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May 11, 2016

Houston Environmental News Update May 11, 2016

Do you remember the primary election on March 1? Well, early voting for the runoff primary election starts on Monday, May 16, 2016, with the election on the 24th. (We had another election last week–see coverage in the Houston Chronicle.) Depending on where you live, you may be voting to determine who will be on the ballot in the fall for railroad commissioner, state representatives, the State Board of Education, various district judges, county commissioners, constables, justices of the peace, county party chairs, and, in Harris County, the Sheriff. Check with your county elections administrator or visit www.votetexas.gov to learn more about your ballot.

Voting is just one way to help make our community–and the world–a better place. Our newsletter is intended to help you do even more, whether it is reading the paper, attending meetings, or participating in discussions. Read on for opportunities to make a difference.

CEC NOTES

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COALITION NOTES

  1. Naturally Yours: Katy Prairie Bash. Join the Katy Prairie Conservancy at this year’s Katy Prairie Bash as KPC honors Mary Van Kerrebrook, one of KPC’s founders, for her passion and insight in helping to get the Katy Prairie Conservancy going. Thanks to her vision, a substantial portion of the Katy Prairie has been saved. Wednesday May 11, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM at the Houston Country Club. Learn more at katyprairie.org.
  2. The Year of Reading Dangerously Reading Club. Do you have a secret desire to change the world? If you enjoy reading and discussing environmental issues and what makes people tick, you will want to join us at noon at the Houston Public Library Central Branch. Led by Steve Stelzer, Program Director, Houston Green Building Resource Center. On May 12, 2016, discuss 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann. On June 12, 2016, Breakpoint: Why the Web Will Implode, Search Will be Obsolete, and Eveything Else You Need to Know About Technology Is in Your Brain by Jeffrey Stibel. Learn more at http://houstonlibrary.org.
  3. Sierra Club Meeting: Solarize Houston. If you’ve been curious about solar power options for your home, but are concerned about the initial infrastructure costs, the May 12 Sierra Club meeting is for you! Steve Krebs, from Solarize Houston, will explain a new option Houstonians might consider – a group purchase of solar systems to save up to 30%. “This is win-win for consumers and installers,” says Krebs. “Enrollees are NOT obligated until installation costs are known, the site evaluated and design finalized and they enter into a contract with the selected installer.” Solarize Houston receives nothing. The meeting is at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, corner of West Alabama and Woodhead. Learn more at http://www.sierraclub.org/texas/houston. The social period opens at 7:00. The main program begins at 7:30 pm.
  4. Rooftop Solar Workshop with Solarize Houston. Learn about owning a solar system at your home or business at a workshop on Saturday, May 14, 2016, from 10:30 to noon, at the City of Houston Green Building Resource Center at 1002 Washington. The workshop will help you decide if you are ready to go solar, including costs, system sizing, energy usage, roof condition, and net metering.  It will also cover how you can participate at no cost in Solarize Houston’s group purchase of individual systems.  Steve Krebs will describe Solarize Houston’s plan to drive down the cost of solar ownership for Houstonians this summer. Veteran Houston solar installer Jimmy Garrett, of KW Solar will be on hand to address installation and equipment questions. Solarize Houston is an all-volunteer organization and receives no payments. You can find out more about Solarize Houston at solarize-houston.org.
  5. Bay Day Festival. Celebrate the Bay with GBF at Bay Day 2016 on May 14, 2016, 11am-4pm at Kemah Boardwalk! Bay Day is a one-day celebration presented by the Galveston Bay Foundation and numerous community partners. It is a fun event for families and adults that annually draws more than 5,000 attendees to experience and learn more about Galveston Bay, the largest bay in Texas and one of the most productive estuaries in the country! Festival highlights include bay-themed arts and crafts, live animal demonstrations and touch tanks, a scavenger hunt, science and marine exhibits, live music, and more. Children and adults will have fun learning about the importance of Galveston Bay in our everyday lives at exhibitor booths including Baytown Nature Center, Houston Zoo, Sea Center Texas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and much more. http://galvbay.org
  6. Volunteer Stewardship Workdays at the Coastal Heritage Preserve. Artist Boat has many volunteer opportunities in the upcoming months. In each volunteer workday, Artist Boat staff train volunteers in a specific land management task, like identifying and removing invasive fire ants from the Preserve, cutting and spraying invasive McCartney rose bushes, growing native prairie grasses in our outdoor nursery, or just how to identify native plants and animals at the Preserve. Each day is about four hours long, which includes a private, hour-long guided tour of the Preserve and free breakfast or lunch. Upcoming dates include May 15, 18, 22, and 28. Learn more and sign up at www.artistboat.org.
  7. Bike to Work Day. Ride your bike to work during the month of May! Many rides have been organized to encourage commuting by bike!
  8. DESIGNING FOR IMPACT: LID Lessons Learned. At this workshop, H-GAC will release the Designing for Impact: Regional Guide to Low Impact Development. LID experts from around the region will tell their own LID stories about lessons learned in design, implementation and maintenance of LID. There will also be speaker sessions focusing on LID incentive and credit programs and quick win LID projects. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. The workshop will be held on May 20, 2016, 8:30am-12:15pm at the H-GAC offices. Register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com.
  9. Houston Zoo Rain Barrel Workshop. Galveston Bay Foundation’s Rain Barrel Program works to conserve water and reduce storm water runoff, pollution, and bacteria entering Galveston Bay. Each workshop is a unique and personal experience hosted by GBF’s Water Quality Team in partnership with local organizations and cities. The upcoming workshop will be held on May 21, 2016, at the Houston Zoo, Brown Education Hall. The cost is $35 (1 barrel + 1 kit, includes admission to the workshop). Register at http://galvbay.org.
  10. Project S.I.T. Artist Boat is issuing a call for design proposals for 33 benches along the seawall. Project SIT (Seawall Interpretive Trail) will transform the 70 concrete benches along the Galveston’s Historic Seawall. Artist Boat received a permit from Galveston County to tile the benches with educational mosaics depicting our Coastal Heritage. To date, 29 benches have been completed. Proposals must be postmarked for review by May 23, 2016. Read more: Project S.I.T.. Learn about the program at www.artistboat.org.
  11. Advanced Waste Management: Environmental and Economic Benefits Symposium. HARC and the University of Houston Center for Sustainability and Resilience are co-hosting the Advanced Waste Management: Environmental and Economic Benefits symposium, May 24, 2016, 8:30 am at the University of Houston, College of Architecture and Design – Room 150 122 Hines College of Architecture and Design, Houston, TX. National and regional experts will be on hand to discuss municipal policy, best practice, recycling programs relationships to markets, emerging technologies, and economic and environmental benefits. Register for this complimentary event here: www.eventbrite.com.
  12. People and Nature Speaker Series: Professor Michael E. Webber. On May 24, 2016, HARC will host its inaugural People and Nature Speaker Series event featuring an evening with author and award-winning teacher, Professor Michael E. Webber. Professor Webber will give an entertaining and informative lecture on the nexus of energy and water, sharing fun facts, historical snippets, and anecdotes from his new book, Thirst for Power: Energy, Water and Human Survival. The event, which will include an evening social, lecture by Professor Webber, and book signing begins at 6pm on May 24, 2016 at the Lone Star Community Building, 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas. Tickets prices are $20 – $40. Visit www.harcresearch.org for registration information.
  13. World Oceans Day Festival – Art Contest. Get ready for World Oceans Day by preparing your own creative masterpiece utilizing marine debris to be displayed at Galveston’s first World Oceans Day! This contest is open to ocean-lovers of all ages! The art pieces must be submitted between May 30 and June 3, 2016, from 8am-5pm at the Artist Boat Office. Then save the date for the World Oceans Day Festival on Stewart Beach on June 8, 2016, 4-7pm. The World Oceans Day Festival features something for ocean-lovers of all ages! Local, regional, and national organizations will host interactive activities to highlight how we are all connected to the ocean. Spend an evening on the beach and celebrate the Ocean with the rest of the world! Learn more at www.artistboat.org.
  14. Raising Funds for EarthShare of Texas. The Reliant EcoShare program raised more than $450,000 for EarthShare of Texas to support over 35 environmental and conservation organizations in Texas, including The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. However, the funds don’t stop there! From now until June 3, 2016, you can share your Lone Star point-of-view on social media by using the hashtags #FromWhereIStand and #ReliantOneOfAKind. For every photo showcasing the state’s natural beauty, Reliant will donate $5 toward EarthShare of Texas, up to $5,000. Read more at www.businesswire.com.
  15. Family Adventure to Yellowstone with the Houston Zoo. Join the Houston Zoo on the next adventure through Yellowstone to enjoy hiking, wildlife, and the opportunity to contribute to citizen science projects dedicated to saving animals. Don’t miss your chance to experience an adventure of a lifetime with your family. The trip will be from July 6-11, 2016. The cost is $1,995 for 1st family member, $1,349 for each subsequent family member (cost does not include airfare into Jackson Hole, Wyoming). Reserve your spot now at www.houstonzoo.org.
  16. Bucket Brigade Interpretive Beach Tours. The Bucket Brigade is out on Galveston beaches providing FREE interpretive tours of the coastal and marine ecosystems! Tours last approximately 45 minutes and include hands-on exploration of questions such as “what is in out water”, “how is seaweed a good thing” and “how do I connect to the ocean” that is fun and educational for ocean-lovers of all ages! Tours are available at multiple Galveston beach locations, including Stewart and East Beaches, during the weekends in April and May and daily in the summer. Sign up for tours is on location. For more information on tour times and locations, please visit www.artistboat.org or call 409-770-0722. The Bucket Brigade is a program of Artist Boat and the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees.
  17. Upcoming Events

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Next City Big Idea Challenge. Join Next City for a night of cocktails, food and inspiring ideas for Houston’s future presented by Next City’s 2016 Vanguard class. Next City has selected Houston to host its annual Vanguard conference, bringing 40 top urban innovators aged 40 and under to Space City for a three-day conference culminating in the organization’s signature ideas competition. The Big Idea Challenge is a chance for the brightest young urban thinkers from across North America  to prototype and present a design intervention that, if successful, could be replicated elsewhere…… and you are invited to help decide the future of your city – and of course, enjoy the show. Friday, May 13, 2016, 6:00pm, at Discovery Green’s Grace Lawn. Learn more at www.eventbrite.com.
  2. Mining The HMNS: An Investigation by The Natural History Museum. Is the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences a museum, or a PR front for the fossil fuel industry? This is the central question of “Mining the HMNS”, an exhibition by The Natural History Museum that interrogates the symbiotic relationship between the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences and its corporate sponsors. The exhibition excavates key narratives and displays in the Houston museum, and highlights the voices and stories that are excluded–those of the low-income predominantly Latino and African-American fence-line communities along the Houston Ship Channel. In partnership with T.E.J.A.S. (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services), The Natural History Museum will co-host monthly “Toxic Tours” of East Houston’s petrochemical plants and refineries, and conduct extensive air quality monitoring tests in collaboration with scientists from Texas State University. Situated at the confluence of scientific research, environmental justice, and critical museum practice, the exhibition aims to model the museum of the future–one that works to mobilize a collective response to the challenges of the Anthropocene. This exhibit at the Project Row Houses (2521 Holman Street) will be on display from March 26, 2016 until June 19, 2016. Join a toxic tour on June 4, 2016, from 10am-12:30pm. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
  3. Star Houston Event: State of Recycling. Star Houston will hold a roundtable to discuss the current economics of recycling, how it is impacting our different industries, and how many people are looking to diversify and stretch resources. Come out and network with others in the industry, meet new people, and discuss your challenges and successes. The event will be held on May 17, 2016, 11am-1pm at United Way. Register at www.eventbrite.com.
  4. An Evening with Rick Darke. OHBA is very excited to bring Rick Darke, noted author, designer, photographer, and horticulturist to Houston. Rick Darke heads RICK DARKE LLC, a Pennsylvania-based consulting firm focused on the design and management of living landscapes. Darke’s work is grounded in an observational ethic that blends art, ecology, and cultural geography. Projects include parks, scenic byways, transportation corridors, corporate and collegiate campuses, conservation developments, post industrial brownfields, botanic gardens and residential landscapes. Rick worked for over 20 years at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania as plant curator and has helped design gardens around the world. This event will be held on May 17, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. www.ohbaonline.org
  5. San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site – Open House/Availability Session. The EPA, in cooperation with the TCEQ, state, and local officials, will conduct an open house/availability session for the San Jacinto River Waste Pits site on May 25, 2016, 4:30-8:30pm at the Highlands Community Center. The session will allow you to talk to the EPA and other agency officials one-on-one regarding your concerns and current site activities. Local agencies will provide information on their respective roles and participation in site and related community issues. There will be no formal presentation.
  6. Texas Community Forestry Awards Nominations. Celebrate the accomplishments of those who have dedicated their talents to spreading a leafy green canopy over Texas by nominating them for the 2016 Texas Community Forestry Awards Program. This program is open to anyone who has a role in building stronger communities by planting, maintaining or protecting trees. There are five categories: Arborist of the Year, The Gold Leaf Award – Landscape Improvement, Arboricultural Project of the Year, Outstanding Arbor Day Activities, and ISAT Volunteer of the Year. Nominations are due by June 2, 2016. Learn more at http://isatexas.com.
  7. 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, Texas City, Galveston, 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 Night’s Watch
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Carpe Diem Ranch
    • The Rock Art of Texas, Captured Moments