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May 18, 2016

Houston Environmental News Update May 18, 2016

GO VOTE!  Vote early by May 20, 2016, or vote on Election Day on the 24th. 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. Water Blues Green Solutions. How does human development impact regional waters? And what role can green infrastructure play in creating a sustainable water future? Find out at the screening of Water Blues Green Solutions as part of the Houston Green Film Series on May 18, 2016, 6:30-9pm at the Rice Media Center. Water Blues Green Solutions is an interactive film project, telling the stories of communities working with nature to create solutions for their water challenges – flooding, pollution, and scarcity. At the screening, a timely panel of local experts will discuss Houston’s current situation, challenges, and how we can manage our water and development better. The event is free to the public, though $5 donations are kindly appreciated. Learn more at www.facebook.com.
  2. Ride of Silence. On May 18th, 2016, join BikeHouston, Mayor Turner, and bicyclists worldwide in a silent, slow-paced ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while riding on public roadways and to raise awareness around the fact that people on bikes are legally able to ride on most roadways throughout Texas and the United States. The ride is silent and all riders wear white and a helmet. Rain date: May 21, 2016. Please join and RSVP on the BikeHouston website.
  3. 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 18, 22, and 28. Learn more and sign up at www.artistboat.org.
  4. Bay Area Sierra Club Monthly Meeting: Air Quality 101, Air Alliance Houston. The Bay Area Sierra Club will be meeting on May 18, 2016, 6:30-8:30pm at the Bay Area Community Center. Guest Speaker, Adrian Shelley, Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston. Topic: Air Quality 101. Participants will discuss air pollution and public health in Houston, including the types of air pollution, how they form, and how they affect our health. Discussion will also cover what Air Alliance Houston does to improve air quality in the greater Houston area and how you can help. www.meetup.com
  5. Regional Recycling Roundtable. The next Regional Recycling Roundtable will be May 19, 2016, from 10am-noon at the George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center. GRB Sustainability Manager Wanda Adams will host a tour of the convention center where participants can learn about their sustainability practices, including recycling and composting efforts. To RSVP or be added to the list for notices of upcoming meetings, contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525.
  6. Bike to Work Day. Ride your bike to work during the month of May! Many rides have been organized to encourage commuting by bike!
  7. U.S.G.B.C. Green School’s Committee Meeting: Eco Rise Youth Innovation’s Sustainable Intelligence Curriculum. Come out to the upcoming U.S.G.B.C. Green School’s Committee Meeting to hear Richard Kincaid, Eco Rise Youth Innovations, share an overview of their Sustainable Intelligence Curriculum. Eco-Rise’s mission is to inspire the next generation of leaders to design a sustainable future for all. Their school-based programs inspire youth to tackle real-world challenges in their schools and communities by teaching environmental literacy, social innovation, and hands on design skills. The meeting will be held on May 19, 2016, at 9:30am at the Green Building Resource Center. Please RSVP to Caroline Kostak, Committee Chair at caroline.kostak@gmail.com.
  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. Cigna Sunday Streets Houston. Cigna Sunday Streets Houston is an initiative to promote and improve the health of Houstonians. Cigna Sunday Streets Houston opens a stretch of streets normally reserved for cars and other vehicles to allow cycling, walking, dancing, socializing and provides a family-friendly opportunity to be physically active. The next Cigna Sunday Streets will be on May 22, 2016, noon-4pm on White Oak from Heights to Watson. Come out and enjoy Houston! Be sure to tag your pictures and videos #SSHTX!!!
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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 June 9, 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.
  16. 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.
  17. Summer Salons: Water, Water Everywhere. Center for Houston’s Future will be hosting a series of breakfast discussions throughout the summer, bringing big-picture thinkers and regional leaders together for a deep-dive into our community indicators and next steps. The discussions are part of the Summer Salons. The theme is “Water, Water Everywhere: Drinking, Rising, Surging.” The dates are listed below. Tickets are $25. Learn more and RSVP at www.futurehouston.com.
    • June 7 – Drinking Water: Water Quality & Supply
    • July 13 – Rising Water: Dealing with Floods
    • August 10 – Surging Water: Storm Surge Protection/Response
  18. Gear Packing Party – Final Prep for Summer Wilderness Experience. Join The Woods Project as they prepare to send 175 Houston high school students on a life-changing 2-week wilderness experience. Volunteers are needed for the last step: getting the gear ready for summer! TWP needs people to come help pack up the bags that will be shipped out to each of the summer locations. This is a big job and at least 40 volunteers will be needed to make it all happen. Snacks and beer will be provided to keep you fueled! Volunteers are needed on June 15, 2016, from 3-8pm. Learn more at www.volunteerhou.org.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. Upcoming Events

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. 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.
  2. 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. There will be a Site update presentation at 6:30pm. 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. In addition, Lone Star Legal Aid and the San Jacinto River Coalition will host an educational event May 23rd at 6:30pm in preparation for the EPA open house. Lone Star Legal Aid will give a presentation over community member’s legal rights to participate in the Superfund process. The meeting will also be held at the Highlands Community Center. www.epa.gov
  3. Sunday Evening Conversations on Creation: Energy Conservation. Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to a series of web meetings to talk about creation. Planned as a regular, ongoing monthly series normally held the last Sunday of each month (except December), conversations will be on a variety of topics, both purely environmental as well as theological. The May meeting will take place on May 29, 2016, at 6pm. Colby May, a certified energy manager and pastor, will speak on Energy Conservation. Colby has performed more than 1500 in-depth energy studies, and is the founder of LIT, a firm which aides churches in energy management expressly to empower ministry. After the presentations, there will be time for questions/discussion. If you would like to join this conversation, contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com to receive an invitation to the talk.
  4. Introduction to Birding Class in Mont Belvieu. The Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club will be hosting a birding class for beginners starting on May 31, 2016, at First United Methodist Church in Mont Belvieu. The fee is $25 for individuals or $35 Couples (share field guide). Participants will receive 4.5 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of in-field birding at JJ Mayes Wildlife Trace, National Geographic Birds of Eastern North America, 6th edition, and one year membership to the Lower Trinity Valley Bird Club. For more information or to register contact Gary Holmes 713-366-1722 or geholmes@verizon.net.
  5. 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.
  6. Certified Arborist Test Prep Course. This course is designed to teach you arboriculture knowledge (the practice & study of the care of trees) and prepare you to take the ISA Certified Arborist Exam. All 16 chapters from the ISA Certification Study Guide will be covered in detail by professionals working in the field of arboriculture and urban forestry. The class will be held July 29 & 30 and August 5 & 6. Registration is $250. Learn more about the Certified Arborist Test Prep Course.
  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.
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