Houston Environmental News Update December 2, 2015

First, I’d like to thank everyone who responded to our request for support last week. Contributions from our readers are critical to our ability to send this newsletter to you each week. YOU make it possible for us to share news about the important environmental issues for our region.

Second, Just because the navy’s new football helmets rate more prominent coverage than the Paris Climate Change Conference on chron.com, I’m sure many of you are following conference proceedings (The New York Times has a whole section if you are interested). I know several members of our region’s environmental community are participating. (Can you say “jealous”?) If you are particularly interested,  Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church is hosting Texas Interfaith Power and Light for an interfaith vigil tomorrow in support of the #COP21 climate negotiations. I’m sure we will talk about the conference–and more local issues–tomorrow night at our Environment & Sustainability Happy Hour: Nonprofit, Business & Government.

Finally, don’t forget to vote! Runoff elections are being held for positions on the Houston City Council and the HISD school board, and Huntsville City Council.

Sincerely,

Rachel Powers
Executive Director
CEC NOTES

1. Houston’s Environment & Sustainable Future Happy Hour: Meeting of the Business, Government and Non-profit Minds
   Please join the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition and January Advisors at Springbok on Main Street for a meeting of the minds between business, non-profit, and governmental leaders. Mix and mingle with folks who have made a positive difference in the Houston area by integrating people and the natural environment into their bottom line, and collaborate on issues and actions to drive further improvements to our community.  Learn more and RSVP at www.facebook.com.
2. Tickets now on sale: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour.
   After hosting a sold-out showing in January 2015, the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) is bringing The Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour, one of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, back to Houston for two nights: January 27 & 28, 2016 at the historic River Oaks Theatre!The Festival consists of twenty-two short documentary films which speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet, covering topics ranging from adventure and the beauty of the great outdoors to grass roots efforts to combat serious issues. Each night, eleven films will be shown including one created by local groups depicting local issues.Tickets now on sale. Tickets are per night and start at $13 for members who buy tickets in advance to $20 for General Admission. Buy now for the best price and to reserve VIP seating.Sponsors to Date:
   Kirksey Architecture
   Ruggles Green
   GreeNexus Consulting
   Asakura Robinson
   HARC
   Katy Prairie Conservancy
   Hydroshack Hydroponics
   Several generous individuals

   If you are interested in being a sponsor, partner, or volunteer, please contact rachel@cechouston.org. The Festival is an amazing opportunity to raise awareness for your own green initiatives and show your support for local environmental groups and green business. It is a great opportunity to offer Kickback coupons, promote a new line or service, or generate goodwill with free giveaways.

3. Save the Date: CEC’s Greater Houston Environmental Summit
   Please mark your calendar for our annual summit on Thursday, March 24, 2016. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or participating in the planning committee, please contact rachel@cechouston.org.
4. New Subscribers Thank you to our new subscribers: Laura, Ashley, Ellen, Carol, Kiel, David, and Paula. We hope you enjoy our emails. Please consider liking us on facebook.

COALITION NOTES

Interfaith Vigil for Climate Action. This is an important time in terms of climate conversations and decisions at both the national and the global level, and our leaders need to see grassroots support for action on climate. Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church is hosting Texas Interfaith Power and Light for a vigil in support of the #COP21 climate negotiations in Paris and to consider what actions we can take collectively and individually. The vigil will be held on December 3, 2015, 6-8pm. At 7:30pm, participants will join a video conference with other Texas communities who are hosting vigils as well as with TXIPL’s Executive Director, Bee Moorhead, and Associate Director, Yaira Robinson, who will be in Paris during the UN climate talks. For more information about this event, visit www.facebook.com or email Ministryforearth@emersonhoustonearth.org. Learn more about the Interfaith vigils at http://txipl.org.

Fall Planning Workshop for Local Governments – Realizing our Potential. Each year, H-GAC presents a fall planning workshop for local governments featuring presentations on best planning practices for communities. This year, the event will be held on December 4, 2015, 9am-noon at Houston-Galveston Area Council. At this half-day event, hear how communities are marketing themselves, engaging stakeholders, and quickly implementing on-the-ground projects to create a vibrant place to live, work, and play. There is no cost to attend this workshop. www.h-gac.com.

GCBO Experiential Auction. Ready to start your holiday shopping and wondering what to get that special someone? From November 16 to December 4, 2015, check out our online Experiential Auction and buy that special person a once in a lifetime experience. From a trip to see Whooping Cranes to a guest stay at private ranch, there is something for everyone and none of these items can be bought in a store. Find the auction at www.gcbo.org.

Urban Harvest’s Growing Citrus in Houston. Citrus trees bear fruit abundantly and deliciously for many years. They are evergreens and have fragrant flowers, attract North America’s largest butterfly and are a good bird habitat. Explore the types of citrus available, best varieties for flavor and production, how to obtain them and grow them and how to keep them alive during very bad freezes. Citrus can be purchased at the Urban Harvest Fruit Tree Sale in January and planted in mid-March after the last possible freeze. Come out and learn the basics on December 5, 2015, 9-11am at the University of St. Thomas, Malloy Hall, Room 17. The cost is $30 for members and $45 for non-members. Register at http://urbanharvest.org.

The Wildlife Center of Texas Open House 2015. Come celebrate and support The Wildlife Center of Texas at the Annual Open House on December 5, 2015, 3-6pm. The Wildlife Center of Texas and the Houston SPCA are very grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who provided over 20,000 hours to care for almost 10,000 wild animals this year. Because of our volunteers, sponsors, and the community, The Wildlife Center of Texas was able to accept ALL wild animals admitted. NO wild animal was turned away! Come out and take the only opportunity each year for a behind-the-scenes tour* and meet the Wildlife Education Ambassador Animals, participate in the raffle, bid in the silent auction, and win prizes! Please bring a gift for wildlife to place under the Wildlife Holiday Tree in the lobby. Grocery store or pet store gift cards, dry dog/cat food, paper towels, and cash or checks would be extremely helpful and appreciated. There is no admission fee.

Wild West Tour: “Winter Waterfowl.” This Wild West Tour will be held on December 6, 2015, 1-4pm at the Indiangrass Preserve. This tour is led by birding expert Glenn Olsen. Each year thousands of ducks and geese flock to the Katy Prairie from colder climates. This tour will focus on techniques for identifying the numerous species of ducks, geese, and mergansers that call the Katy Prairie home for part of the year. Cost: $50. (Adult participants in both Wild West Tours will also explore preserves usually closed to the public.) Learn more and register at www.katyprairie.org.

Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy – Holiday Music in the Park. Join Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy for a free event at the South Gazebo on December 6, 2015, 3-5pm. There will be music provided by Imani School “Young Voices,” Parker Elementary School Band, Pin Oak Middle School Stage Band, and Westbury High School Choir. Food & Beverages available for purchase from Honey’s Sno-Balls and PUCS Popup Coffee Shop.And the best part… there will be a 25 FOOT SNOW HILL! Learn more at www.willowwaterhole.org.

Holiday with the Cranes. Spend a wild weekend in Galveston celebrating the island’s wintering flocks of Sandhill Cranes at the first annual Holiday with the Cranes, Dec. 11 – 13, 2015. A weekend experience like no other, it’s chock-full of indoor and outdoor nature activities, combined with the arts and ambience of historical Galveston Island! Holiday with the Cranes is presented by the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, a nonprofit volunteer organization that helps connect people with nature experiences and outdoor adventures, and promotes the value of natural habitats and resources in the Galveston area. While most events are sold out, you can still register for A Crane Affaire on Dec. 11 and Coffee & Cranes with Keanna Leonard on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13. Learn more at www.galvestonnaturetourism.org

Urban Harvest’s Citrus Fest 2015. Urban Harvest’s Citrus Fest 2015 is coming up on December 12, 2015, 8am-noon at the Farmers Market at Eastside St (3100 Richmond Ave). Meet Dr. Bob Randall and get answers to all of your citrus questions. Find a wide variety of locally grown citrus from Houston and surrounding areas including satsumas, oranges, lemons, calamondins, kumquats, grapefruit, specialty varieties and much, much more! Learn more at http://urbanharvest.org.

The Wildlife Center of Texas: Oiled Wildlife Response Workshop. The Wildlife Center of Texas will be providing an oiled wildlife response training workshop right here in Houston! The workshop will be sponsored by Shell and held on Monday, December 14, 2015, from 9am-4pm. The workshop will take place onsite at The Wildlife Center of Texas at 7007 Katy Road. The purpose of the workshop is to certify and train personnel that are interested in assisting The Wildlife Center of Texas Oiled Wildlife Response Team during a spill. 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 Incident Command System, and actual hands on cleaning of oiled feathers in which participants will practice by washing an unoiled white duck. There is no cost for the workshop, but spaces fill up quickly and seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible. RSVP via e-mail with your information to WildlifeResponse@WildlifeCenterofTexas.org.

Additional Upcoming Events  

• 12/31/15 (deadline): Call for Projects Houston Zero Emission Delivery Vehicle Deployment
• 1/31/16: 2016 Earth Day Art Contest

COMMUNITY NOTES

Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released its Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment (GCVA), a comprehensive report that evaluates the effects of climate change, sea level rise and urbanization on four Gulf Coast ecosystems and 11 species that depend on them. The ecosystems are mangrove, oyster reef, tidal emergent marsh and barrier islands. The species are roseate spoonbill, blue crab, clapper rail, mottled duck, spotted seatrout, eastern oyster, American oystercatcher, red drum, black skimmer, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and Wilson’s plover. Of the species assessed, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is thought to be the most vulnerable species across the Gulf Coast. Experts identified its main threat as loss of nesting habitat to sea level rise, erosion, and urbanization.” Read more: GCVA News Release FINAL. Learn more about GCVA at http://gulfcoastprairielcc.org.

2016 Community Solutions Program. IREX seeks U.S. community-based, non-profit or other grassroots organizations, government offices or legislative bodies that actively engage in community development projects to host, mentor and guide community leaders from August to December. Community Solutions participants are among the best and brightest global community leaders working in Transparency & Accountability, Tolerance & Conflict Resolution, Environmental Issues, and Women & Gender Issues. Community leaders participating in the program will come from over 60 countries. Learn more at www.irex.org. You can also express your interest in hosting and mentoring a global community leader and have an IREX representative will follow-up with you by filling out an interest form: www.surveymonkey.com.

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program – 2016 Request for Proposals. The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program seeks to develop nation-wide-community stewardship of local natural resources, preserving these resources for future generations and enhancing habitat for local wildlife. Projects seek to address water quality issues in priority watersheds, such as erosion due to unstable streambanks, pollution from stormwater runoff, and degraded shorelines caused by development. The program focuses on the stewardship and restoration of coastal, wetland and riparian ecosystems across the country. Its goal is to meet the conservation needs of important species and habitats, providing measurable and meaningful conservation and educational outcomes. For more information on the priorities of the 19 designated locations, go to www2.epa.gov. This RFP closes February 3, 2016. More at www.nfwf.org.

Additional Dates of Note.

• 2/1/16: TPWD Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grant Deadline
• 2/3/16: Five Star and Urban Water Restoration Grant Program – 2016 Request for Proposals (Deadline)

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.

• Refuge

• Lone Star Land Steward: Lavaca Rio Ranch
• Modern Falconry

Air Quality Forecast http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.

• Dec. 2, 2015: Green–Good. Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.
• Dec. 3, 2015: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Winds may be light enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach the lower end of the “Moderate” range in parts of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the morning and evening.
• Dec. 4, 2015: Yellow–Moderate–PM2.5. Winds may be light enough for the daily PM2.5 AQI to reach the lower end of the “Moderate” range in parts of the Houston area.
• Dec. 5, 2015: Green–Good. Moderate to strong winds, cool temperatures, and/or lower incoming background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.