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August 31, 2016

Houston Environmental News Update August 31, 2016

 I expect that many of us are excited about September, and the possibility of some cooler weather. It is definitely the time of year when activities pick up, with October being one of the busiest times of year for theenvironmental community. If you would like us to include your event on our website or in our newsletter, please send information to news@cechouston.org. We’d love to hear from you!
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Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour

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.

CEC would like to use this festival to tell local environmental stories, highlight the work of CEC’s member organizations, and to inspire our residents and visitors to make a difference in the environment and quality of life. To that end, in partnership with
the Houston Green Film Series, CEC will host a one-night screening of local environmental films in November 2016 (probably the 10th or 16th) to help select the local films that will be shown each night at the January WSFF On Tour. In addition to selecting the local films to include in January, CEC hopes to expose a wider audience to local environmental stories and to honor the top films.

You can view local films and some of the films that were shown at last year’s festival, including films by the Houston Zoo and Katy Prairie Conservancy, on CEC’s YouTube channel.
 
Intersections 2016: None of our issues are separate, and neither are the solutions.
Intersections 2016 is a cross-disciplinary conference of quality of life, health, equity, development and environmental issues facing our growing region. Our goal is to foster synergistic thinking and collaboration by bringing different people together, and to demystify the mechanisms for creating sustainable change in Houston. CEC is proud to be a part of this conference.
Early registration through September 31, 2016 at intersections2016.org.

COALITION NOTES

  1. UH Sustainability Meetup. Interested in sustainability issues and want to connect with others who share the same curiosity? Join us for the Sustainability Meetup, which features themes, guest speakers, interactive group activities, problem solving and networking. METRO board member Christof Spieler, PE, LEED AP will cover sustainable transportation. Food and refreshments will be served, and anyone is welcome to attend. The first twenty-five attendees will receive a free limited edition sustainability t-shirt. Learn more at www.uh.edu/sustainability.
  2. The Young Architects Forum: Design-Make Residency 2016 Resident Presentation. On Thursday, Sept. 2, 2016, from 6-8 pm, join the AIA Houston Young Architect’s Forum for a presentation featuring Kiza Forgie, AIA and her 2016 Design Make Residency project. Kiza designed and fabricated an air quality sensor and visual display unit that can be easily produced and attached to existing street signage infrastructure. Kiza will be joined by professor Dr. Dan Price to discuss air quality in our urban environments and how interventions like Kiza’s project can affect qualitative change in our perceptions and actions. Learn more at aiahouston.org.
  3. Galveston Ornithological Society Open Houses. GOS will be hosting an open house on three days–September 1, 3, and 5, 2016) over the Labor Day weekend. Visitors are invited to attend one of the three days from 8:30-noon. You will see the circum-Gulf migration, the only time in fall you can see it. Several species of swallows will be pouring over, headed southwest, along with both orioles, some flycatchers, frigatebirds, nighthawks, swifts, gnatcatchers, Yellow Warblers and other species. In the yard we’ll see some up close, along with breeding birds like cardinals and Painted Buntings. For more information, please contact Jim Stevenson at (409) 370-1515 or galornsoc@earthlink.net, or visit www.galvestonbirders.org, where you can download the latest edition of Gulls n Herons.
  4. Nurture Nature Series: Camping Basics. On September 3, 2016, from 10 am to noon at the Baytown Nature Center, join representatives from REI who will demonstrate camping basics, in time for the fabulous fall camping season. Baytown Nature Center, located at 6213 Bayway Drive, is a 450-acre peninsula surrounded by Burnet, Crystal and Scott Bays. It consists of hardwood uplands, high quality tidal marsh, and freshwater wetlands. This unique site is listed on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, providing habitat for 317 species of resident and neo-tropical migrant birds. The American Bird Conservancy designated BNC as a nationally important bird area. But this recreated wetland isn’t just for the birds. Numerous other animals also call the nature center home. In addition, it’s an important nursery area for a variety of aquatic species, including shrimp, crab and fish. This former residential subdivision now features picnic shelters, three fishing piers, two pavilions and two overlooks. There’s also the Crystal Bay Butterfly Garden, the Children’s Nature Discovery Area and the Myra C. Brown Bird Sanctuary. Baytown Nature Center, operated by the City of Baytown, is open to the public. Learn more at baytown.org.
  5. 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.
  6. Spotlight: the RDA Prize and Lecture. Join the Rice Design Alliance as it recognizes Eduardo Cadaval and Clara Solà-Morales. Co-founders Cadaval and Solà-Moralesand  bring a full consideration of context and history to bear on their stunning projects, which range from the residential to the ephemeral. They will join us in Houston to receive the 2016 Spotlight Prize and give a lecture. Admission is free and open to the public. Wednesday, September 7, 2016, 6:30 pm at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Learn more at www.ricedesignalliance.org.
  7. 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.
  8. Regional Recycling Roundtable: Circular Economy. 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.
  9. Houston Green Book Discussion Group: The Story of Stuff. Meet with other interested folks to talk about The Story of Stuff. One of the best books out there to help understand how to improve your quality of life in the consumer culture situation we’re in. September 9, 2016, from noon to 1:00 pm. Learn more at facebook.com.
  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 September 9, and September 16, 2016. For more information on how to participate, visit www.houstonaudubon.org.
  11. Wildscapes Workshop & Native Plant Sale. The Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Houston Chapter hosts their one-day Wildscapes Workshop and Native Plant Sale on Saturday September 10, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Houston Community College – West Loop Center, 5601 W. Loop South, Houston, Texas 77081. The workshop proceeds will benefit local native plant gardens, education and scholarships. Attendees will learn about ecological, environmental and economic benefits of native landscapes and landscaping as they pertain to sustaining personal, public and regional greenspaces and wildscapes. Native plants for sale will be described for usefulness in terms of providing habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Speakers will explore key aspects of native plants that citizens need to know erspecially their benefits to the sustainability of our ecosystems with Houston’s future growth. Learn more at npsot.org/wp/houston/wildscapes-workshop/
  12. 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.
  13. Lighten Your Footprint Workshop. Have you wondered what it means to be sustainable or how you might transition to a more sustainable way of living. What ways are you inspired to make changes in your lifestyle, your neighborhood, workplace or the Houston area that offer more care for the earth, care for people and creates community? Through storytelling of active projects in the Houston area, we will discuss and work together on ideas for projects, large or small that you may have envisioned. We will share principles and ways of thinking through how to bring your goals to fruition through thoughtful design principles and concepts. This workshop, hosted by Urban Harvest, is intended to empower you to go forward with your ideas of how to live more sustainably. Learn more and reserve your spot at urbanharvest.org.
  14. CHP in Data Centers – Building IT Resilience and Lowering Costs webinar. HARC’s Satish Ravindran, senior energy engineer for the Department of Energy’s Southwest CHP Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP), will lead a webinar on CHP in Data Centers – Building IT Resilience and Lowering Costs on September 13, 2016, 10 am. The application of combined heat and power (CHP) at data centers is proving to be a great opportunity to reduce energy costs, save money and improve the resilience of these facilities. There is considerable opportunity for the deployment of CHP across data centers. Learn more at harcresearch.org.
  15. Jennie Romer to speak about plastic bags at Bayou Symposium. Jennie Romer, a national expert on carryout bag policy, will be the keynote speaker at Bayou Preservation Association’s 50th Anniversary Symposium, 50 for 50, on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm. This year’s symposium will include 50 informative presentations related to the many aspects of improvements in our watersheds over the last 50 years. The keynote speaker, Jennie Romer, will discuss the challenges and successes with local legislation to manage plastic bags in LA and NYC. Her story is truly inspiring; a practicing attorney, Romer is the country’s leading expert in plastic bag law. Learn more at bayoupreservation.org. Other events celebrating BPA’s 50th anniversary include the Cypress Creek Regatta on Sep. 26, 2017, and the 50th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 5, 2016.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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. Learn more at www.recyclingstar.org/summit/.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Additional Upcoming Events:

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Climate Change Video and Live Q&A with Dr. Katherine Hayhoe. The Creation Care Team at The Woodlands Community Presbyterian Church is hosting a short climate change video followed by a live discussion via Facebook with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe on Friday, September 2, 2016, at 6:45. Dr. Hayhoe is a prominent atmospheric scientist at Texas Tech. The video, produced and sponsored by the Lubbock PBS station, is part of a series on climate change, called “Global Weirding” —we’ll explain that term on Friday. Light refreshments at 6:45; the video will start promptly at 7:00 p.m. and the live Q&A session will start about 7:15 p.m. PLEASE RSVP to Cinda Hitchcock, cchtx@att.net if you are coming. Space is limited.
  2. Kleb Woods Hummingbird Festival. Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, from 9 am to 3 pm. Everything you want to know about hummingbirds- including identifying, attracting and gardening for hummingbirds. There will be games and activities for the whole family. There will be nature walks throughout the day. The Kleb House will be open for tours and the blacksmiths will be demonstrating in the barn. Download the flyer at www.pct3.com/parks/kleb-park/.
  3. Maps, History, and the Houston Environment. The Houston Seminar invites you to join author and former CEC board member David Todd and cartographer Jonathan Ogren as they discuss their new publication, Texas Landscape Project: Nature and People. The discussion is based on the Texas Landscape Project and will focus on flooding in the Houston area. Monday, Sep. 12, 2016, at Hermann Park. Learn more at houstonseminar.org.
  4. Poverty & Trees: What’s the Connection? Come find out how Plant With Purpose reverses deforestation and poverty around the world by transforming the lives of the rural poor. Join us on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 6:30p.m. for refreshments and 7:00-8:00p.m. for a presentation by Executive Director Scott Sabin, followed by Q&A. The event will be held at Ecclesia Church (1100 Elder Street) in the Firefly Studio. Childcare is available upon request. Kindly RSVP to Valerie Foulkes, Regional Representative, at valerie@plantwithpurpose.org
    Plant With Purpose is a Christian development organization that partners with rural farmers and their families in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Thailand, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  5. 2016 Eco-Challenge. Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites Houstonians to join them in challenging themselves to better care for the environment during the upcoming EcoChallenge. Participants (individuals, families, or groups) choose one action to reduce their environmental impact and stick with it for the two-week challenge period (Oct. 14 – 28, 2016).  There are many possible challenges to choose from in the categories of: water, energy, food, transportation, waste, nature, simplicity, and community.  Or, you can create your own challenge. Sign up today atwww.ecochallenge.org and challenge yourself to become a better steward of the environment.
  6. State Income Tax Refund on Energy for Nonprofits. A quick review of your energy bill will indicate if your organization has been charged state sales tax for your electricity and/or natural gas usage. If this is the case, then as a non-profit organization, your entity is eligible for a refund from the Texas State Comptroller on all previously-paid state sales tax charges within the last 48 months. Should you be interested in seeing if you might be due a reimbursement, contact Heidi Massin with Infinity Power Partners at 832-488-5418 to facilitate a refund process on your behalf. Ms. Massin is a former board member of the CEC, and is excited to help organizations find environmental solutions for nonprofits.
  7. 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.

  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
    • Butterfly Beauty
    • Enchanted Rock
    • The Inspiring Ecologist (about Geraldine Watson, a plant ecologist and former Ranger for the National Park Service. Geraldine played a pivotal role in the creation of Big Thicket National Preserve.)