Houston Environmental News Update August 24, 2016

For the third time, on January 26 & 27, 2017, the CEC will host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour at the River Oaks Theatre. WSFF provides a selection of about 75 short films, from which CEC will choose about 20 for the two night showing in January. While most of the films that the CEC chooses to show at the festival have some relevance to the environment in the Houston/Gulf Coast region, none to date have told a local environmental story. WSFF guidelines allow the CEC to show one local film each night, which the CEC has done, featuring films about environmental justice, the Katy Prairie, and the Houston Zoo’s efforts to protect the endangered Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle. These films have been among the most meaningful films at the events.

COALITION NOTES

1. Hermann Park Open House: Ideas for the Next 20 Years. Since the implementation of the Park’s 1995 master plan developed by renowned landscape architect Laurie Olin, Hermann Park Conservancy has overseen $119 million in renovation projects designed to increase accessibility, restore the Park’s historical elements, encourage community activity through new gathering spaces and increased services, and maintain the Park through thoughtful stewardship programs. With major improvement projects including the Jones Reflection Pool, Lake Plaza and Kinder Station, McGovern Lake, the development of stewardship programs focusing on volunteerism and reforestation efforts, and the opening of the McGovern Centennial Gardens during the Park’s Centennial in 2014, Hermann Park Conservancy has effectively completed its 20-year-old master plan. Herman Park Conservancy invites you to join them for one of our public meetings to hear the latest on the planning process and to give your feedback. The next public meeting is Wednesday, August 24, 2016, from 6 pm – 8 pm. Learn more about the meeting at hermannpark.org.
2. August Green Building Education Seminar The seminar will be hosted August 24, 2016, from 6 pm – 8 pm  at the Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Avenue LEED certified buildings began populating Houston ten years ago. How are we doing now? From different viewpoints, the program director and our panelists will compare and contrast sustainability efforts in Houston, in Texas, and in parts beyond. Houstonians are as competitive as anyone else, but are we in the world of green building, energy conservation, or conversely, green washing? Jonathan will update you on the progress of the LEED Rating Systems. Maria will focus on global green building design through the Gensler architecture lens, Patrick will talk about teaching greenbuilding at the University of Houston, and Amanda will talk about the variety of green building projects on which she has consulted. Visit www.greenhouston.tx for more information about the organization. Call 832-394-9050 for more information about the meeting.
3. 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.
4. Fall In-Class Science Presentations: Wildlife By Design. Texas Wildlife Association is now scheduling fall outreach programs. Learn more about the following opportunities–and more–at www.texas-wildlife.org.
   • Wildlife by Design Classroom Presentations (contact Adrienne Paquette at apaquette@texas-wildlife.org)
   • Discovery Trunks
   • Youth On-Demand Webinars
   • Live Videoconferencing
   • Stewarding Texas Resource Guide
5. Parks Awards Application Period Now Open. The H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Subcommittee (PNA) Awards applications will be accepted from Wednesday, August 10, to Wednesday, September 7, 2016. PNA Awards honor projects in four categories: Projects $500,000 or more; Projects under $500,000; Planning Process; and Policy Tools. Winning entries demonstrate best practices and collaboration between developers, local governments, engineering and planning agencies, businesses, resources, environmental groups, and citizens. Entries are evaluated on innovation, merit, and regional impact. These projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Winners will be notified in November, and the awards ceremony will be in January 2017. For more information, contact Mary Martha Gaiennie at 713-993-2468 or visit www.h-gac.com.
6. H-GAC Introduces the Our Great Region Awards. The Our Great Region Awards recognize outstanding projects in the region that are advancing the goals and strategies identified in the Our Great Region 2040 plan. Completed in 2014 by 24 partner organizations, the Our Great Region 2040 plan is a high-level plan providing tools and strategies that could be used to make the 13-county region an even better place to live, work, and prosper by the year 2040. The plan examines six major topic areas (transportation, environment, economic development, resiliency, housing and healthy communities) and presents Big Ideas and strategies in each that the region can work together toward. For more information about how to apply for the awards program, which opens September 1, 2016, visit www.ograwards.org.
7. Regional Recycling Roundtable Set for September 8, 2016. The next Regional Recycling Roundtable will be Thursday, September 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor. Han Zhang, Ph.D, Sustainability and Advocacy Manager, The Dow Chemical Company, will discuss circular economy and its role in recycling. A circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them while in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials. H-GAC hosts quarterly Regional Recycling Roundtables to promote recycling and waste reduction and provide a forum for discussion about recycling issues within the region. To RSVP or be added to the list for notices of upcoming meetings, contact Erin Livingston at 832-681-2525.
8. ArCh seeks Volunteer Walking and Bicycle Tour Docents. The Architecture Center Houston  is in need of tour docents for their walking and bicycle tours. Training is offered Saturdays, 8:00am – 12:30pm, September 10 – October 1. You must be 18 + years of age. Visit their volunteer profile at www.volunteerhou.org  to sign up.
9. Air Alliance Houston comments on EPA EJ plan and VW settlement. AAH has submitted comment on the  EPA’s latest plan for environmental justice, the Draft EJ 2020 Action Agenda. They have also provided comments on the Volkswagon “Clean Diesel” settlement. VW will provide money for vehicle pollution reduction in Texas, and AAH has recommendations about how those funds should be spent, notably NOT as a replacement for existing NOx mitigation programs.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Save the Date: STAR Texas Compost Council Summit and Training. Registration is now open for the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling’s (STAR) Texas Compost Council Summit and Training September 26-28, at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center, Conroe. This training is the leading educational and networking event for industrial composters in Texas. More at: www.recyclingstar.org.
13. Save the Date: Bayou Preservation Association Symposium. Save the date for the Bayou Preservation 50th Anniversary Symposium from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, October 12, at the United Way Community Resources Center, Houston. This year’s keynote speaker will be Jenny Romer, the country’s leading expert on plastic bag law and ordinance structures. Registration is now open, and sponsorship opportunities are still available.
14. STAR Recycling Summit. Registration is now open for the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) 2016 Recycling Summit, October 16-18, 2016, at the Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade. Recycling professionals attend this event for educational sessions, equipment demonstrations, roundtable discussions, and training opportunities.
15. 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.
16. Save the Date for Trash Bash®. The 24th River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash® is Saturday, March 25, 2017. More than 102,588 volunteers have collected nearly 2,137 tons of trash, 15 tons of recyclable materials, and 10,135 tires. Learn how to volunteer to help clean up waterways in the Galveston Bay watershed.

COMMUNITY NOTES

1. Sunday Evening Conversations on Creation: Reducing Toxins in the Yard/Garden. August 28, 2016, 6:00 pm, hosted by Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church. The August meeting, the fourth in a series on practical environmental stewardship, will take place on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. John Ferguson, founder/owner of Nature’s Way Resources, a composting, mulch, and recycling company, will speak on Reducing Toxins in the Yard/Garden.  John holds an MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. He has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues, including the Houston Chronicle’s Ultimate Award for the finest quality compost in the Houston region and a Keep Houston Beautiful – Mayors Proud Partner Award for Environmental Education. His personal garden has been featured in several gardening books as well as “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine and his business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of the products. He has represented the composting/recycling industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste for over 17 years. After John’s presentation, there will be time for Q&A with the attendees.  If you would like to join this conversation, contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com to receive an invitation to the talk. Visit http://ctkelc.org for more information.
2. Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Releases Draft Comprehensive Plan Update. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) has released a proposed update to its 2013 Comprehensive Plan. The draft provides important additional strategic guidance for the Council to follow as it makes decisions on funding projects and activities aimed at restoring the Gulf of Mexico. The draft Comprehensive Plan Update is intended to improve Council decisions by:
   • Reinforcing the Council’s goals and objectives;
   • Setting forth an initial Ten-Year Funding Strategy;
   • Establishing the Council’s vision for Gulf restoration;
   • Increasing collaboration among Council members and partner restoration programs;
   • Providing for advancement of large-scale projects and programs;
   • Refining the process for ensuring that the Council’s decisions are informed by the best available science; and
   • Improving the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of Council actions.

   The Council is updating its Initial Comprehensive Plan now in order to take into account recent developments in Gulf restoration such as the resolution of civil claims against BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a source of future funding for the Council’s projects. Public input meetings will be held throught the gulf coast, including in Galveston, on September 29, 2016. For more information, visit www.restorethegulf.gov.

3. 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.
4. 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 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.
5. 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.
6. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region Grant Proposal. NOAA is now seeking proposals under the Gulf of Mexico Bay-Watershed Education and Training (Gulf B-WET) Program. The full FY17 Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) can be found at Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-SE-2017-2005000. Applicants should apply through Grants.gov. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on October 28, 2016 to be considered for funding. Please see the FFO for all application details. The Gulf of Mexico B-WET program is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. Funded projects provide meaningful watershed educational experiences (MWEEs) for students, related professional development for teachers, and help to support regional education and environmental priorities in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit www.sero.nmfs.noaa.gov for more information.
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.
   • Purple Martins
   • Black Bears in west Texas
   • Oil Spill Wildlife Response