of the stalling front and could raise the daily PM2.5 AQI into the “Moderate” range in spots along and southeast of a line from Del Rio to Temple to Nacogdoches.

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