Environmental News Update August 10, 2016

CEC NOTES

• Save the Date: Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour. Please mark you calendars for January 25 & 26, 2017, for two nights of inspiring short environmental films.
• Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour–Film Selection Viewings. Please help CEC select films for inclusion in the January 2017 showing of the WSFF. We’ll have popcorn and other snacks and great company. Please RSVP to rachel@cechouston.org or on facebook. All viewings will be at the CEC office. The next viewing will be on Friday, August 12, 2016, 4:30 pm, at the CEC office at 751 Silver Street.
• Kroger Community Rewards Annual Renewal. Do you shop at Kroger? If so, did you know that your can link your Community Rewards card to the CEC? If you do, CEC will receive a portion of your purchase, with no direct cost to you! At www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com,  you can link or re-link your card to the CEC using organization # 91091. You must re-enroll annually (starting August 1) to continue giving back to the community starting September 1. Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377 and select option 4 to get your Plus Card number. If you do not have a Kroger plus Card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger. Register online at www.KrogerCommunityRewards.com. Take a look at the bottom of your receipt; if you see CEC listed, then THANK YOU for supporting CEC.

COALITION NOTES

1. Memorial Park Summer Research Program Wrap Up. This summer the Memorial Park Conservancy hosted the first round of Natural Resource and Park Management Research Program interns, Lindsey Carey, Devon Eldridge, and Rene Schulze. Each intern focused on a unique research project in addition to immersing themselves in park maintenance and care, including shadowing staff and participating in wildlife counts. This dynamic educational program benefits urban forestry and conservation, urban park management, wildlife studies and more. Lindsey, Devon, and Rene will be presenting their findings at the Running Trails Center on Friday, August 10, 2016, at 10 am.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP to brooks@memorialparkconservancy.org.
2. Stormwater Wetland Program Volunteer Opportunity. The Texas Coastal Watershed Program holds weekly volunteer days for their stormwater wetland program, 9am-12pm on Thursdays. Volunteers help propagate plants in the wetland plant nursery at Exploration Green in Clear Lake City, or at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in Lake Jackson.  The stormwater wetland program is developing demonstration projects to show  how wetlands can be designed into flood control basins to clean contaminants from surface runoff,  protect our bayous and bays, and provide a refuge for wildlife. The next volunteer opportunity is August 11, 2016. The schedule and more information is available by contacting Mcedwards@tamu.edu.
3. Managing our Stormwater, From Gutter to Gator. Texas Coastal Watershed Program is putting on a workshop called “Managing our Stormwater, From Gutter to Gator” on August 12, 2016, 9am-12pm. Learn about natural techniques for cleansing and conserving stormwater for humans and wildlife, at any scale–backyard to urban/suburban/industrial to regional. Our bayous and bays are greatly impacted by the quality of the stormwater flowing into them, and now is a great time to start improving it with practices we can implement at home, work, or beyond. The workshop will be held in a beautiful setting–the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory’s new LEED-certified building in Lake Jackson, TX. There is no cost, but RSVPs are required. to register, go to http://tcwp.tamu.edu.
4. Houston Climate Protection Alliance Meeting. HCPA generally meets the second Sunday of the month, 1:00 PM (possibly 12:30 summer months) to about 1:30, on the second floor at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin St. at Southmore (check Sunday activities sheet at front desk for room assignment).  Speakers talk about new developments in climate science and solutions, and we share the ups and downs of being climate activists.  The meeting includes the church’s Climate Action Team, which focuses on how the church community can be part of the solution. The meeting will be August 13, 2016. Email Nan Hildreith, NanHildreth@riseup.net and visit www.houstonclimateprotectionalliance.org for more information.
5. 32nd Annual Mayor’s Proud Partner Awards – Call For Entries. It’s that time again! Keep Houston Beautiful is now accepting award applications for the 2016 Mayor’s Proud Partner Awards. Gather your organization’s leaders together and select that special project you would like to submit demonstrating your commitment to keeping Houston beautiful! ALL applications must be submitted online and are due no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2016. Apply at https://form.jotform.com.
6. Improving Macrobenthic Invertebrate Communities through Stream Restoration. Houston Wilderness is holding a meeting and field demonstration on August 16, 2016, on Improving Macrobenthic Invertebrate Communities through Stream Restoration. This meeting will be a great opportunity to see a technique for creating macrobenthic invertebrate habitat in restored streams through the use of HabiTubes. The field demonstration will take place at 8:30am, with speaker Patrick Barber from Acer Environmental, assessing the performance of HabiTubes placed in a Buffalo Bayou tributary. Following the field demonstration, a round table meeting will be held in the Houston Wilderness conference room at 9:30am. Please RSVP to sarah@houstonwilderness.org if you plan on attending.
7. H-GAC Pedestrian and Bicycle Subcommittee Meeting. The meeting will be held August 18, 2016, from 9:30 – 11:30 am, at H-GAC’s offices at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston TX 77027. The Subcommittee (of the Technical Advisory Committee) meets on a bi-monthly basis. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held the third Thursday of every even numbered month. Visit www.h-gac.com for more details.
8. BLC hosts Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour. Bayou Land Conservancy is thrilled to be hosting the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour on Thursday, August 18, 2016, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the Alamo Drafthouse in Vintage Park. Enjoy an evening of inspiring, entertaining, and thought-provoking short films from the largest environmental film festival in the U.S. For more information, email info@bayouland.org or visit www.bayoulandconservancy.org/wsff.
9. Nominations Open–Terry Hershey Texas Women in Conservation Award. Audubon and the Texas Women in Conservation Award Program Steering Committee are now seeking nominations of women conservationists who, like Terry Hershey, have shown leadership, innovation, and passion for the landscapes and wildlife of the Lone Star State. Nominations can be submitted by email or mail by the addresses below and will be accepted now through August 19, 2016. To learn more, visit http://tx.audubon.org/conservation/terry-hershey-award.
10. Swifts over Houston. Help the Audubon Society count local Chimney Swifts as part of their Swifts Over Houston program. You can join other birders at Pershing Middle School every Tuesday evening at dusk or check the website to find other count locations throughout Houston. Swift Night Out events will be hosted on August 26, September 9, and September 16, 2016. For more information on how to participate, visit www.houstonaudubon.org.
11. 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.
12. Houston Food Policy Workgroup. On September 14, 2016, at 11:30 am, join the HFPW  to discuss Agrihoods & Agricultural Districts. The mission of the Houston Food Policy Workgroup is to nurture the growth of a sustainable local food system, accessible to all, through education, collaboration, communication, and creation of a food policy council for the Houston region. Meetings are open to the public and generally include leaders from various diverse organizations in the Houston region working on food issues. The group meets to discuss and encourage the advancement of local food production and consumption, and has begun to take on projects to work towards the functions stated in the mission statement. The workgroup meets at 11:30 AM, on the second Wednesday of each  month.  All are welcome, as long as you RSVP. Email  caitlin.mcneely@houstontomorrow.org, and visit www.facebook/HoustonFoodPolicyGroup.com for more information.
13. Texas A&M National Association of Environmental Professionals Career and Internship Expo. The annual NAEP Expo will be held at Texas A&M October 7, 2016. Environmental organizations are invited to host a table to network with environmental majors students.  Deadline for registration is September 1.

COMMUNITY NOTES

1. Climate Change Reality Leadership Corps. You know our climate is changing. You want to make a difference. We’ll show you how. Join us for a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training and work with former US Vice President Al Gore and renowned climate scientists and communicators to learn about what’s happening to our planet and how you can use social media, powerful storytelling, and personal outreach to inspire audiences to take action. Give us three days. We’ll give you the tools to change the world. It will be hosted August 16-18, 2016. Check out www.climatechangerealityproject.org, and fill out the Inquiries form to check the status of late applications for attendance of the event.
2. Solarize Houston: Rooftop Solar Workshops. Solarize Houston continues its mission to accelerate the use of solar energy for power generation in the City of Houston, by hosting workshops in August and September. Adaptive Solar Design co-Founder Richard Sherwood will lead both programs. The workshops will be hosted at Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Blvd. On August 13, 2016, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, representatives of SolarEdge and Enphase will discuss inverter options for Solarize Houston installations.  At both sessions, we will also cover the basics of residential solar system.   On September 10, 2016, we will also discuss selecting electric purchase plans for owners of solar systems selling back to the grid.   It is free to attend.  You don’t need to be a Solarize Houston enrollee.  Everyone is welcome! Visit www.solarizehouston.org for more information about Solarize Houston. Email Steve Krebbs at solarizehouston@outlook.com for more information.
3. Creation Care Fest. Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to the 2016 Creation Care Fest – Environmental Extravaganza on Saturday, August 13, 2016. This year’s theme is Connections between People and Nature. This free environmental educational offering has activities for all ages.  Adults can attend interactive lectures addressing the theme by a variety of experts, from anthropologists to zoologists.  Kids can enjoy meeting live education animals, coloring, seeing films, and other fun activities.  Nursery care for kids under 5 will be provided.  Exhibits by local environmental nonprofits will offer more opportunities to learn and engage.  Parking is available for $1 at the Rice University lot across the street from the church.  Metro bus stops for lines 27, 41, 65, and 84 are nearby.  For the latest information on the Fest, please see Christ the King Church’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com , the church’s Creation Care webpage http://ctkelc.orgor contact Lisa at gcs.lrc@gmail.com.
4. Texas Environmental Excellence Awards. The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA) honor achievements in environmental preservation and protection. As the state's highest environmental honor, the Office of the Governor and commissioners from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recognize outstanding projects from nine diverse categories: agriculture, civic/community, education, individual, innovative operations/management, pollution prevention technical/technology, water conservation, and youth. You can apply online at teea.org/apply; this page also contains helpful information on how to write an effective application. If you would like an example of a winning application, send your request to awards@tceq.texas.gov and include one (or more) or the award categories. The last day you can submit is September 30, 2016. Apply at www.teea.org. Read more: TEEA.
5. Restoration Project Proposals. The Deepwater Horizon Texas Trustee Implementation Group (TIG) has announced the beginning of the next phase of Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) related restoration planning (see full announcement below). The Texas TIG is prioritizing current restoration planning efforts on restoration types that were not addressed previously by Early Restoration: 1) restore and conserve wetland, coastal, and nearshore habitats; 2) restore water quality through nutrient reduction (nonpoint source); and 3) replenish and protect oysters. The Texas TIG will also consider projects for engineering and design that focus on the three restoration types mentioned above. Despite the focus on these restoration categories, the Texas TIG will continue to consider any important opportunities for additional restoration and protection of avian resources and sea turtles. Project submittals for this round of restoration planning must be entered into the NOAA Natural Resource Damage Assessment website or the WWW.RESTORETHETEXASCOAST.ORG webpage project portals by August 31, 2016. All proposals received by that date will undergo review and consideration during the selection process.
6. 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.
   • Night photography near Big Bend Ranch State Park
   • Fishing at Mueller State Park
   • The art of survival